Death in a Strange Country
Encyclopedia
Death in a Strange Country is the second in the series of Donna Leon
's Guido Brunetti mysteries set in Venice and published in 1993.
It gives the post-9/11
reader a retroactive perspective on American military
bases abroad, international business, toxic waste
and the rise of terrorism
. Americans as individuals are portrayed favorably as friendly, open, and idealistic. Collectively their belief in the myth of their own benevolence in the world blinds them to how others see them. When Brunetti uncovers collusion between U.S. bases abroad and international business interests involved in toxic waste disposal, he exposes the sinister face of the military-industrial complex
. Add to this the corruption of Italian politics and the reader sees Brunetti rendered helpless in the face of evil. Only a terrorist, in the form of a vengeful Sicilian mother, can bring a bit of justice to the world Leon has created.
Donna Leon
Donna Leon is the American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice and featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti.Leon has lived in Venice for over 25 years...
's Guido Brunetti mysteries set in Venice and published in 1993.
It gives the post-9/11
Aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks were the transformative incident of the first term of President George W. Bush and led to what he has called the Global War on Terrorism, or war against terrorism. The accuracy of describing it as a "war" and the political motivations and consequences are the topic of...
reader a retroactive perspective on American military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
bases abroad, international business, toxic waste
Toxic waste
Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It spreads quite easily and can contaminate lakes and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous waste”, or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to health or environment.Toxic waste...
and the rise of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. Americans as individuals are portrayed favorably as friendly, open, and idealistic. Collectively their belief in the myth of their own benevolence in the world blinds them to how others see them. When Brunetti uncovers collusion between U.S. bases abroad and international business interests involved in toxic waste disposal, he exposes the sinister face of the military-industrial complex
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
. Add to this the corruption of Italian politics and the reader sees Brunetti rendered helpless in the face of evil. Only a terrorist, in the form of a vengeful Sicilian mother, can bring a bit of justice to the world Leon has created.