A Matter of Honour
Encyclopedia
A Matter of Honor is a novel by Jeffrey Archer, first published in 1986.
bequeaths a mysterious letter to his only son.
The "item in question" that Adam's father's letter leads him to acquire from a safe deposit box
in Switzerland is a precious Russian Orthodox icon
made long ago for the Russian czars which by misadventure came into the possession of Hermann Göring
sometime in the 1930s. Göring wanted Scott's father (one of his jailers at Nuremberg
) to have it in token of his kind treatment and because Göring realized Scott's father would be unfairly blamed for his pre-execution suicide
.
But the icon contains something that even Göring did not dream of: the only official Russian copy of a secret codicil to the Alaska Purchase
treaty by which the United States purchased Alaska
from Russia in 1867. "Seward's Folly
" turns out to have not been a true purchase at all, but a 99-year lease akin to the British hold on Hong Kong
, with a right of return to Russia
(now the part of the Soviet Union
) if they can only retrieve their copy before the lease deadline, only days away.
Plot summary
In 1966 disgraced British colonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
bequeaths a mysterious letter to his only son.
The "item in question" that Adam's father's letter leads him to acquire from a safe deposit box
Safe deposit box
A safe deposit box or wrongly referred to as a safety deposit box is an individually-secured container, usually held within a larger safe or bank vault. Safe deposit boxes are generally located in banks, post offices or other institutions...
in Switzerland is a precious Russian Orthodox icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
made long ago for the Russian czars which by misadventure came into the possession of Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
sometime in the 1930s. Göring wanted Scott's father (one of his jailers at Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
) to have it in token of his kind treatment and because Göring realized Scott's father would be unfairly blamed for his pre-execution suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
But the icon contains something that even Göring did not dream of: the only official Russian copy of a secret codicil to the Alaska Purchase
Alaska purchase
The Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the United States from Russia in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the Senate. The purchase, made at the initiative of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained of new United States territory...
treaty by which the United States purchased Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
from Russia in 1867. "Seward's Folly
William H. Seward
William Henry Seward, Sr. was the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and the United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson...
" turns out to have not been a true purchase at all, but a 99-year lease akin to the British hold on Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, with a right of return to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(now the part of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
) if they can only retrieve their copy before the lease deadline, only days away.