The German House
Annette Hess, trans. from the German by Elisabeth Lauffer. HarperVia, $25.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-06-291025-7
Hess’s strong debut follows Eva Bruhns, who works as an interpreter at the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials in 1963 Germany, in which German defendants have been charged with crimes they perpetrated at Auschwitz during WWII. Eva becomes emotionally invested as she interprets the testimonies of Polish witnesses from Polish to German, but she doesn’t understand why her parents, Edith and Ludwig, owners of the German House restaurant, don’t seem to care about the trial. As Eva continues her work and makes a trip to Auschwitz along with other members of the trial team, she uncovers secrets her parents have hidden from her about her father’s work during the war. The period detail is impressive, but the highlight is Eva, a complex and thoughtful woman who finds herself in the midst of a significant moment in history. This novel will appeal to both WWII fiction fans and those seeking historical novels anchored by a strong, memorable heroine. (Dec.)
Details
Reviewed on: 09/12/2019
Genre: Fiction
Compact Disc - 978-1-0940-2590-2
Library Binding - 432 pages - 978-1-64358-568-0
MP3 CD - 978-1-0940-2591-9
Other - 336 pages - 978-0-06-291031-8
Paperback - 336 pages - 978-0-06-291030-1
Pre-Recorded Audio Player - 978-1-0942-5617-7
