There are few authors as adept as Robert Harris in writing excellent historical fiction. This is true whether he is writing about ancient Rome, the contemporary Vatican, or as here, Hitler's Germany. In large measure this is true for two reasons: first, he does extensive research so that every page sparkles with authenticity; second, he is just a remarkable storyteller. His great talents are well on display in this novel set during the 1938 Munich big four talks where Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain is remembered for declaring "peace in our time" had emerged.
Harris faces particular challenges in setting his story with the Munich conference as the background. Munich has been studied and dissected by so many historians, that it is very well known in its most minute details. Harris is so able to fit his fictional story into this framework that it is often difficult to know what is history and what is fictional--one mark of superior historical fiction. The key characters, one a young British diplomat (Hugh Legat), the other his German counterpart, were friends years before while at Oxford. Each is fluent in both English and German. Harris takes us into his reconstruction of meetings within Chamberlain's advisers as war appears likely, as he does for strategy sessions within Hitler's inner circle. The German,Paul von Hartmann, apparently is a member of the dissident group that will eventually try to kill Hitler in 1944. He has sent a highly incriminating document of Hitler's plans for Europe to Legat, so he may show it to the PM before any decisions are made at the conference.
Legat is too junior to justify a meeting with the PM; but he is added to the team going to Munich. Hartmann himself set to attend the conference plans to hook up with Legat and get the document to Chamberlain. Their efforts to accomplish this goal right in the middle on tight German security adds a note of suspense and tension. Harris keeps all the events going on well structured so the reader does not get lost in the flurry. I will not spoil the story by recounting what the PM does when he finally reads the document.
Harris creates a last-minute private meeting between Hitler and Chamberlain just before the PM flies back to London. I don't know if such a meeting in fact did occur. But in the novel, Hitler and the PM sigh off on the famous document that Chamberlain displays on his return that he asserts creates "peace in our time," which of course soon became obvious that it did nothing of the kind, leading to Chamberlain's fall and the installation of Churchill as PM. One interesting aspect of the novel is that Harris treats Chamberlain with kid gloves--he is always polite and a more skillful writer than history suggests. While the book is no "page turner" which the reader cannot stop reading until the conclusion, it is pretty suspenseful at points and holds the reader's interest throughout its 303 pages.
Frequently, historical fiction writers have "afterwords" where they explain what was true and what is part of their story. That is not the case here and I think it would have been helpful. Harris in his acknowledgements lists the books he relied upon, which attest to his extensive research. He also wrote a non-fiction book about Hitler and worked on a 1988 documentary commemorating the 50th anniversary of Munich. So he is well versed in this topic and it shows. A fine novel that also allows the reader to learn a bit of history about one of the most important developments in the 20th century.
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Munich - What an Incredible Historical Novel!
It is the fall of 1938. There are growing concerns that there will be once again be a war in Europe. Adolf Hitler is demanding the annexation of the Sudetenland, a portion of Czechoslovakia, that contains millions of German ancestries. If he does not get it, he is threatening to invade the country.For British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his staff at 10 Downing Street, there is an urgency to find a solution that avoids war. World War I is still fresh in the minds of many British citizens. 886,000 British citizens lost their lives in that war, both military and civilians. The days at 10 Downing Street are long as a solution is sought.One of the prime minister’s secretary’s is a rising star. Hugh Legat was the top his class at Oxford. His friend at Oxford was Paul von Hartmann, a German. Paul is now a staff member of the German Foreign Office. They have not spoken in six years. An envelope arrives at Hugh’s residence. It is not known who sent these documents. The documents are in German. Hugh speaks German and translates the documents into English. They contain evidence that Hitler wants more than the Sudetenland.PM Chamberlain has already had meetings with Hitler, but without results. Hitler once again invites Chamberlain and the leaders of France and Italy to a meeting in Munich. Hugh Legat accompanies the prime minister’s team. Paul von Hartmann also heads to Munich in his role at the German Foreign Office. Paul is a member of a group that wants to get rid of Hitler. Hugh & Paul meet discretely. Perhaps they can influence the discussion that is about to happen.This reader is a fan of British author Robert Harris, but for some unknown reason missed his 2018 thriller “Munich”. As with all Robert Harris novels, this reader mentally goes back in time into a Black & White world. As one who has walked the streets of Munich, it was easy to visualize the scenery in the novel.We all know that it appeared that Chamberlain was successful in Munich, only to have Hitler go back on his agreement. He did annex Sudetenland in the fall of 1938 and then he invaded Czechoslovakia in March, 1939, and turned the country into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. For this reader, after reading “Munich” had some sympathy for PM Chamberlain. He worked hard for peace and later was criticized for the agreement he signed in Munich. He was accused of appeasement of Hitler. He passed away on November 9, 1940, from cancer.Reading books today requires an iPad at one’s side, as it seems there is always something to Google. In “Munich” it mentioned that Hitler started having sex with his niece, Angela Maria “Geli” Raubal when she was a teenager. He moved her into his Munich apartment and controlled her life. She died with a bullet in her head from Hitler’s gun. Her nose was also broken. I never heard about this previously, but Google confirmed the story.
Top reviews from other countries
Tonima chakraborty
It’s brilliantly gripping. Couldn’t stop.
Reviewed in India on May 10, 2020Jippu
A bit early for the Munich anniversary
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2017