It’s been a while since I wrote something about a book here. Well, that’s partially because I had less time to write but also because the books I read were not that good that they required/deserved a post right away.
But some where good anyway and Fatherland from Robert Harris is definitely one of them.
The context of the story – in the form of an alternative history – is very disturbing. Germany won the Second World War on the European side of the Atlantic and Hitler is confortably installed at the head of the 3rd Reich while former leaders of the Nazi-Party are dispatched in all the governing seats. The SS are integrated in the whole society and the Gestapo is still the most powerful / dreaded tool of the State. You really have to imagine the 3rd Reich as a part of the Modern World, world at peace with the USA led by a J.P. Kennedy for example. You can get why that may be disturbing right?
The story begins in spring 1964, a few weeks before Hitler’s 75th birthday, with a mere murder and an almost banal investigation from the Kripo, the Kriminalpolizei. No information about the victim, not even a name or a matching missing-person profile, nothing. That sounds strange to detective Xavier March, moreover when he discovers that the victim is a high-ranking Nazi representative and when the Gestapo starts taking over and rushing into closing the case. Of course Xavier does not give up and ends up being trapped into a dangerous political scandal.
This book is really interesting for many reasons, the first one being the uncover of the “final solution”. There is a huge enphasis about the jews being “replaced further east” but no one dares thinking let aside talking about a “final solution”. I know I spoil a bit there, but this is the subject that Xavier is going to uncover and tackle during the whole story. As surreal as it is, this subject is still one of the most complicated questions that the younger generations are and will keep asking. Maybe it is also a question I would somehow like to ask around but I did not dare…
The second reason would be the relations between Xavier and the SS-Corp. (he himself is a SS-Major) and Xavier and his son. Xavier March came in the SS when the Police was merged inside the organisation, not the otherway. His relation with the Uniform is somehow twisted and he loathes the Corp. but stays in as it is the only way for him to continue inquiring as a detective as well as not wishing to give up the modest advantages of being a SS-Officer. But during the whole story, R.Harris deeply describes the way other people look at Xavier with and without his uniform and let transpire the mixed feelings of his character. On the other hand, there has been a lot of talking about the Hitler Youth in our history, but try to imagine how it would be in a 30 yrs old Nazi Regime… Xavier’s son – Pili – is a pure Nazi product and neither his father or Philip himself can do anything about it. This leads to a disgusting – at best – relation as well as horrible scenes that reminded me of (pardon my sources) the film “Equilibrium”.
Anyway, beside triggering curious stares in the bus (Swastika on the cover) it was a really interesting book to digest and think about; I really recommend it.
) car certains éléments cruciaux pour le suspense sont dévoilés ci-dessous.