Dan Brown's novel "The Lost Symbol" ("Key of Solomon")

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

One of the most famous and successful writers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries is the 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 before the reader the world of secret societies, which he will never be able to get into, gives information on history in general and on the history of religion and art in particular, which is impossible for the average person to get. And although his statements are controversial and sometimes shocking, we can neither confirm nor refute them, because the topic is too closed for a wide circle, but therefore incredibly attractive.

Dan Brown has written a series of books about Professor Langton, one of the world's foremost experts on the symbology of religions, a science we never knew existed. And at the same time, the main character from morning till night does nothing but unravel the meaning of symbols, cryptograms, ciphers and codes embodied in works of art, literature, historical and architectural monuments - an activity that is extremely interesting to watch. The novel "The Lost Symbol" (working title "Solomon's Key",which was assigned to him on a par with the official one) - the third in a row after "Angels and Demons" and "The Da Vinci Code". It was released in 2009 with a circulation of 6.5 million copies. Later (in 2013), the last novel about the professor, called Inferno, was released.

However, we would like to focus on the book "The Lost Symbol" ("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 Mason, moreover, the 33rd degree (that is, far from being an ordinary member of this organization). The mysteries and mysteries of the all-powerful Society of Free Stonemasons, encrypted in the architecture of the American capital and the works of art stored here, formed the mainstream of the plot of the book "Solomon's Key". In this vein, the main character moves along with his assistant - a learned lady named Katherine, Peter Solomon's sister.

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 has only 12 hours. During this time, he must find the pyramids, resting deep in Washington soil and solve the cipher, consisting of 1800 characters carved on a statue at the headquarters of the CIA.

Rapid movements around the city - the scene of the novel, persecution by national security forces,a beautiful assistant with a scientific degree - these are the main attributes of books about Professor Langton, something that Dan Brown easily recognizes. The Key of Solomon (The Lost Symbol) is no exception. But the most important character in the books of this author is, of course, Her Majesty MYSTERY. Together with the heroes of the novel, we travel around 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" will make us turn to the encyclopedia more than once to take a closer look at Durer's frescoes, the image of the "Apotheosis of Washington", Masonic symbols and signs.

After the success of The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown fans expected something incredible from his new creation. However, The Key of Solomon proved to be the most highly anticipated and most negatively received book in the series. But despite the fact that the reviews of the novel received mostly unflattering, it is safe to say that it will be interesting and informative to read.