About: The Honest Spy by Andreas Kollender (translated by Steve Anderson) is a historical fiction book about a German clerk spying for the USA. This is a fictionalized account of Fritz Kolbe, one of the most important resources the allies had during that time. 368 pages Publisher: AmazonCrossing Language: English ISBN-10: 1542045002 My rating for The Honest Spy — 5 Buy The Honest Spy from Amazon.com* More Books by Andreas Kollender Thoughts: The Honest Spy by Andreas Kollender (translated by Steve Anderson) is an amazing account, fictionalized as it may be, of Fritz Kolbe, an ethical man living in a most unethical place and doing his best to do what he knows is right. The author created a very convincing novel, telling the story of Mr. Kolbe both in the present as well as with the advantage of hindsight. Even though the story is about a middle aged clerk, a gray man with a gray job, it was an intense read full of suspense and humor. The story captures the integrity and bravery of Mr. Kolbe. He jeopardized his life over the course of years to do what he believes is right. Sadly, after the war, the Germans considered Mr. Kolbe a traitor and he…
The story telling is done tongue in cheek, the readers are privy to the lies, manipulations, and political maneuvering getting an overall picture of what is happening
Most of the book tells to story of the family in East Berlin, how they lived, worked and feared the brutal regime
Even though Potsdam Station is part of a series, which I have not read in order, I feel it is an excellent standalone book. I warn you though, you’ll want more
The story actually has three protagonists, Max Cohn, a kid in present day Los Angeles, Moshe Goldenhirsch who is a young Jewish man at the heyday of World War II, and again, Moshe as an elderly retiree in present day Los Angeles
This is a riveting, easy to read book. Mr. Henderson wrote a wonderful and important book, packed with history and stories which pack an emotional punch.
The author also tells the stories of the soldier who were arranges in an ever shrinking circle around Dunkirk, protecting the shores and the men from constant attacks by the German army trying to break through.
This is a two part story, the first one, as the name of the book suggests, is the story of the Nazis trying to control people’s beliefs via literature, punishment and spectacles of burning books symbolizing “wrong” ideology. The second part is the painstaking cataloging of millions of books, returning what can be returned (through notes, plates and other identifying marks).
During World War II Mr. Brecht wrote for the Exilliteratur, an anti-Nazi movement of authors expressing opposition to the National Socialist and Fascist regimes
Alternative history stories telling about the Nazis taking over the world are not uncommon, the possibilities are obviously horrifying and the author does not shy away from this motif.