The OAS's motto was 'Algeria is French and will remain so' (L’Algérie est française et le restera). The OAS used armed struggle in an attempt to prevent Algeria's independence. 'Organization of the Secret Army' or 'Secret Armed Organization') was a short-lived, French far-right nationalist militant and underground organization during the Algerian War (1954-62). The Organisation de l'armée secrète (OAS - or Organisation armée secrète, lit. Tour de montagnes russes (roller coaster ride)!!!!Ĭourtesy of Wikipedia, the true historical context on which the novel is based is as follows. The only obstacle in his path is a small, diffident, rumpled policeman, who happens to be considered by his boss the best detective in France: Deputy Commissaire Claude Lebel. Step by painstaking step, we follow the Jackal in his meticulous planning, from the fashioning of a specially made rifle to the devising of his approach to the time and the place where the general is to meet the Jackal's bullet. His code name was Jackal, his price half a million dollars, and his demand total secrecy, even from his employers. This novel dramatizes the seventh, mostly deadly attempt, involving a professional killer for hire who would be unknown to the French Police. One of the most celebrated thrillers ever written, The Day of the Jackal is the electrifying story of an anonymous Englishman who in, the spring of 1963, was hired by Colonel Marc Rodin, operations chief of the O.A.S., to assassinate General de Gaulle.įrance was infuriated by Charles de Gaulle's withdrawal from Algeria, and there were six known attempts to assassinate the general that failed.

Author of the day of the jackal