The Pathfinder

by Margaret Mayhew

As the tensions in the smouldering city grew worse, so Michael and Lili slowly fell in love. It was a love that surmounted all the prejudices and hatreds of war and offered a hope of understanding for the future.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, War, Germany, Fiction

389 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

Margaret Mayhew was born in London and her earliest childhood memories were of the London Blitz. She began writing in her mid-thirties and had her first novel published in 1976. She is married to American aviation author, Philip Kaplan, and lives in Gloucestershire.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit, when I picked up this book, I doubted there would be any depth to it. The book jacket reminded me of a “fluff-type” romance set in WWll. This story unfolds after the end of the war, in Berlin, and leading up to the building of the wall across the city. The plot ended up being interesting, unpredictable and more importantly, realistic. A few twists and turns which I liked.

[Elena Lauritzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The historical context was good, the story was enjoyable but I was surprised about the ending. Excited.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1948 Berlin, Germany the Second World War ended 3 years ago but the city is in rubbles, after so much bomb damage done by the Allies. In the British sector, RAF Squadron Leader Michael Harrison, was a war hero who helped bomb Berlin into fragments. He doesn't much care for Germany or its people, as he views them responsible for all the suffering that occurred in England and the war in general, where his siblings were killed in The Blitz. He just follows orders now. In the Russian sector is Berliner Lili Leicht, whose now living in the ruins of her former home with her ailing grandfather, and brothers. She does hard labour to put food on the table.Her father was murdered by the Gestapo and her mother was killed in the bombing. Denazification was an Allied initiative to rid German society, culture, press, economy, judiciary and politics of Nazism. The victorious allies asserted joint authority and sovereignty over Germany as a whole. While Berlin was wholly located in the Soviet zone, because of its symbolic importance as the nation's capital and the seat of the former Nazi government, the city was jointly occupied by the Allied powers and subdivided into 4 sectors. However, since the war's end, tensions started growing between Russia and the rest of the Allies. The Germans, in particular, the Berliners, hated the Russians because when they came into Germany during the war, they treated the Germans poorly and they raped many women from young to old. People in the Russian sector of the city weren't getting enough food and supplies.The Russians were making things difficult. The Berlin Blockade which lasted from June 1948-May 1949 was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of postwar Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. The Western Allies then organised the Berlin airlift from June 1948-September 1949 to carry supplies to the people of West Berlin.As tensions in the smouldering city grow worse, Michael and Lili slowly fall in love, but can their love survive prejudice and secrets?

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the aftermath of WWII, Berlin is a hard city to simply survive in. Lili is 19, and the head of the household, taking care of her senile grandfather, her polio stricken 9 year old brother and her 16 year old black-marketeer brother. The city of Berlin is divided into 4 sections, and sadly their family lives in the Russian section, which is one of the harshest ones. Losing their mother and grandmother to the bombing by the British and Americans, she has no love for them. Michael Harrison was an RAF pilot who dropped many bombs on Berlin during the end of the war. He lost his sister and 2 nephews to a Nazi bomb attack in England, so he has no love for the Nazi's, and clumps all Germans in the same category. While there is a romance, it is ill-fated. The characters are well defined, and the story is well written. I liked how it made me think deeper about what it was like for the German people, and not fall into the same trap that Michael did at first. Hard to put this one down, and I highly recommend it.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that made me keep wondering how it would turn out. I had forgotten what it was about when I decided to read it and it was sort of serendipitous that I read it right after "The Fall of Berlin" since the story takes place three years after the end of WWII in Berlin at the time of the Berlin Airlift. I won't go into the plot. It does concern a relationship that develops between a British former bomber pilot and a young German girl who lives in the part of Berlin controlled by the Russians. It seemed to me that the situations and characters are realistic and the ending made sense.

[D. Jane Akins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an eye opening story

I knew little about the airlift in Germany following the War and only knew a little about the horrible conditions existing in Berlin for years following the end of the war, especially in the Russian sector but this book certainly lifted that lack of knowledge. Very well-written and well-edited with excellent character development, which will nearly always get 5 stars from me. A great, if sad, love story within the terrible conditions of that era. Highly recommended if you like historical novels.

[Jeanne Loidolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching survival

The inner strength of Lili is beyond comprehension in the desolations of occupied Berlin. I was impressed with the extensive research that was obvious throughout the narrative. Each character was so well composed that I lived within each person, feeling the emotional impact of lack, desperation, hopelessness and anger. My one disappointment was the missing narrative of Lili’s decision about marriage to Michael. Settling with less than love was sacrifice beyond reason for me.

[Marion Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting believable romance crafted in world war 2 times ,after the fall of Berlin. Conceivable details of life as Germany was partitioned. Good story telling drama .n reasonable ending.

