The Charm School (novel)

For the 1921 film, see The Charm School (film).

The Charm School

Author	Nelson DeMille
Language	English
Genre	Fiction
Publisher	Warner Books
Publication date	April 1, 1988
Pages	533
ISBN	9780446353205
OCLC	17300504

The Charm School is a 1988 spy thriller novel by American author Nelson DeMille, set in the Soviet Union. ^{[1] [2]}

In a 2010 FBI investigation, striking similarities were noted between a real-life case and DeMille's book. ^[3]

Plot

The novel's hero is U.S Air Force Colonel Sam Hollis, a former F-4 Phantom Fighter pilot ^[4] who fought in Vietnam. Hollis was shot down during the war ^[5] and was disqualified from flying. Later on he was transferred to US Air Force Intelligence and served as an intelligence officer and air attaché at the American embassy in Moscow. A young American MBA graduate driving in the Russian countryside encounters another American, claiming to have escaped a secret Russian POW camp—leaving numerous others behind who are still captive and being used to "Americanize" Soviet spies. When the information reaches Hollis, he begins to investigate and discovers a secret^{[ which? ]} so dangerous that it might cost him his life.

Potential film adaptation

The films rights were first optioned in 1992 by producer Robert Kline. ^[6]

In March 2003, Variety reported that Crusader Entertainment had optioned the book, with Kevin Bernhardt penning the script, and Howard Baldwin producing. ^[7]

In March 2005, it was reported that Frank Marshall had signed on as producer. ^{[8] [9]}

In August 2009, DeMille reported that Ericson Core was hired as director, and the screenplay was to be penned by Frank Pearson. ^[10]

References

1. Clarity, James F. (July 3, 1988). "In Short: Fiction". The New York Times.
2. "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction".
3. Perez, Even (June 29, 2010). "Alleged Russian Spies: A Novel Idea?". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
4. Nelson DeMille, The Charm School, Warner Books, 1988, page 67: "There were times when he wished he were in his old F-4 Phantom with nothing more to worry about than MiGs and missiles converging on his radar screen".
5. Nelson DeMille, The Charm School, Warner Books, 1988, page 110: "I spent four years at the Air Force Academy. I graduated and went on to fighter school. I did a tour in 'Nam in 1968, then another in 1972. That's when i was shot down over Haiphong".
6. "Todd-AO, Klein in prod'n venture". Variety . October 7, 1992. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
7. "Crusader enrolls in 'School'". Variety . March 10, 2003. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
8. "Falling for 'Charm'". Variety . March 8, 2005. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
9. "Frank Marshall producing The Charm School". www.movieweb.com. March 9, 2005. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
10. "Newsletter 08/09". www.nelsondemille.net. 2009. Retrieved March 23, 2025.