Punk Human

THE DAY OF THE JACKAL

by Frederick Forsyth (1971)

A spy thriller and adventure story that could well be closer to truth rather than fiction. During 1962, occupied Algeria won independence after defeating the French forces. However, the colonial-settler mentality remained robust among the die-hards. An underground network consisting of French officers and mercenaries and identified as the OAS sought to exact revenge upon the leader who refused to maintain the colonial project. Their target was French President de Gaulle. An unsuccessful attempt on President de Gaulle’s life ensues and it is this recent failure that motivates the OAS to seek an outsider and specialist. Hence, the OAS seek to employ The Jackal to assassinate President de Gaulle during 1963. This highly intelligent and well-trained man accepts the mission. The Jackal then goes to extreme lengths to conceal his mission and objective and to further his elaborate yet tactically necessary plans. Is he an ideologue, or a mercenary, or both? Will this terrorist succeed? Can those tracking this human ghost, with only fragments of information to hand, finally render The Jackal obsolete? Fiction? 382 pages.

Cover of 'The Day of the Jackal' by Frederick Forsyth featuring bold red and white typography with a bullet hole effect.

DETAILS:

Title: The day of the jackal

Year: 1971

Author: Frederick Forsyth

Pages: 382

Text graphic featuring the phrase 'Punk Human' in bold, stylised lettering with a red and black background.

Book review by Keith Salter

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