Customer Reviews

The Loneliest Man In The World: The Inside Story of the 30-year Imprisonment of Rudolf Hess

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Eugene Bird's book is a good starting point for those interested in Rudolf Hess. The reader will gain an insight to his personality, state of mind and mission which led to his captivity for 46 years. First published in 1974, the book's author is a former commandant of Spandau prison who was able to gain the confidence of Hess who he talked openly with. Much of the book deals with the conditions confining all seven inmates, and their day to day dealing and illnesses. For readers not wanting to be continually remided of aging men's problems, like difficulty urinating, irregular heart beats, or constipation then this book is not for you. However this "warts and all" book portrays the honest daily existence endured by Hess for 30 years.
Hess is continually questioned about his knowledge (or lack of) about Barbarossa, if Hitler knew of his flight in advance, and life in general. The reader can form his own opinion upon Hess's answers, and Bird's credibility.
Of particular interest was the Soviet Union's continued rejection of Hess's release. This in turn further exacerbated the rumors and misleading information centered around his flight to Britain during world war two.