Hannibal Rising - Book Review

Hannibal is eight years old at the beginning of the novel (1941), living in Lecter Castle in Lithuania, when Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union suddenly turns the Baltic region into a part of the bloodiest front line of World War II. Hannibal, his sister Mischa, and his parents, along with some servants, escape to the family's hunting lodge in the woods to escape the advancing German troops. After three years, the Nazis are finally driven out of the countries, occupied by the Soviet Union. During their retreat, however, they destroy a Soviet tank that had stopped at the Lecters' cottage looking for water. The explosion kills everyone but Hannibal and Mischa. They survive in the cottage until six former Lithuanian militiamen led by one Vladis Grutas, on the run from their Nazi masters and dressed as Red Cross agents, storm the cottage and loot it. Running out of food, they kill and cannibalize young Mischa. Hannibal blacks out and is found wandering and mute by a Soviet tank that takes him back to Lecter Castle, which is now a Soviet orphanage.

After two years, Hannibal's uncle Robert, a painter living in France, comes to Lithuania and takes the young Hannibal to live with himself and his wife, the Lady Murasaki Shikibu. While in France, Hannibal flourishes as a student among other pastimes. He divides his time between being the youngest person ever admitted to medical school in France, and hunting those who killed and cannibalized his sister.

This is definitely the weakest of the 4 Hannibal books (the other 3 are Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal). At just over 300 pages (and fairly large type), it's a quick read, which is part of the downside. It's so short that the characters are never fully developed and it seems rushed. The other 3 books are frightening and real page turners, but this one doesn't have the same draw. It's rather bland and shallow. As a big fan of the Hannibal books/movies, I was excited to read about the "birth" of Hannibal, but was left disappointed with the answer. Thomas Harris is a great writer and created one of the most evil characters ever, but he missed the boat with this one. Oh, and the movie comes out in February - cha ching!


Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: No

Hannibal Rising
by Thomas Harris
Hardback: 323 pages
Released: 2006