The author Boris Akunin is familiar to every resident of our country. His exciting works excite the minds of more than one generation and do not lose relevance. Akunin is one of the flagships of modern literature. And the hero of detectives Erast Petrovich Fandorin came close in popularity to Sherlock Holmes.
The story of Fandorin is attractive with its variability. The reader can follow the character in time. In the first book, Erast Petrovich is young and in love. While the latter demonstrates the opposite.
Another detail distinguishes from the total number of books about Erast Petrovich. Fandorin is a reliable character. It is easy to see that Boris Akunin wrote his books based on the facts of real history.
Books about the adventures of the famous detective have been translated into more than 20 languages. Soon another film about Erast Petrovich Fandorin based on the book “Decorator” will be released. The main role will be played by Danila Kozlovsky. Today it is known that the UK bought the rights to shoot the series based on books.
Prototype
The image of Fandorin is collective. According to the author, the hero absorbed the features of Holmes, Pechorin, Bolkonsky.
Character
Fandorin changes with each new life event: war, investigation, love, travel. However, the hero manages to maintain common features: nobility, excellent education, erudition, loyalty, restraint, perseverance, consistency. After traveling to Japan, Erastus is added features similar to the principles of Bushido.
Biography of Erast Petrovich
Boris Akunin intentionally describes the life of Fandorin not in chronological order. The plot either transfers the reader to the future, or delves into the memories of Erast Petrovich about the past.
Childhood and youth
Fandorin Erast Petrovich - the hero of a series of detectives. Born back in 1856. Hereditary nobleman. He was brought up without a mother.
After the father died, the young man is left without a livelihood and forced to earn a living on his own. The young man enters the service in the police department and participates in the first investigation, during which he faces a criminal organization. As a result, loses his bride - Elizabeth.
After the events described in the first book, Erast Petrovich loses romance and youthful maximalism. The tragedy that occurred with his lover leads to the fact that Erast begins to stutter, and his hair on his temples turns gray.
Trying to forget the death of his beloved, he goes to war with the Ottoman Empire. Suffers in heavy battles, after which he is captured. He manages to leave. On the way to the headquarters of the Russian army, he accidentally meets Barbara, who falls in love with him. In order to help Barbara and turn the tide of the war, he must figure out a spy.
After the successful completion of the assignment, Erast Petrovich Fandorin receives a job offer from the head of the police department. Running away from love, Erast asks for an appointment far from Moscow.
Japan
He becomes the secretary of the Russian Empire in Japan. But even here Fandorin does not shine a quiet life. Being drawn into political intrigues, he tries to figure out a tangle of deception. In Yokohama, Erast Petrovich meets his beloved Oh Yumi. The girl dies, giving her life for Erast.
Advisor
In 1882, Fandorin returned to Moscow. Accepts the rank of adviser. His activity begins with the investigation of the murder of a long-time friend - Sobolev. The investigation leads him into a mysterious sect.
By 1891, the situation in the Russian Empire was finally changing. Terrorist groups are growing. In Moscow, the assassination of General Khrapov. The investigation was entrusted to Erast Petrovich Fandorin. He has a difficult task - to calculate among his informant terrorists. The detective brilliantly copes with the task. But he finds out the facts casting a shadow on the ruling elite of Russia. Erast leaves home.
Overseas period
His path lies in the UK. Here, being constrained by the means, he does not abandon the detective's craft.
In 1894, the fame of his abilities spread beyond Russia. He visits America at the invitation of a Russian emigrant. He needs to deal with cowboys, Indians, bandits and get to the bottom of the truth.
In 1903, Erast begins the search for a treasure under water.
1905, the Russo-Japanese War. Fandorin, trying to figure out a Japanese spy, is faced with his past life. This book reveals the identity of the son of Erast Petrovich Fandorin and O Yumi. The young man leaves a message for his father with the story that he is his son. But Fandorin will not read the letter.
In 1906, Fandorin manages to find an underwater treasure. He is in Paris and leads a secular life. Everything goes on as usual, but from the newspapers Erast Petrovich learns about the death of his former lover. To take revenge, Erast is forced to return to Russia.
In 1911, Fandorin unravels the murders in the theater. Then a new love falls on him - actress Eliza Launten. Fandorin is already over 50, and in order to win the attention of Eliza, he composes a play. Eliza will later become his common-law wife. Their marriage almost immediately becomes problematic.
Last thing
In 1914, Erast Petrovich went to Baku to capture a terrorist. The criminals lure Fandorin into a trap and offer to abandon the persecution. Erast cannot agree. His further fate is unknown. The novel ends with a shot of a man dressed in black at a prisoner. But there is no clear mention of who shoots - the criminal or Fandorin. After the detective disappears.
Books about E.P. Fandorin
Fans of B. Akunin’s work do not stop arguing about the order of books about Erast Petrovich Fandorin. Someone says that books need to be read in chronological order. Others believe that books should be read in the sequence written by the author.
Books in chronological order:
1. 1876, Azazel. The plot begins with the murder of a student. Investigating it, Erast, who is 20 years old, goes on the trail of the mysterious organization Azazel. Now he needs to stop the international syndicate and save his beloved.
