Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

The Broker
  • Rated 0 stars
Read The Broker

The Broker (2005) (edit title/settings)

by John Grisham (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

The plot revolves round a once lawyer cum broker, who is imprisoned for about six years. The FBI wants to set him free & to look for his predators to find a solution for a military operation. So, the outgoing American President is literally pushed to grant his freedom.

Suddenly... read more

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Summary edit see section history

In his final hours in the Oval Office, the outgoing President grants a controversial last-minute pardon to Joel Backman, a notorious Washington power broker who has spent the last six years hidden away in a federal prison. What no one knows is that the President issues the pardon only after... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

In his final hours in the Oval Office, the outgoing President grants a controversial last-minute pardon to Joel Backman, a notorious Washington power broker who has spent the last six years hidden away in a federal prison. What no one knows is that the President issues the pardon only after receiving enormous pressure from the CIA. It seems Backman, in his power broker heyday, may have obtained secrets that compromise the world’s most sophisticated satellite surveillance system.

Backman is quietly smuggled out of the country in a military cargo plane, given a new name, a new identity, and a new home in Italy. Eventually, after he has settled into his new life, the CIA will leak his whereabouts to the Israelis, the Russians, the Chinese, and the Saudis. Then the CIA will do what it does best: sit back and watch. The question is not whether Backman will survive—there is no chance of that. The question the CIA needs answered is, who will kill him?

Characters edit see section history

  • Joel Backman: The broker. Protagonist. A rich powerful power-lobbyist.
  • Marco Lazzeri: The protagonist Joel Backman's alias in Italy. His background is: canadian, but with italian parents
  • Luigi: Marco's protector and first point of contact in Italy. He knows a lot of great places in Bologna
  • Neal Backman: Protagonist's loyal son, a lawyer by profession
  • Ermanno Rosconi: Marco's language teacher in Italy, a student by profession. He prefers to teach using books, tapes, study aids
  • Francesca: Marco's language teacher in Italy, a tourist guide by profession. She prefers to teach the language in a more communicative way, speaking and repeating until perfection is achieved.
  • Whitaker: Luigi's manager/commander
  • Jacy Hubbard: A high profile broker appointed by Joel's firm, key person in the broker's last deal that went awry.
  • Dan Sandberg: a reporter for Washington Post, he's got good sources from the CIA
  • Teddy Maynard: Aging head of the CIA. He's in a wheelchair, likes to drink a special tea served by Hoby
  • Efraim: A Mossad operative (from Israel)
  • Sammy Tin: A ruthless assassin with diplomatic cover
  • Julia Javier: Teddy's loyal CIA operative
  • Signora Altonelli: Francesca's mother. An old fashioned lady. Likes to cook pies
  • Sandman: Washington Post writter
Show all 15 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Quotes edit see section history

  • “His youngest child, Anna Lee, had begged him for years to take her for a springtime walk along the Mall, like the other kids in her class. She wanted to see Mr. Lincoln and spend a day at the Smithsonian. He'd promised and promised until she was gone”
  • “It's a big world out there”
  • “In a very nervous city, the day began with the pardon storming onto centre stage and competing with a new president and his first full day in office.”

First Sentence edit see section history

In the waning hours of a presidency that was destined to arouse less interest from historians than any since perhaps that of William Henry Harrison (thirty-one days from inauguration to death), Arthur Morgan huddled in the Oval Office with his last remaining friend and pondered his final decisions.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Chapters 1 - 36

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 10 in Publishers Weekly Bestselling Novels In 2005. (authoritative list)
This book is in New York Times Bestseller. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. John Grisham (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Debra Lill (Illustrator) - Cover and Photo image.
  2. John Fontana (Designer) - Cover Design

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Doubleday
Country: United States
Publication Date: January 2005
ISBN: 978-0385510455
Page Count: 420

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3557.R5355 B76 2005b
  • Dewey: 813.54

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

We’re hiding the glossary entries, themes, errata, awards, movie connections, books with additional background information, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

Shernard R

You were just viewing this book on Shernard R’s shelf.
(see review)

 

© 2006-2013 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close