I loved the way Alex is given his Kulturband membership documents and told the food is excellent there, but for members only. This novel is full of lessons for us and future generations. I read a lot of historical political thrillers simply because I enjoy learning about the past and perhaps being able to judge current trends. “They waited too long.” He turned to Martin, as if it needed to be explained. “You still have family in Germany?” Martin was asking. Many of them in a similar situation to Alex. The Russian military government, and their German fellow travellers, have invited “socialist” writers, playwrights, architects to work in the New Germany. Of course things are never that straightforward, Alex has a son in America and a back history in Berlin which he left in 1935.

Faced with deportation and the loss of family, Alex makes a desperate bargain with the fledgling CIA: he will earn his way back to America by acting as their agent in his native Berlin. But it is also a thriller for grown ups, which discusses political topics that are still extremely relevant today.īerlin 1949….a city caught between political idealism and the harsh reality of Soviet occupation………Alex Meier is a young Jewish writer who fled the nazis before the war….in the cross hairs of the McCarthy witch-hunts. I would agree with distinguished author Alexander McCall Smith’s back cover blurb that this is a very exciting book. Leaving Berlin would probably make an even better movie. Joseph Kanon’s best known book is The Good German, which was made into a movie starring George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire. Leading the way in event management and delivery Views on crime fiction and social matters from Rob Kitchin at the National University of Ireland. Great reviews and strong opinions from Bernadette in AdelaideĪ blog from the Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota.Ī wonderful band featuring people with special needs Wonderful book reviews and sensible opinions The creator of the Emma Boylan series joins the blogosphereĪ great blog from a lovely Australian lady

The encyclopedia of European Crime FictionĪ unique promotions agency-the use of arts as a method of social change and empowerment.ĭiscussions of new crime writers and a lot more good stuff. Mainly news and musings on New Zealand crime fictionįrom Denmark a blog about reading and writing crime fiction. The lowdown on Irish Crime Writing from Declan Burke Scottish crime fiction and tales from Glasgow from Duchess Donna Moore

The Zimmerman Telegram: Barbara Tuchman.

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A Climate of Fear: Fred Vargas trans Sian Reynolds.

Leaving berlin book review