“His prayer to see his sister again did not go entirely unanswered—he did see a few of Mischa’s milk teeth in the reeking stool pit that his captors used.” A cruel Baltic winter and wartime serve as a backdrop in the unfolding of the macabre tale of Lithuania’s most famous son. If one has not yet tired of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Thomas Harris’ latest installment “Hannibal Rising” gives a compelling, if somewhat gory telling of the origins and motivations of the infamous character he introduced back in 1981. Many people, however, will no doubt be more familiar with the cannibalistic psychologist movie character created by Bryan Cox in 1986 film “Manhunter.”
I had been actually hoping that Harris would pick up the story where it left off after the events in “Hannibal”—where Dr. Lecter and his fellow cannibal and lover Clarice Starling, the disgraced former FBI agent, fled to South America. Alas, it appears that Thomas Harris has left us with the warm and fuzzies about Hannibal and Clarice living happy ever after in Buenos Aires—she using her charms and sexual prowess to satisfy the urges and literally domesticate the infamous anti-Hero. None to worry, though. The story of Hannibal’s roots provides the gratuitous sex and violence we have come to expect from the Lithuanian Lecter.
The story begins at the endgame of World War 2, as a group of German deserters shell the Lecter estate, killing Hannibal’s parents and servants. They take the boy and his sister, along with some other children to be used as sustenance as they try and survive the wicked Baltic winter. Sister Mischa is boiled and eaten by the men, and indeed Hannibal finds her remains in their feces before he manages to escape. Hannibal is eventually found after the war by a relative and brought to live in Paris—no doubt a horrible fate worse than death. A sexual relationship with his aunt ensues, and Hannibal’s need to hunt down those responsible for his family’s death illustrate the evolution of the frightened young boy as he grows into manhood and transforms into a sociopathic killer.
All told, a good read. If any of you are looking for a fine little gift to leave under someone’s tree this Christmas, this one is most recommended.
/Edigu
