With calm eyes and a mystic smile, the Monalisa sits patiently communicating the unsaid. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the portrait exhibits an unmistakable charm that lingers on in the mind for long. But what if there is something far behind that smile, like a secret message? What if a secret society was still trying to preserve a precious fact from the world? Likewise, what if sacred symbols are still used as a means of communication in the present? And what if they are cleverly hidden by painters in their art? What if science and technology finally answer facts of where we came from and where we are going? What if a deadly virus is let out through the waters of Venice to destroy the world?
Welcome to the fictitious world of Dan Brown where science, history, and religion lead to treasure hunts of cryptology, codes, symbols and conspiracy theories. His books not only offer a thrilling read but are total page-turners that take the readers through history, weaved in careful patterns of adventure on every page.
Dan Brown is no ordinary storyteller. There are facets of his writing that truly set him apart. An author who has seven books to his name includes Robert Langdon in five of them, namely Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, Inferno, Origin and The Lost Symbol. His other two novels Deception Point and The Digital Fortress are independent stories. The fictional character Robert Langdon is a professor of symbology and religious iconography at Harvard, who uses his knowledge and instincts to crack codes and crimes. What makes him one of our own is his possession of the mickey mouse watch, a gift from his parents, he dons at all times, and his fear of closed spaces, something that tells us even heroes have their weaknesses. Moreover, the profession of teaching remains common to both Robert Landon and Dan Brown. Brown has been a teacher of English at Philips Exeter Academy and has even initiated a scholarship fund for students in need of financial aid. In his books, we find Robert attending several conferences and shows organised by his students. He extends a helping hand by probing into cases where his expertise in symbology is of help. We find him unfolding mysteries, citing references from religious texts and courageously fighting evil for the good of humanity. He tours through the waters of Venice, wakes up on a hospital bed with no memory of prior events, stumbles upon secret societies and even dodges the Polizei across Europe.
The plots are full of jaw-dropping events that are rich in vocabulary with excellent instances of descriptive writing. Dan Brown effectively takes the readers from secret to sacred places and provides real references for travel enthusiasts. Amongst the books and thrilling scenes, we find mention of the renowned Guggenheim museum in Spain, the Louvre in Paris, Bilbao museum in Spain, Boboli Gardens of Florence, the Grand Canal of Venice and so on. There are mentions of ancient societies and secret cults that continue to follow their beliefs and safeguard what needs to be preserved. In the course of the writing, readers find a plethora of places, artwork and personalities that have made extraordinary contributions through time. Mentions of genius architects like Antoni Gaudi and his work find both praise and appreciation as the stories proceed. The writing offers an exhaustive scope for knowledge and opens the window to inventors, painters, scientists and figures who have defined cities and shaped the world we lived in!
Apart from his explosive plots, Brown’s characters are deep. We find them come a long way, be it in the shoe of a protagonist or an antagonist. Their experiences, beliefs, and upbringing have a great deal to do with their behaviour and psyche. They are strong, well-defined and are written with a purpose; be it Silas from The Da Vinci Code who wears a spiked belt around his thigh for reasons, to Vittoria from Angels and Demons who was adopted and ingeniously raised by her scientist father to become a marine biologist and a physicist.
Dan Brown books remain a must-read for effective language skills, descriptive
writing and most of all, to form a habit of reading. These books are simply unputdownable! Just as in ‘Origin’, we find a billionaire dreaming of high-tech innovations, it is in Deception Point that we come across NASA’s discovery of a meteor that shakes the foundation of elections in the US. Angels and Demons brings forth the clash between science and faith while Inferno takes us to Dante and concepts of divine perfection. The Da Vinci Code explores life of Mary Magdalene while The Lost Symbol, packed with ancient art and symbology, showcases the CIA trying to prevent a national crisis.
Reading Dan Brown’s literature is an experience that helps readers live and taste history. It is the adrenaline rush and the feeling of fulfilment that make his books worth reading.
There is truly no doubt that when Dan Brown writes, the world patiently awaits...!
-Sneha Shringare
Senior Content Editor
Dessault Systemes