Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

By Bright Summaries

Unlock the more straightforward side of Darkness at Noon with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler, which tells the story of Nicholas Rubashov, a high-ranking political player in an unnamed totalitarian state. When the Party he has devoted itself to takes a new direction and falls under the sway of a new, younger cadre of leaders, he finds himself accused of plotting against the regime’s all-powerful leader No. 1, charges that are punishable by death. As he ponders whether to sign a false confession to save himself, he reflects on his own past actions and wrestles with his complicity in the Party’s misdeeds. Darkness at Noon is Arthur Koestler’s best-known work; he is also known for his books The Ghost in the Machine, The Act of Creation and Scum of the Earth.

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This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:
• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection

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• Language: English
• Publisher: BrightSummaries.com
• Release date: Apr 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9782808018562

Book preview

HUNGARIAN-BRITISH AUTHOR, DRAMATIST AND JOURNALIST

Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1905.

Died in London, England in 1983.

Notable works:

The Gladiators (1939), novel

Arrival and Departure (1943), novel

The God that Failed (1949), essay collection (Koestler was one of six contributors)

Reflections on Hanging (1956), non-fiction

Arthur Koestler was a Hungarian-born novelist, essayist, dramatist and political commentator. He is best known for his dissections of Communism and essays on political responsibility and personal morality. After studying at the University of Vienna, he applied for membership of the Communist Party of Germany in 1931. Koestler became a journalist and while covering the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) as a correspondent for British newspapers, he was imprisoned by the fascists. In the 1930s, he became disillusioned with the direction that Stalinism had taken the Communist movement and broke away from the Party, using his experiences, including being interned as a suspected Soviet agent, to create some of his most influential works.

Koestler wrote in English after 1940 – Darkness at Noon was originally written in German but the manuscript was left behind when Koestler fled to Britain as the Nazis invaded France. Fortunately the novel had already been translated into English by a friend and