The Czar's Spy Literary Elements

Mystery, Thriller

The story begins in Leghorn, Italy at the turn of the century. It shifts almost immediately, however, to England then Scotland, Russia, Finland and back again to England, which gives the novel a wide and rich selection of cities for a setting.

The story is told by Gordon Gregg, who is at once the protagonist of the tale and its narrator. Thus it is the first person view point which is used in the novel.

The tone of the novel is serious with a touch of constant inquiry and inquisition towards the source of the mystery. The mood is both exciting and mysterious.

The protagonist of the novel is its narrator Gordon Gregg, who sets forth in a quest of truth and justice to save Elma Heath and bring punishment upon her enemies. The antagonist is Baron Xavier Oberg, who poses as Elma’s uncle in order to get hold of her wealth.

The major conflict in the story revolves around the mystery of the Lola, which leads Gordon gradually towards Elma and her own tragic story.

The story reaches its climax when Gordon manages to free Elma from the castle of Kajana. The two young people are then lost in the woods of Finland, in company of their faithful guide, with the officials of the country in pursuit of them. At this point, the tension of the tale is at its highest levels, and the reader is all inquiries about the fate of the protagonists and whether they can make it safely back to England after all.

When Gordon comes across a picture of Elma Heath in the possession of Muriel Leithcourt, the latter asks him, “Have you actually fallen in love with her from her picture?” which foreshadows the later course of events when he would really fall in love with the owner of the photograph.

When Gordon inquires of Muriel Leithcourt whether she knew a vessel called the Lola, she answers saying, “No. I have never heard of any such a vessel.” This comment is an understatement because not only did she knew the vessel and its owner, who happens to be her own father, but she had also been on board of it almost on every cruising expedition.

The text alludes to red priests and the movement known in Russia as “Renovationism” through the character of the Red Priest to whom Gordon and Elma appeal for help and protection.

The text combines the imagery of darkness and night time with the concepts of mystery and criminal deeds. All the murders committed in the novel are violent deeds of the night that are totally enveloped in darkness and gloom.

Although Baron Xavier Oberg is the most powerful man in Finland, he fears a helpless girl like Elma Heath, for in spite of her vulnerability, she is fully capable of ruining his career.

The story parallels Good and Evil, right and wrong, honesty and deceit through the conflict and struggle of two factions of characters; one led by the protagonist and his friends while the other is managed by Baron Oberg and his accomplices.

Metonymy:
“Hornby took the head of the table, and we sat at each side of him…"
Here, the ‘head of the table’ is a metonymy for the seat which stands at the head of the table.

Synecdoche:
“Are they all fresh hands?”
The word ‘hands’ here is a synecdoche for sailors and recruited crew.

“The sun had set, and the sky above showed the crimson of the distant afterglow, warning us that it was time we began to think of how to make our exit”.
The sun here is given the human aspect of giving warnings.