Hannibal Lecter, fiction’s favourite cannibal, has been with us for three novels and films-of-the-novels (Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, Hannibal). In 2003 he was voted by the American Film Institute the number one villain of all time. (It must have been a very rainy afternoon when that vote was proposed.)
I wonder, in all the years he has been horrifying us, how many times have we wondered why such a brilliant man and possessor of such immaculate good taste (liver with fava beans and Chianti!) should adopt murder and mayhem as a lifestyle choice. Well, Hannibal author Thomas Harris has asked himself that question too, and has written us another novel and a screenplay that explains it all.
Yes, it seems that Hannibal had a troubled upbringing and that is why he is a cannibalistic, murderous sadist. Moreover we find out that his first killings were committed in good causes.
Life started well for young Hannibal. He was born into nobility and the family lived in a castle in Lithuania. Unfortunately, war came along. Most of family were killed and the young Hannibal was forced to witness his sister being eaten by some very unpleasant (and hungry) men. This seems to be the root of his misbehaving.
He is eventually taken in by a wealthy and kindly uncle in Paris. He commits his first killing defending the honour of his aunt, the beautiful Lady Murasaki.
And the rest is, as they say, another film adaptation — scheduled for February release

Kansai Scene, January 2007

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