If I remember correctly, I read The Bourne Identity the first time when I was a freshman in high school. I remember fingering through it in middle school, but the content of the book at that age was too mature for me. It seemed boring, stuffy, too ‘adult’ in the same way as the editorial pages in the local newspaper. Such craft elements as conspiracy theories, the utilization of politics as a means to an end, and various subtle and distant tactics used by the agents in the novel, particularly by the Bourne character in trying to flush out Carlos, were apparently too much to handle for the eighth grade version of myself.
I didn’t fully comprehend everything that was going on in Bourne Identity until I read it in college. Once I became sophisticated enough as a reader to enjoy it, it really stuck with me. There were at least three things I learned from the book that I’ve employed in my novels. In reality, there are probably more, as Ludlum was the guy who, I think, really invented the modern spy thriller.
The thing that I recall really sticking out about Bourne Identity was Ludlum’s ability to propel the story forward, particularly individual scenes where there was conflict, whether physical or political in nature. He has a great ability for creating urgency and writing the emotional aspects of stories, whether that was letting the fright of a character bubble up in a pivotal scene or doing the same with the overarching tone of a scene. Ludlum himself attributed that to his vast experience as an actor and director in the theater. Said Ludlum, “I equate suspense and good theater in a very similar way. I think it’s all suspense and what-happens-next. From that point of view, I guess I am theatrical.”
Two other writing devices impressed me about Ludlum. The first was his use of embedding newspaper articles in the story. This, of course, was to lend authenticity and immediacy to the action in the book. I’m pretty sure this is why I included an article in Three Fifths Fugitive, except mine was a real article out of one of the London papers with the actual names edited out.
The second device employed by Ludlum was the limited use of foreign languages in the novel, usually for purposes of characterization. It was in reading Ludlum that I began to see the elegance of other languages, particularly the French language. I have selectively employed this very thing in my books, and, I have to say, I’ve had a yearning to learn the French language ever since.
Needless to say, I’ve been influenced a lot by Ludlum’s writing. This is true, as well, with my current novel-in-progress. I’m thoroughly enjoying this—my fourth—novel. It has the potential to be my best yet. I’m thinking about possibly including a small handful of keywords related to my upcoming book in one of my upcoming newsletters. This will give a couple of small clues as to the settings, theme, or prominent characters in the book.
I’ll end here with another interesting quote from Ludlum that will provide incite as to his inspiration for writing Bourne Identity.
“I love to observe people. I have always been interested in people who have decided to leave one lifestyle for another. On St. Thomas, I met a man named John who used to be a very successful ad man in New York. He threw it all away to follow a new dream – running a charter boat in the Caribbean. He went to a patrol school run by the Coast Guard in St. Thomas. He supported himself by becoming a disk jockey on a local radio station for $100 a week. Now he has his own charter boat business and is considered one of the more effective people on the island.”