Bonus Content
Excerpt
Langdon glanced down at his attire. He was wearing his usual charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis, and collegiate cordovan loafers . . . his standard attire for the classroom, lecture circuit, author photos, and social events.
The woman laughed. "Those turtlenecks you wear are so dated. You'd look much sharper in a tie!"
No chance, Langdon thought. Little nooses.
Neckties had been required six days a week when Langdon attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and despite the headmaster's romantic claims that the origin of the cravat went back to the silk fascalia worn by Roman orators to warm their vocal cords, Langdon knew that, etymologically, cravat actually derived from a ruthless band of "Croat" mercenaries who donned knotted neckerchiefs before they stormed into battle. To this day, this ancient battle garb was donned by modern office warriors hoping to intimidate their enemies in daily boardroom battles.
"Thanks for the advice," Langdon said with a chuckle. "I'll consider a tie in the future."
Mercifully, a professional-looking man in a dark suit got out of a sleek Lincoln Town Car parked near the terminal and held up his finger. "Mr. Langdon? I'm Charles with Beltway Limousine." He opened the passenger door. "Good evening, sir. Welcome to Washington."
Langdon tipped Pam for her hospitality and then climbed into the plush interior of the Town Car. The driver showed him the temperature controls, the bottled water, and the basket of hot muffins. Seconds later, Langdon was speeding away on a private access road. So this is how the other half lives.
As the driver gunned the car up Windsock Drive, he consulted his passenger manifest and placed a quick call. "This is Beltway Limousine," the driver said with professional efficiency. "I was asked to confirm once my passenger had landed." He paused. "Yes, sir. Your guest, Mr. Langdon, has arrived, and I will deliver him to the Capitol Building by seven P.M. You're welcome, sir." He hung up.
Langdon had to smile. No stone left unturned. Peter Solomon's attention to detail was one of his most potent assets, allowing him to manage his substantial power with apparent ease. A few billion dollars in the bank doesn't hurt either.
Langdon settled into the plush leather seat and closed his eyes as the noise of the airport faded behind him. The U.S. Capitol was a half hour away, and he appreciated the time alone to gather his thoughts. Everything had happened so quickly today that Langdon only now had begun to think in earnest about the incredible evening that lay ahead.
Arriving under a veil of secrecy, Langdon thought, amused by the prospect.
Ten miles from the Capitol Building, a lone figure was eagerly preparing for Robert Langdon's arrival.
Excerpted from The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown Copyright (c) 2009 by Dan Brown. Excerpted by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
The Lost Symbol
In the publishing phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon went up against the Priory of Sion and unraveled one of the greatest mysteries of all time. In Angels & Demons, he followed a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that led to the lair of the secretive Illuminati. Now, in this hugely anticipated follow-up, he’s back in a high-stakes quest that pits him against an exhilarating new challenge…and tests him in a way he’s never been tested before….
The latest novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol is a frantically paced thriller that weaves together five years’ worth of research and crams them into an edge-of-your-seat adventure that all takes place within a 12-hour timeframe. Showcasing Brown’s prodigious talent for keeping us guessing, it begins with a bang and never lets up as Langdon is drawn into a world of intrigue, racing desperately against time in an effort to crack the mystery of the lost symbol.
Packed with secret codes, shadow conspiracies and unexpected twists, this is vintage Dan Brown—a mind-bending tale where danger lurks around every corner and only one thing is certain: Nothing is ever as it seems.
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Doubleday & Co, Inc./Div. Random House ( September 15, 2009 )
Item #: 04-5125
ISBN: 9780385504225
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 1.26 inches
Product Weight: 19.0 ounces
Denise
February 28, 2010
I loved this book! I love all of the symbolism and intrigue! My 15 year old son loved it too!
Reviewer: Really g
Thoroughly Enjoyable!!
February 24, 2010
I really thought this book was just amazing!! I couldn't put it down!! The story line was very good and it kept me interested through the whole book. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!!
Reviewer: Tanya
As Good As The Previous Two
February 21, 2010
His plot is intriguing and the puzzles are fun. Readers will find themselves looking at our nations monuments in DC in a whole different way.
Reviewer: E S
Symbolism Shines, Ending Disappoints
February 20, 2010
Combining mysterious symbols with hidden meanings, the cult-like Freemasons, and the US Founding Fathers, Dan Brown?s latest book,"The Lost Symbol" takes his readers deep into the secrets of Washington, DC. Brown is also an author who knows how to use place (be it the Vatican or the US Capitol) to good effect in telling a story. In the case of "The Lost Symbol," Brown takes readers on a tour of Washington, DC, and its government-dominated landscape, including places both familiar )such as the Washington Monument), as well as those less known spots (such the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few subway stops away from the capital). Those who are familiar with Washington will enjoy seeing how he uses the landmarks of the city to good effect; those who haven't spent much time in Washington will want to visit.
Brown also continues his trend of including clues in his stories that any reader can relate to, but which few readers pay attention(for example, the pyramid that appears on the dollar bill). He joins these ?obvious? mysteries with more esoteric material (such as exposing readers to Noetic science) to create a spell-binding effect. New innovations are interwoven with ancient mysteries to spur the story on.
Where the story falters is, unfortunately, at the end. While Brown takes his readers on a great chase throughout the city, the ending is ultimately less satisfying than "The Da Vinci Code." Brown even gets a bit preachy at the end. He may be right about the argument he is laying out, but the end of the story is not the place for such a discussion, if it belongs in a novel at all. As a result, the book is a letdown because of its uninteresting, anticlimactic ending. Where "Angels and Demons" and "The Da Vinci Code" held readers' attention to the last page, in "The Lost Symbol," it seems what is lost is a good ending.
Reviewer: Christine Z
Not so great!!!!
February 18, 2010
I couldn't get into the book at all when I first started reading it. After quite a few chapters I couldn't put it down then it died completely. I thought it was just like the other two. I have only read "Angels & Demons" and "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown. So, I was hoping for another really good book like those and was disappointed.
Reviewer: ginah
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