One of the most famous and successful writers of the late XX-early XXI century - American Dan Brown. Today it is difficult to find a person who has not read at least one of his adventure novels, full of mysteries and mystical secrets. The writer opens to the reader a world of secret societies in which he can never get, gives information on history in general and on the history of religion and art in particular, which the layman can not get. And although his statements are controversial and sometimes shocking, we can neither confirm nor disprove them, because the topic is too closed for a wide range, but because it is incredibly attractive.
Dan Brown wrote a series of books about Professor Langton - one of the world's best specialists in the field of the symbolism of religions - a science that we did not even know existed. And at the same time, the main character, from morning till night, only does that unravels the meaning of symbols, cryptograms, ciphers and codes, imprinted in works of art, literature, historical and architectural monuments - an activity beyond which it is extremely interesting to observe. The novel "The Lost Symbol" (the working title "The Key of Solomon", which was assigned to him on an equal footing with the official one) is the third after "Angels and Demons" and "Da Vinci Code". It was released in 2009 with a circulation of 6.5 million copies. Later (in 2013), the latest novel on the professor named "Inferno" was released.
However, we would like to dwell on the book "The Lost Symbol" ("The Key of Solomon"). What is its plot? Professor Langton is invited by his friend and teacher Peter Solomon to give a lecture at the Capitol (Washington). The teacher is not at all simple - he is the head of the Smithsonian Institution and at the same time a Freemason, and the 33rd degree (that is, far from being an ordinary member of this organization). The mysteries and mysteries of the almighty Society of Free Masons, encrypted in the architecture of the American capital and works of art stored here, formed the main channel of the plot of the book "The Key of Solomon." In this channel, the main character moves along with his assistant - an academic lady named Katherine, sister of Peter Solomon.
But back to the storyline. So, Langton arrives in Washington, comes to the Capitol and then discovers the severed hand of his teacher, who was kidnapped and whose search for an experienced professor in such matters is only 12 hours. During this time, he must find the pyramids resting deep in Washington's land and unravel the cipher, consisting of 1800 signs carved into a statue at the CIA headquarters.
Rapid movements around the city - the place of action of the novel, the persecution by national security forces, the beautiful assistant with a scientific degree - are the main attributes of books about Professor Langton, something that is easily recognized by Den Brown. The "key of Solomon" ("The Lost Symbol") is no exception. But the most important character of the books of this author is, of course, her Majesty SECRET. Together with the heroes of the novel, we travel through Washington, get acquainted with its sights, the history of this city and the country that Brown loves and glorifies in this book. "The key of Solomon" more than once will force us to turn to the encyclopedia to take a close look at the frescoes of Durer, the image of "Apotheosis of Washington", Masonic symbols and signs.
After the success of the "Da Vinci Code", fans of Den Brown expected something incredible from his new creation. However, the "Key of Solomon" was the long-awaited and most negatively accepted book of the series. But despite the fact that the reviews of the novel got mostly unflattering, we can say with confidence that reading it will be interesting and informative.