Summary
The Broker by John Grisham blends elements of a legal thriller with a tale of political intrigue, international espionage, and personal redemption. The story follows Joel Backman, a former lobbyist unexpectedly pardoned from prison through a presidential deal brokered by the CIA. Upon his release, the agency sends Backman to Italy under a new identity. Soon, he finds himself pursued by global agents determined to uncover the secrets of a compromised satellite system.
Plot
The Broker centers on Joel Backman, a former powerful lobbyist embroiled in international espionage. Backman is imprisoned after a deal involving the Neptune satellite surveillance system goes awry. This system poses a significant threat to global power dynamics.
Under CIA influence, the outgoing US President pardons Backman and sends him to Bologna, Italy, with a new identity. The move aims not at compassion but strategic advantage, as the CIA informs global intelligence agencies of his whereabouts. Pursuers from countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Israel seek the information he holds. Adopting a new name, Marco Lazzeri, Backman tries to integrate into Bologna's culture, learning Italian and forming secret alliances for his own protection. As danger escalates, he engages in a dangerous strategic game with his adversaries and survives several assassination attempts.
Eventually, Backman draws on his lobbying skills to plan an escape. He contacts his estranged son Neal to help with a counter-strategy. In negotiations with the US government, he offers to identify Neptune's creators, the Chinese, in exchange for safety. This tense negotiation holds uncertain prospects as threats continue to loom.
Characters
Joel Backman: The protagonist, a former Washington lobbyist known as The Broker. Backman is released from prison under conditions orchestrated by the CIA and becomes involved in a dangerous survival game against international assassins. His story combines elements of suspense and redemption.
Teddy Maynard: As the head of the CIA, Teddy Maynard is crucial in Backman's release. He manipulates events, using Backman to expose secrets linked to a global satellite system. This reveals themes of manipulation and power in the novel.
President Arthur Morgan: The outgoing US president, who pardons Joel Backman at the end of his term. His decision initiates the plot and underscores the political complexities and moral issues in the story.
Francesca Ferro: An Italian tour guide in Bologna who aids and supports Backman. Francesca offers linguistic and cultural insights, along with emotional support, aiding Backman's adaptation to his new life.
Neal Backman: Joel's estranged son, who becomes crucial in his father's plan to evade threats. Their relationship adds a personal layer to Backman’s pursuit of safety and redemption.
Luigi: Responsible for assisting Backman in Italy, Luigi plays a key role in the plot. His guidance helps Backman adapt to his new identity, emphasizing themes of disguise and constant surveillance.
Setting
The Broker opens in Washington, DC, amid political intrigue and power dynamics. The story primarily unfolds in Italy, especially Bologna, where protagonist Joel Backman adjusts to a new life. He learns the Italian language and explores local cuisine, while facing a tense and uncertain situation. The international backdrop underscores the stakes and intensifies the suspense as Backman navigates his challenges.
Themes
Redemption
The Broker focuses on redemption through protagonist Joel Backman. A former influential lobbyist involved in conspiracy, Backman confronts past mistakes while seeking a new life. He travels to Italy for self-reflection and transformation, adapting to new cultural and personal identities. The theme explores the complexities of redemption through Backman's efforts to reconcile his past with his desire for a fresh start.
Global political intrigue
The novel centers on global political intrigue involving a dangerous satellite surveillance system sought by various international intelligence agencies. Backman's move to Italy sparks a cat-and-mouse game that depicts the ruthless world of espionage. The CIA reveals Backman's location to foreign operatives, intensifying the tension and depicting post-9/11 paranoia and the far-reaching effects of surveillance technology.
Moral ambiguity and survival
Grisham examines moral ambiguity in power and survival. Backman's presidential pardon is a strategic political move. His survival entails navigating moral challenges where trust is limited and betrayal is common. The narrative shows how political decisions impact personal lives, pushing individuals like Backman into morally ambiguous situations.
Identity transformation
Backman's identity transformation is key, marked by his migration and cultural assimilation in Italy. Struggling with the Italian language symbolizes a barrier he faces in starting anew. This journey is central to the narrative, reflecting his efforts to maintain a new identity while dealing with his past.
Quick facts
The Broker was published on January 11, 2005, and quickly became a #1 New York Times bestseller.
The novel diverges from John Grisham's signature legal thriller by integrating espionage, spycraft, and high-tech surveillance themes.
Joel Backman, the protagonist, is a former powerful lobbyist in Washington D.C. pardoned in the final hours of a presidency under CIA pressure.
Joel Backman possesses critical information about a sophisticated satellite surveillance system, becoming a target of international espionage.
After being pardoned, Backman adopts a new identity, Marco Lazzeri, and relocates to Bologna, Italy.
The story uniquely combines political intrigue, suspenseful espionage, cultural immersion, and themes of redemption.
Much of the novel's setting is in Bologna, with detailed portrayals of Italian culture, language, and travel, reflecting Grisham's fondness for Italy.
Joel's romantic interest in the novel is his Italian language tutor, Francesca.
Grisham included substantial Italian cultural and language elements, providing insights into Bologna's famed porticos and Italian lifestyle.
The Broker explores themes of identity, survival, redemption, and critiques post-9/11 surveillance paranoia.
John Grisham admitted limited technical knowledge on espionage, humorously apologizing for potential inaccuracies in the afterword.
The novel transitions from a leisurely Italian cultural journey to an intense high-stakes chase, enhancing suspense.
About the author
John Grisham (1955-) is one of the most successful and prolific authors of legal thrillers in modern literature. He practiced law for nearly a decade and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives before publishing his first novel, A Time to Kill, in 1989. His second book, The Firm, became an international bestseller and launched his career as a full-time writer. He has written more than 40 novels, many of which have topped bestseller lists and been adapted into popular films. His thrillers often explore issues of corruption and injustice in the American legal system. Some of his best known works include The Pelican Brief, The Client, and The Rainmaker. Grisham has also ventured into other genres, writing books about baseball and stories set in the rural South. His books have been translated into nearly 50 languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
