In October 1929, wealthy and famous American financier, Peter Hammersmith received a copy of a book. The book was 'Mein Kampf'. Astonished and disturbed he rushes off to Washington to consult his friend President Hoover. Hoover immediately assigns Peter to travel to his native Berlin, to investigate the political and economic climate and to write a full report with recommendations for the President of the United States. The setting, the urgency of the issues, the array of historical characters, the unique mise en scene...all combine to make this an unusual and important novel. And, in the hands of the accomplished novelist Eric Koch, this book is destined to be widely discussed.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Conceptually intriguing but lacking in verve, Canadian writer Koch's historical novel tells the story of a wealthy American's investigation of the people and circumstances surrounding Hitler's rise to power. In 1929, self-made American millionaire Peter Hammersmith, originally a German immigrant, discovers that leftover funds from a recent donation to aid German anti-Bolshevik activities have financed the publication of Mein Kampf. Hammersmith is terrified by the book and contacts President Hoover immediately. Hoover orders him to go to Berlin and write a report on Hitler's position in German politics. In Berlin, Hammersmith interviews prominent German lawyers, bankers, revolutionaries and thinkers (some real, some closely based on real figures); most consider Hitler a crank, no more threatening than his look-alike, Charlie Chaplin's Tramp. After falling in love with a dashing young film actress whose boyfriend happens to be a Nazi storm trooper, Hammersmith finds his life threatened. He manages to win the actress's heart by promising to mention her to Chaplin after the comedian sends Hammersmith a telegram inquiring after German film talent. The novel then plods along to an abrupt but somewhat predictable end. Koch gives Hammersmith's misadventures the ring of authenticity, but the book reads more like a thesis than a work of fiction. Discussions of the relationship between the Nazis and the various socialist parties, along with lengthy biographic presentations of each character, slow the narrative momentum. Although intelligently written and highly informative, this novel ultimately fails to capitalize on its premise. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"* "(Koch's) imaginative agillty, inventiveness and stylish wit, have enabled him to create an original and highly entertaining work." -Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature
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