Customer Reviews

A House at War

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

HOUSE AT WAR by Allan Dorfman

Historical Fiction

Xlibris Corp., Philadelphia 492 Pages, Softcover. ISBN No. 0-7388-2201-9

Book Review by Simon (Ski) Hasinsky, SGT., USMC (Ret.)

A House at War is an exciting and absorbing read. It's a thriller with a unique plot and sub-plots that depict the exploits of Commander Mark Kurtan, an intrepid naval officer, and four generations of his family. some of the characters in the story include President Roosevelt , Adolph Hitler, Winston Churchill; Admirals Nimitz, Yamamoto, and Pound, as well as other important and world famous political and military leaders of the time. Set in 1940, before America's entry into World War 2, the historical background and dialogue carry the stance of authenticity. The story is a fictional account of the first U.S. warship equipped with radar and Hitler's attempt to capture it. Its first mission is to escort the battleship transporting the gold reserves of Britain and other Allied Nations to the United States. Sub-plots are interwoven throughout the adventure like strategically placed fuses. Who is the German spy aboard the ship? Will the secret battles plunge America and Germany into war? Will Roosevelt be impeached because he has diverted secret funds for the development of the vessel without the consent of congress? Will the protagonist risk his ship and the lives of his crew in order to save his wife and son who are being held hostage by the Germans? The detail is rich and fascinating, giving the reader a convincing feel of the times, the intrigue of the secret operations, and the exciting sea battles. This book is a must for those who enjoy sea sagas, thrillers, and whodunnits...

Prior to America's entry into World War II, Mark Kurtan, an intrepid U.S. naval commander, on a top secret mission, must fight covert sea battles against parachuting German commandos, U-boats, and aircraft attempting to capture the first US warship equipped with radar. Assigned to escort the battleship carrying the remaining gold reserves of the defeated Allied Nations, he must also contend with a spy aboard his ship, the capture of his wife and son by the nazis, and the marooning of his grandfather's ship loaded with gold near an exploding volcanic island. And that's not all! American gangsters attempt to pirate the gold. Franklin Roosevelt, Adolph Hitler, Winston Churchill, and other prominent world leaders and important personages of the time (1940) are characters in this most intriguing and exciting saga. Historically acurate events of the period are woven into the story and mesh well with the adventure, and the trials and tribulations of the four generations of the protagonist's family.

This is fascinating fiction set in a historical background, its time span covering June-October, 1940. The protagonist is a dashing American naval commander, Mark Kurtan, whose dynastic family ties lend a colorful touch to the story without slowing down the action-packed plot. There's something happening all the time: warships battling with U-boats, exploding volcanoes and nazi spies, gold-laden ships -- even some Mafia pirates thrown in for good measure! Supporting characters, handled in an imaginative yet believable style, include FDR, Churchill, and Hitler. The author has obviously done his research, making the technical material and battles credible and exciting; and the human side isn't neglected either, as Kurtan's relationship with his wife and son is brought into play. All of these facets are deftly handled by Dorfman, and the combination of exciting battle scenes with the hero's personal life add up to a terrific story -- which would, incidentally, make a great movie! All in all, A House at War is an absorbing and entertaining historical novel.