2. 1877 "The Turkish Gambit." The book takes place during the war with the Ottoman Empire. Having escaped captivity, Erast Petrovich goes to the army. On the way, he saves the young lady - Varvara, who goes to her lover. The girl becomes Fandorin's assistant in the search for the mysterious Turkish spy. The decisive battle for Plevna will soon take place.
3. 1878 "Leviathan." Erast Petrovich, having received an appointment in Japan, is sailing on a ship. Here he meets a policeman chasing a criminal who committed the impudent murder of a family in Paris. Meanwhile, a new murder is being committed on the ship. Erast Petrovich almost becomes a victim himself.
4. 1878-1905 Diamond Chariot (consists of 3 parts):
- 1878 "Between the lines." This story tells about the love story of Fandorin and O Yumi.
- 1882 "Yin and Yang." The story tells of the search for the mysterious fan, which according to legend, he has supernatural power.
- 1905 Dragonfly Catcher. The case takes place during the Russo-Japanese War. Japan is trying to win by launching in Russia its spies who are successfully operating. Fandorin joins the case, who will catch Captain Rybnikov. In this part, the reader learns about the son of Fandorin.
5. 1881-99 years. "Jade rosary" (consists of 10 parts):
- 1881 "Sigumo". Erast Petrovich investigates the mystical werewolf case. But is it a werewolf?
- 1882 "The talq-talk". Fandorin is investigating the disappearance of the wealthy heiress Karakina.
- 1883 "From the life of chips." Fandorin takes up the business of a wealthy entrepreneur. Threads lead him to the Institute of Railways, where he transforms into an engineer.
- 1884 "Jade rosary." In Moscow, a famous dealer in antiques was killed. During the investigation, Fandorin finds jade rosaries that previously belonged to the famous philosopher.
- 1888 "The Scarpea of the Baskakovs." It is about the death of the last of the Baskakovs. How does this relate to the legend of the Baskakovs Scarpea?
- 1890. "One tenth of a percent." In this story, Erast Petrovich investigates two seemingly unrelated murders.
- 1891 "Tea drinking in Bristol." It is happening in the UK. Fugitive Fandorin remained virtually impoverished. But he does not give up investigating crimes, because this is exactly what Erast Petrovich loves. Fandorin huddles in a small apartment and investigates the disappearance of Lord Berkeley.
- 1894 "Valley of Dreams." The action takes place in a place called "Valley of Dreams", America. Fandorin receives an invitation to investigate the Black Handkerchief gang.
- 1897 "Before the end of the world." Fandorin is in Russia to see the census of the Old Believers. But the joy of the triumph of progress is overshadowed by mysterious suicides among the population.
- 1899 "Prisoner of the tower." France. Fandorin meets his famous colleague - Sherlock Holmes. Together they try to expose the famous fraud. The 20th century is drawing near.
6. 1882 "The death of Achilles." Erast Petrovich returns to the Russian Empire in order to investigate the murder of his old friend, and is faced with an assassin.
7. 1886-89 years. “Special instructions” (consists of 2 parts):
- The story "The Jack of Spades" takes place in Moscow. Fraudsters crank up complex scams, each time remaining uncaught. Fandorin takes up the case.
- At the heart of the "Decorator" is the story of Jack the Ripper. On the streets of the capital are girls killed in the style of the famous maniac. Is he really in Russia now?
8. 1891 "State Counselor." Erast Petrovich is chasing a terrorist group that attacks large officials. This is an organized group with its leader - Green. How to catch criminals when they themselves hunt Fandorin?
9. 1897 "Coronation, or The Last of the Novels." Fandorin is summoned to Moscow to investigate the abduction of a member of the imperial family, Mikhail. In the process, he was able to prevent the abduction of Princess Ksenia Georgievna. They have a stormy romance. Unable to save the boy, Erast Petrovich leaves the Russian Empire.
10. 1900, "The lover of death," "The lover of death." In 1900, Fandorin must return to his homeland in order to uncover the criminal cell that encourages people to suicide. The case takes an unexpected turn when Erast Petrovich meets a sweet girl who is associated with crimes.
11.1903-1912 "Planet Water" (includes 3 stories):
- 1903 “Planet Water”. This is the story of the murders of girls whose bodies are found to be bloodless in water surrounded by lilies.
- 1906 "The Lone Sail." Then Fandorin investigates the murder of his beloved, now abbess.
- 1912 "Where shall we go?" Fandorin is investigating the impudent robbery of a train.
12. 1911 "The whole world is a theater." Fandorin is investigating the murder at the Noah's Ark Theater. In order to infiltrate and understand everything, he writes a play.
13.1914 "The Black City". World War One. Baku. Fandorin is being investigated by a terrorist group. Can he escape death this time?
Films about Erast Petrovich Fandorin
The adventures of the famous detective could not get past the filmmakers. On the plots of Akunin’s books, more than one film was shot. Box office and audience ratings are always off the charts. Only popular and famous actors participate in the filming. Erast Petrovich Fandorin was played by Egor Beroev, Ilya Noskov, Danila Kozlovsky and, of course, Oleg Menshikov. On the stage of the theater, the image of Fandorin was embodied by Peter Krasilov and Alexey Veselkin.