There are many details about the book which are fascinating, the Bolshoi Ballet, the tryouts, dancing, the life of a ballerina, life in post WWII Russia
Events leading up and after D-Day (Jan-Sept 1944) seeing through the eyes of Eisenhower, the Rommel, Bradley, Patton, von Rundstedt and ordinary soldiers
The Allies believe that Italy will be a piece of cake and they could move on the Germany. Italy did surrender but the Nazis kept on fighting.
I have to commend Ms. Malcolm for weaving several different genres into one book – part historical fiction, part romance, part adventure and business intrigue
Pictures of real American circus scenes from the first half of the century peppered throughout the book which really hit home and helped visualize the narrative
A Fierce Radiance makes penicillin interesting. Spies, sex, big money, scrupulous industrialists, incorruptible scientist as well as corruptible ones.
The past of Bernie Gunther catches up with in 1954 Cuba while doing work for mobster boss Meyer Lansky. Even though this anti-Nazi PI survived the Nazi regime
The dark, brooding and punishing interactions between the complex characters are a mastery of storytelling. The characters are also part of this complex plot
The book touches on a part of American history which is rarely talked about, the internment camps built for Japanese Americans
“Stalina” by Emily Rubin is the fictional story of a Russian immigrant to the United States. The story takes place after the fall of the Soviet Union.