The Russian Interpreter

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The Russian Interpreter
The russian interpreter.jpg
First edition
Author Michael Frayn
CountryEngland
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Collins (UK)
Viking Press (US)
Publication date
1966
Pages222

The Russian Interpreter is the second novel by English author Michael Frayn published in 1966 by Collins in the UK and by Viking Press in the US. It won the Hawthornden Prize in 1967. [1] Michael Frayn was himself an interpreter in Moscow in the 1950's. [2]

Contents

Plot Summary

Paul Manning is writing a thesis at Moscow University, where he meets visiting British businessman Gordon Proctor-Gould who speaks no Russian - Paul becomes his paid interpreter. Paul then falls in love with Raya and introduces her to Gordon. Raya and Gordon immediately hit it off, Gordon invites her to stay the night and Raya agrees, to Paul's chagrin. Gordon and Raya live in a hotel room; Gordon imposing rules on Raya which she just ignores. Paul still interprets between them hoping that Raya will leave Gordon. Then Raya starts to steal Gordon's belongings and books, and the situation escalates as Gordon and Paul try to stop Raya and uncover the truth. Paul suspects that Gordon may also have something to hide.

Reception

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References

The Guardian , Pounding the streets of Soviet Moscow gave Michael Frayn invaluable material