Hannibal is a psychological thriller by American author Thomas Harris. First published in 1999, it serves as the third installment in the Hannibal Lecter series, following the critically acclaimed The Silence of the Lambs. This novel explores the life of its title character, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a fugitive serial killer, and his interactions with former FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling, setting up a gripping story of psychological manipulation and revenge. Hannibal also marks the return of other characters from the series and introduces new, darkly intriguing individuals who play pivotal roles in the drama.
Hannibal opens seven years after Dr. Lecter's escape from federal custody. As we learn, he has been living under an assumed identity in Florence, Italy, and indulging in his unique preferences with caution. Meanwhile, Clarice Starling faces career jeopardy after a drug raid goes awry. She becomes the target of personal vendettas within the FBI, spearheaded by Paul Krendler, who aims to discredit her. Amidst her professional turmoil, she receives an unsolicited correspondence from Lecter, rekindling the eerie connection they shared. Meanwhile, Mason Verger, a severely disfigured victim of Lecter, seeks a sadistic vengeance against the doctor, plotting to capture and subject him to a cruel and horrifying fate.
The novel takes readers on a macabre journey through Florence's art-filled alleyways to the somber depths of Verger's estate in the United States, reacquainting the audience with Lecter's menacing intellect and Starling's unwavering resolve. Harris sketches a chilling duel of wits between his characters, each driven by complex motives and desires. The narrative crescendos to a controversial and shocking conclusion that profoundly alters the paths of Lecter and Starling, leaving a lasting impact on the Hannibal Lecter saga.
Despite its polarizing critical reception, Hannibal was a commercial success, selling more than a million copies in its first printing. The novel was adapted into a film in 2001, directed by Ridley Scott, and aspects of its story were integrated into the NBC television series Hannibal, further expanding its influence and reach within popular culture.
Themes
Psychological complexity and the depths of the human mind
The nature of evil and its evolution
Revenge and its driving force on human actions
Identity and the impact of past traumas
The blurred lines between hunter and hunted
Morality and ethics in the face of unspeakable acts
The consequences of obsession
Manipulation and control
Redemption and the possibility of change
The concept of justice and retribution
The intricate dynamics of power
Survival and resilience
Personal agency and choice
Setting
Hannibal takes place in the late 1990s, spanning various locations across Europe and the United States. Much of the action unfolds in Florence, Italy, where the elusive Hannibal Lecter is hiding under an assumed identity as a curator of a noble family's palazzo. The Italian city serves as a crucial setting for the cat-and-mouse game between Lecter and disgraced detective Rinaldo Pazzi.
The narrative later shifts to the United States, primarily to the mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland and Washington, DC. Here, the novel introduces the Verger estate, where the disfigured and wealthy Mason Verger hatches an elaborate scheme to lure and capture Lecter for vengeance. The story culminates at Verger's secluded farm in rural Maryland, where a gruesome confrontation between Lecter, Starling, and Verger unfolds.
Throughout the novel, Harris skillfully weaves in references to various international locales, from the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires to the opulent mansions of Baltimore, reflecting the global reach of Lecter's infamous legacy. The settings not only serve as backdrops but also provide a rich tapestry of cultural and socioeconomic contrasts that amplify the novel's themes of power, obsession, and retribution.
Characters
Dr. Hannibal Lecter: A brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, now living in Florence, Italy, under the alias Dr. Fell.
Clarice Starling: FBI Special Agent struggling with her career after a failed drug raid, obsessed with capturing Lecter.
Mason Verger: Wealthy, vengeful survivor of a Lecter attack, seeking revenge by planning to feed Lecter to specially bred boars.
Margot Verger: Mason's sister, a lesbian bodybuilder who wants to kill Mason to claim the family fortune and have a child with her partner.
Jack Crawford: Head of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, Starling's mentor and former boss.
Rinaldo Pazzi: Disgraced Italian detective who tries to capture Lecter for Verger's bounty but meets a gruesome end at Lecter's hands.
Paul Krendler: Corrupt Justice Department official who sabotages Starling's career out of spite and for rejecting his advances.
Barney: Former orderly at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, acquainted with Lecter's habits and history.
Cordell: Mason Verger's physician and assistant in his revenge scheme against Lecter.
Oreste Pini: Works with Pazzi to capture Lecter.
Carlo Deogracias: Another accomplice in the plan to capture Lecter for the bounty.
Romula Cjesku: The Romani pickpocket who is enlisted by Pazzi to obtain Lecter's fingerprint, but is killed by Lecter.
Gnocco: An accomplice in the plan against Lecter.
Ardelia Mapp: Starling's friend and fellow FBI agent, offering support.
Evelda Drumgo: Criminal involved in the drug raid that tarnishes Starling's career.
John Brigham: Starling's colleague, who is involved in the drug raid.
Marquez Burke: Mentioned as part of the broader narrative, associated with law enforcement.
John Hare: Minor character involved in the law enforcement narrative.
Officer Bolton: Another minor law enforcement character.
Critical reception
Editorial reviews collectively praise Thomas Harris's Hannibal as a spine-chilling masterpiece, emblematic of Harris's ability to terrify and enthrall his audience. The Denver Post describes the book as a harrowing journey that promises to "scare your socks off," while the Los Angeles Times commends its "relentless" and "endlessly terrifying" nature. Newsday offers a particularly evocative suggestion for readers looking to be thoroughly frightened, advising them to brace themselves for a weekend of locked doors and sleepless nights. These reviews underscore the novel's place alongside Harris's other New York Times bestsellers, Red Dragon and Black Sunday, and attest to his prowess in the thriller genre.
