ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Brown is an American author. Brown was born on June 22, 1964, in Exeter, New Hampshire.
After graduating from Amherst, Brown embarked on a musical career that saw him set up his own record company. He would publish his first novel, Digital Fortress, in 1998. However, it was his fourth novel, The Da Vinci Code, that brought him international fame in 2003.
Building on the success of The Da Vinci Code, Brown continued to deliver bestsellers, including Angels & Demons, The Lost Symbol, and Inferno, all featuring Langdon’s adventures.
Brown has gained worldwide recognition for his captivating and suspenseful novels, often blending historical mysteries with contemporary thrillers. Brown’s passion for storytelling and his fascination with secret societies and ancient symbols have defined his literary career. His meticulously researched novels often address thought-provoking themes. His plot lines are thrilling and characters complex. Most of his novels have been adapted into movies.
SYNOPSIS
Published in 2009, The Lost Symbol is a captivating novel by Dan Brown. The story features Robert Langdon, the symbologist protagonist immersed in a high-stakes adventure set in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Langdon is summoned to the United States Capitol by his long-time friend and mentor, Peter Solomon, a prominent Mason and philanthropist. However, a disturbing scene welcomes Langdon – a severed hand positioned symbolically. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Langdon realizes that a powerful secret society is involved in the fiasco.
Using a series of clues and symbols, Langdon embarks on a race against time to uncover the hidden location of the “Lost Word”, a legendary Masonic secret that has the potential to change mankind’s future forever. With the CIA and other forces hot on his trail, Langdon must decipher codes, navigate hidden chambers, and confront his own personal demons to save Peter Solomon and prevent a cataclysmic event from unfolding.
Over the course of the story, Langdon’s quest leads him to question his own beliefs and confront the dichotomy between science and spirituality.
WHAT WE LIKED ABOUT THE LAST SYMBOL
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown captivates readers with its fast-paced narrative and an intriguing amalgamation of history, art, and secret societies. Taking forward Brown’s trademark style of blending fact and fiction, the plot prompts discussions about ancient mysteries and Masonic symbolism.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABOUT THE LAST SYMBOL
Unfortunately, The Lost Symbol is too predictable in its plot and somewhat repetitive in its formula. The explanations of Masonic concepts are rather lengthy, which affects the pace of the book.
QUOTES
Mal’akh smiled to himself. “Sometimes a legend that endures for centuries . . . endures for a reason.”
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Langdon could only stare. The idea of “order from chaos” was one of the great Masonic axioms. Ordo ab chao. Even so, the claim that a talisman could impart any power at all was absurd, much less the power to bring order from chaos.
CONCLUSION
Ameya would recommend Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol to its readers in a heartbeat. The book takes the readers on an enthralling journey filled with suspense, historical intrigue, and mind-numbing revelations. The book bears testimony to Brown’s trademark storytelling style and his ability to seamlessly combine fact and fiction.
A proverbial bookworm, Anusuya is always hungry for new stories and adventures.