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Alone in Berlin, by Hans Fallada
Though there are many interwoven subplots, the overall story follows the futile resistance of Otto & Anna Quangel to Nazi ruled Germany during the war. Dropping post-cards all over Berlin containing messages against Hitler's regime after the death of their son at the front, the tension mounts for the couple as the net tightens and the Gestapo draws ever closer to their little plan.
A story that skilfully depicts life in Nazi Germany, Alone in Berlin makes you feel the fear that overshadowed every decision in life and the claustrophobic watching stare of the neighbours through their peep holes waiting for their chance to step up upon your corpse. Though the horror of Jewish life in Hitler's Germany is only hinted at, the fact that it was undoubtably much worse than the life of the characters in the book shows how bad things must have been. What’s worse is that larger amounts of the book are based upon real events.
Irrespective of Hans Fallada's history (real name Rudolf Wilhelm Friedrich Ditzen), or the conditions of his writing Alone in Berlin, the book should really only be judged by it's story and it is here that Fallada has excelled. Creating a tapestry of life, with weaving story-lines, tense encounters and memorable characters, he delivered a little piece of iron that reminds you of the importance of speaking out, even if your voice is small or your handwriting is littered with mistakes.
4.4/5
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