FAQs
What is the basic plot or storyline of the book?
Hannibal takes place seven years after the events of The Silence of the Lambs and follows FBI agent Clarice Starling as she pursues the escaped serial killer Hannibal Lecter, who is living under an assumed identity in Florence, Italy, while also dealing with the revenge plans of one of Lecter's former victims, the wealthy and sadistic Mason Verger.
What is the significance of Mason Verger's character?
Mason Verger is a wealthy, sadistic pedophile who was disfigured and paralyzed by Hannibal Lecter during a therapy session years before. He is obsessed with getting revenge on Lecter and plans to capture and feed him to specially bred wild boars.
How does Clarice Starling's career situation factor into the story?
Starling's career is crumbling after a botched drug raid, and a corrupt Justice Department official uses the resulting scandal to threaten her with suspension. This leads to her being tasked with apprehending Lecter in an attempt to save her job.
What is Hannibal Lecter's motivation or backstory revealed in the novel?
Hannibal explores Lecter's childhood, specifically the death of his younger sister, Mischa, who was killed and eaten by a group of deserters during World War II. This traumatic event haunts Lecter and influences his fixation on Starling.
How does the relationship between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter develop?
Over time, Lecter attempts to "help" Starling heal from her childhood trauma and anger through a regimen of drugs, hypnosis, and therapy. This culminates in them becoming lovers by the end of the novel.
What role does Margot Verger play in the story?
Margot Verger is Mason's sister, a lesbian bodybuilder who was sexually molested by him as a child. She attempts to collect Mason's sperm, planning to use it so that her partner can have a child, and then inherit his fortune. Ultimately, she helps orchestrate her brother's murder.
How does the novel end?
Hannibal ends with Starling and Lecter living together as lovers in a mansion, having left their previous lives behind. They are seen engaging in activities like learning new languages and building memory palaces together.
What are the major adaptations or other media based on the novel?
Hannibal was adapted into a film in 2001, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore. Elements of the novel were also incorporated into the second and third seasons of the TV series Hannibal.
How did the novel perform commercially and critically?
Hannibal was a bestseller, with the first printing selling 1.3 million copies. Critical reception was mixed, with some praising it as a great melodrama and others criticizing the ending and portrayal of the characters.
What were some of the notable criticisms or controversy surrounding the novel?
The ending of Hannibal, in which Starling becomes Lecter's lover, was highly controversial. Some critics criticized Harris for setting up Lecter as a sympathetic character and twisting Starling's character for the sake of shock value.
Quotes
"The tragedy is not to die, but to be wasted."
"I think it's easy to mistake understanding for empathy—we want empathy so badly. Maybe learning to make that distinction is part of growing up. It's hard and ugly to know somebody can understand you without even liking you."
"If I saw you everyday forever, I would remember this time."
"We can only learn so much and live."
"The worm that destroys you is the temptation to agree with your critics, to get their approval."
"The most stable elements, Clarice, appear in the middle of the periodic table, roughly between iron and silver. Between iron and silver. I think that is appropriate for you."
"There is a common emotion we all recognize and have not yet named—the happy anticipation of being able to feel contempt."
"You would think such a day would tremble to begin.".
"I'll confess it is pleasant to look at you asleep. You're quite beautiful, Clarice."
Quick facts
The novel Hannibal is the third in the series featuring Dr. Hannibal Lecter and the second to feature FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling, showcasing the continued evolution of their complex relationship.
Set seven years after Dr. Lecter's escape from prison, Hannibal was released on June 8, 1999, seven years after the publication of its predecessor, The Silence of the Lambs.
Hannibal was adapted into a film in 2001 directed by Ridley Scott, with Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as Hannibal Lecter and Julianne Moore taking over as Clarice Starling.
The ending of the novel was controversial and received mixed reactions from both critics and readers, with some praising the depth of character development, while others, including notable authors like Martin Amis, taking issue with the shift in tone and character portrayal.
Elements of Hannibal were incorporated into the second season of the NBC television series Hannibal, and adapted for the first half of the show's third season, showing the wide-reaching influence of Harris's story in different media formats.
Hannibal delves into Lecter's past, including his childhood and the traumatic death of his younger sister, Mischa, which is a critical component of his psyche and a recurring theme in Harris's depiction of the character.
Renowned horror master Stephen King had high praise for Hannibal, declaring it one of the most frightening popular novels of modern times, alongside The Exorcist.
The novel's depiction of psychological horror and manipulation, especially in the dynamics between Lecter, Starling, and Verger, showcases Thomas Harris's skill in crafting chilling narratives that explore the darkest corners of the human mind.
About the author
William Thomas Harris III, known professionally as Thomas Harris, is a distinguished American author and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the iconic character Hannibal Lecter, who appears in a series of suspense novels— Red Dragon (1981), The Silence of the Lambs (1988), Hannibal (1999), and Hannibal Rising (2006)—selling more than 50 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1940 in Jackson, Tennessee, Harris grew up in Rich, Mississippi. An avid reader from boyhood, he studied English at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. After graduating, he landed a job covering the police beat for the Waco Tribune-Herald and moved on to crime reporting across the US and Mexico, culminating with a stint as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press in New York City. Channeling his insights into the criminal mind into writing fiction, he published his debut thriller, Black Sunday, in 1975.
Known for his Southern courtliness and love of cooking, Harris leads a private life, residing in South Florida with a summer home in Sag Harbor, New York. His connection to nature and active participation in animal rescue highlight a gentle side to the author, contrasting with the dark themes prevalent in his works.
