A Hit French Novel Tries to Explain Putin. Too Well, Some Critics Say.

 A Hit French Novel Tries to Explain Putin. Too Well, Some Critics Say.
A popular novel, “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” presents a sympathetic portrait of the Russian leader, critics say, raising concerns that it might influence national policy toward the Ukraine war.

Giuliano da Empoli’s novel, which tries to explain the worldview and motivations of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, has raised some concerns in France.Credit...Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times