The Charm School Essay

The Charm School by Nelson DeMille is a thriller set in Soviet Russia about the journey of U.S. embassy workers after receiving a call from an American tourist, Gregory Fisher, about the existence of what he calls The Charm School. He found out about the school in the woods North of Borodino Field, the site of War and Peace. He was told by an Air Force POW, Major Jack Dodson, that they are keeping Air Force POWs from Vietnam there. The school is a place where Red Air Force officers can learn to be American by POW teachers. Then they are sent to America where they infiltrate society, slipping unnoticed into America and spying for the Soviet Union. Nelson DeMille is a bestselling author of 16 novels. He served in Vietnam and later took up writing. I was very compelled by the characters in this novel especially Colonel Sam Hollis, Lisa Rhodes, and Seth Alevy. The most compelling thing about Colonel Sam Hollis was his trust. Throughout the novel he placed his full trust in Seth Alevy even though they were not friends and he had no reason to trust him. In the book Sam and embassy writer Lisa Rhodes are expelled from Russia and later taken to the Charm School as prisoners.

One example of this was when she and Sam were investigating Borodino field trying to find the Charm School. She stayed silent even when the guards saw them, even when Sam had to shoot the guards, she remained calm and that ensured both of their safety. Another example was when she and Sam were captured on their flight out of Russia and taken to the Charm School. She was silent and obeyed their commands so she and Sam wouldn’t be killed. She also stayed patient and calm when she knew she was facing death if Seth didn’t come. But when he did come she did as she was told and didn’t jeopardise the rescue. To summarize, Lisa’s calm nature ensured both her and Sam’s safety in the Charm School and throughout the Soviet