Prisoner of Night and Fog

Very occasionally a book comes along that makes you truly stop and focus on something you think you've understood and makes you look at it in a whole different way. Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman is just one such book, one worthy of so much more than just 5 stars in a review because you know it's story will stay with you beyond the closing of the pages.

I found this book in the teen section of our local library whilst supervising my 3 year old who was searching for Peppa books. It's cover was immediately engaging and the back of the book compelled me to read it. It's the story of 16 year old Gretchen Muller who lives in Munich with her mother and older brother Reindhard. After the death of her father her family have been taken under the wing of her “Uncle Dolf” whom the rest of the world know as Herr Hitler.

She has been brought up within the shadow of the National Socialist party in Munich and is held up as the poster child of what Hitler views as a good German girl. He had taught her about art, music and culture and she believes fully his beliefs that Jews are dangerous and should be removed from Germany.

That is until she witnesses her brother beating up a Jewish man in the street and sees that he is scared and not dangerous at all. In trying to help the man she is brought to the attention of Jewish journalist, Daniel Cohen, who recognising her tells her he has information about the death of her father. Through their investigations she begins to realise that “Uncle Dolf” isn't being honest about his plans for resettling Jews outside Germany and instead has a much more dangerous plan.

This book is a wonderful blend of reality and fiction, mixing real historical figures such as Hitler and Eva Braun with fictional ones such as Gretchen and Daniel. It's got a murder mystery mixed amongst the historical teachings about the National Socialists in Germany before their election to power and the battles between Socialism and Communism.

It takes us into the world of Hitler outwith the party, his strange behaviours in his own homes, his habits and appetite for young girls. It gives a glimpse of a man on his way to power in Germany and the people who tried and failed to stop what would reshape the world.

I absolutely loved the blending of real and fiction and the lead character was wonderfully well written. A really special book which makes you stop and consider what it must have been like to move in circles close to such beliefs and the danger you could incite by daring to question them.

There is a sequel to this book planned for early 2015 and I absolutely cannot wait to spend more time with Gretchen. I wasn't ready to slip into Christmas book mode quite yet and needed something a bit more fulfilling after the fluff of my last book and this was a wonderful joyful delight. I am now feeling compelled to read more of a similar feel and may delve into The Book Thief which I've been saving.

I must admit that I wanted to read Prisoner of Night and Fog the instant I saw that it revolved around Adolf Hitler. I have this fascination with people like him. People who can manipulate, who can sway the masses so perfectly that he can cause them to turn against one another. There's something both terrifying and intriguing about a man like that. I was also very interested to see how Anne Blankman would weave her story around Gretchen. What would it be like to be part of the Nazi party? To be that close to someone so influential? I went into this book with high hopes my friends, and I wasn't disappointed.

Gretchen's character is perfection. Who better to show how easy it was to be caught under the spell of “Uncle Dolf” than a young girl? What's special about Gretchen is that she has a big heart. Even when the Nazi slogans and beliefs were rattling around in her head, even when she tried to steel her heart against violence towards the Jews, I couldn't hate her for it. This is how Gretchen was raised. Raised to accept what was around her, and quietly go about her business. I won't deny that I silently cheered her on as she slowly started to break out of her shell. I wanted this girl to overcome. I wanted her to see the dark, bloody truth. I liked Gretchen, and that made this book so easy to read.

Even more interesting is that you'll see key players from Adolf Hitler's life peppered into this tale. Even Ms. Eva Braun is a pivotal person in this quick moving story. I loved seeing deeper into his whole persona. Into the sad, lost man who was behind it all. I'll grant you the fact that Prisoner of Night and Fog is historical fiction, but it feels real. It's easy to get lost in, and that's what I'm always looking for in a new read.

Add in a forbidden romance, some intrigue, and the type of secrets that should stay hidden, and you have quite the book. While I wasn't in love with all the aspects of it, I can't give Anne Blakeman's book anything less than a huge round of applause. If you're a fan of this time period, or a fan of historical fiction in general, this will be a book you'll want to check out. Well-written and moving. I loved it.