My rating: 4 of 5 stars
SWEDISH REVIEW
September 1938
Hitler är fast besluten att starta krig i Europa. Chamberlain vill desperat bevara freden. Europas framtid beslutas i en stad som kommer att bli berömd för det möte som äger rum där.
Samtidigt som Chamberlains plan flyger över Engelska kanalen och Führerns tåg åker söderut genom Tyskland, reser två unga män med sina egna hemligheter mot München. Hugh Legat är en av Chamberlains privata sekreterare, Paul Hartmann är en tysk diplomat och medlem av anti-Hitler-rörelsen. De nära vännerna har inte setts på sex år. Nu kommer deras vägar att korsas igen. Vem är du villig att förråda? Dina vänner, din familj, ditt land eller ditt samvete?
München är en stämningsfull och fartfylld skildring av Münchenöverenskommelsen. Det är en fascinerande roman med välavvägd prosa som som sprakar av träffsäkra historiska detaljer.
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München är en bok som jag snabbt läste igenom, nog för att boken inte var jättetjock men jag måste erkänna att jag även var totalt fängslad över handlingen som utspelas under fyra dagar i september 1938. Robert Harris är en författare som har en förmåga att skriva böcker, vare sig det är historiska eller mer moderna, som fängslar och München är definitivt inget undantag. Någon jag tänkte på medan jag läste boken var hur lite jag egentligen visste om Münchenöverenskommelsen eller rättare sagt kommer ihåg och jag var fascinerad att läsa om hur Chamberlain verkligen strävade att bevara fredan i Europa, medan Hitler däremot verkade mer sträva mot dra i krig.
Handlingen är väldigt spännande, medan maktens män planerar ett möte i München sker det saker i kulissen. Inte alla i Tyskland är på Hitler sida och helst av allt vill de bli av med honom. För Hugh Legat, en av Chamberlains privata sekreterare blir dessa fyra dagar väldigt intensiva när en gammal vän tar kontakt med honom igen. Paul Hartmann, tysk diplomat och medlem av anti-Hitlerrörelsen. Kan de tillsamman stoppa Hitlers planer?
München är fängslande, välskriven och djupt tänkvärd. Jag är speciellt imponerad över personlighetsbeskrivningarna och då framförallt Chamberlain vars vilja var att bevara freden till vilket pris som helst. Var det fegt att skriva under Münchenöverenskommelsen, att blunda för tecknen på att detta är bara en respit? Tja,vi sitter med facit i handen och vet att inget hade stoppat Hitler och jag måste erkänna att jag känner sympati med Chamberlain och hans fredbevarande inställning.
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September 1938
Hitler is determined to start a war.
Chamberlain is desperate to preserve the peace.
The issue is to be decided in a city that will forever afterwards be notorious for what takes place there.
Munich.
As Chamberlain’s plane judders over the Channel and the Fürher’s train steams relentlessly south from Berlin, two young men travel with secrets of their own.
Hugh Legat is one of Chamberlain’s private secretaries; Paul Hartmann a German diplomat and member of the anti-Hitler resistance. Great friends at Oxford before Hitler came to power, they haven’t seen one another since they were last in Munich six years earlier. Now. as the future of Europe hangs in the balance, their paths are destined to cross again.
When the stakes are this high, who are you willing to betray? Your friends, your family, your country or your conscience?
Munich is a book that I read quickly, probably because the book was not that thick, but I have to admit that I was also totally captivated by the story set during four days in September 1938. Robert Harris is a writer who has the ability to write books, whether it's historical or more modern, that captivate and Munich is definitely no exception. Something I thought while reading the book was how little I really knew about the Munich agreement or, probably more accurately, I remembered, and I was fascinated to read how Chamberlain really sought to preserve peace in Europe, while Hitler seemed to strive to go to war.
I found the story to be very compelling, while the men of power are planning a meeting in Munich, things are happening off the scene. Not everyone in Germany is on Hitler's side and some of them wouldn't mind getting rid of him. For Hugh Legat, one of Chamberlain's private secretaries, will these four days become very intense when an old friend contacts him again. Paul Hartmann, German diplomat and member of the anti-Hitler movement. Can they stop Hitler's plans?
Munich is captivating, well-written and memorable. I'm particularly impressed with the personality descriptions and especially Chamberlain whose will was to preserve peace at any price. Was it cowardly to sign the Munich Agreement to ignore the signs that this is only a respite? Well, we have the luxury of being able to look back and know that nothing had stopped Hitler and I have to admit that I feel sympathy for Chamberlain and his peacekeeping attitude.
ENGLISH REVIEW
September 1938
Hitler is determined to start a war.
Chamberlain is desperate to preserve the peace.
The issue is to be decided in a city that will forever afterwards be notorious for what takes place there.
Munich.
As Chamberlain’s plane judders over the Channel and the Fürher’s train steams relentlessly south from Berlin, two young men travel with secrets of their own.
Hugh Legat is one of Chamberlain’s private secretaries; Paul Hartmann a German diplomat and member of the anti-Hitler resistance. Great friends at Oxford before Hitler came to power, they haven’t seen one another since they were last in Munich six years earlier. Now. as the future of Europe hangs in the balance, their paths are destined to cross again.
When the stakes are this high, who are you willing to betray? Your friends, your family, your country or your conscience?
**********
I found the story to be very compelling, while the men of power are planning a meeting in Munich, things are happening off the scene. Not everyone in Germany is on Hitler's side and some of them wouldn't mind getting rid of him. For Hugh Legat, one of Chamberlain's private secretaries, will these four days become very intense when an old friend contacts him again. Paul Hartmann, German diplomat and member of the anti-Hitler movement. Can they stop Hitler's plans?
Munich is captivating, well-written and memorable. I'm particularly impressed with the personality descriptions and especially Chamberlain whose will was to preserve peace at any price. Was it cowardly to sign the Munich Agreement to ignore the signs that this is only a respite? Well, we have the luxury of being able to look back and know that nothing had stopped Hitler and I have to admit that I feel sympathy for Chamberlain and his peacekeeping attitude.
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