Would be happy to recommend story to relatives who enjoy reading.Details of London and Berlin after the war seem likely to be true and accurate. Would be happy to read
this author again .

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post war Berlin was a tough place. Lili and her family are in the Russian sector, which is perhaps the least cared for. Then she meets Michael, an RAF squadron leader who lost family in the German bombings of the UK (as well as those he flew with). A romance? Yes, but also a good depiction of a time and place most have forgotten. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical romances.,

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Depressing. Unsatisfying. Underdeveloped characters

Wow. I don’t know what to say. I absolutely love World War II historical fiction. Love it. I’ve read a lot of it. I found this novel very depressing. I understand that it’s post World War II Germany. But I did not see a shred of hope anywhere in this book. I found the characters stilted and they had no substance. The ending was depressing.....

[Faith F.Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the war.

Surviving. The war brought on other ways to survive. The people had to find somewhere to live which was anything from a falling down house to part of a partially destroyed barn garage, etc. Then they had to get food to survive which was whatever's scraps they could mix together with water which they called soup. Even though the war was over they were subject to be controlled by a military from Russia,Germany, or other countries in WW2.

[Dan Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I'll be honest and say that the 3 stars I gave the novel were due to the unnatural (given the lead up) and unhappy ending. I know, I know, not all situations in life have happy endings but I was disappointed in this one. The story was generally good but the description of the 'falling in love' with Lily was not acceptable. It took maybe two sentences to go from knowing her to asking her to marry him. No, I think Margaret can do better. I liked the story but it fell short, IMO.

[Stephen F. Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent WWII historical novel about post war in Berlin during the blockade and airlift. Very realistic about conditions and the people. The Pathfinder is the lead character, a RAF pilot who falls in love with a young Berliner girl. I won't tell more to not give things away. I enjoyed it but not as much as some of the author's other books.

I still recommend it for fans of WWII history.

[Mrs J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreak in a book- harsh reading, but compelling

This account of post-war survival in Berlin is heart-rending, but probably true to life. The romance between a British officer and a German woman blossoms in the war-torn city and their love is like a weed that flowers in waste ground. The British characters are stereotyped, as are the Russians. The ordinary German people are portrayed as struggling ineffectually against their fate.

[Saskia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place in Berlin just a few years after the war. Berlin is divided in quaters but the relationship between the Western Allies and Russia isn't that good. The story shows the desperate situations the Berlin people lived in. Most of Berlin was in ruin with food, clothing, medicine and fuel spares. It wasn't living, it was surviving each day.

[Saskia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place in Berlin just a few years after the war. Berlin is divided in quarters but the relationship between the Western Allies and Russia isn't that good. The story shows the desperate situations the Berlin people lived in. Most of Berlin was in ruin with food, clothing, medicine and fuel spares. It wasn't living, it was surviving each day.

[Lucy Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical novel

While I have read numerous books set in or after WWII , I had never read anything about what had happened to Berlin; so it was very interesting to read about it and how people lived to survive. I was disappointed in the ending, but it was probably for the best!

[Lisa Carlile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic novel by Margaret Mayhew
Based in 1948 in Berlin
A city that was divided by war., and two lovers on opposing sides. Can they overcome the obstacles of war and make there own destiny
Fantastic book.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy

[Linda Burger]

Good read

This book started slowly it then began to get interesting. I was surprised at how things were in Berlin. I knew the book would end like it did but I wanted a different ending

[Adair Sissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreak

Love starts as a spark, you watch it grow into an unquenchable fire, in the blink of an eye it is destroyed and scatters all the embers. Two hearts keep the spark alive but will never be joined, unfulfilled longing.

[Sandy Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such tragic decisions war forces on people

I knew from the start the officer and the young lady would fall in love but never dreamed just how awful their lives would be torn apart. There is probably more truth than fiction in this tale?!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview...

The mixture of history and fiction I felt were well done as an overview of this time period. The love story though disappointed. It never seemed to develop a real spark in the beginning that would indicate a fire of love or desire written later. I would still recommend as read though.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical fiction about post war Germany before the Berlin Wall went up.
I found the historical aspect very interesting.
That ending???? I was a bit let down with it.
The romance????
All in all, a ok read. If you enjoy historical fiction, pick this up and see how you like it.

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me insight why The Wall was build that separated West and East Berlin. It was one of those books that could have been so much more. The storyline was good, but could have been so much more.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Pedestrian and predictable. The historical context was interesting but the story...not so much.

[jayne campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sudden ending!

Loved the story but disappointed that it all wound up briskly. I felt that the years went from 46 to 61 without much explanation and then suddenly ended.🤔

[Kelly Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure about this book. Good historical context but a few years went by without much explanation and then just ends.

[Peggy Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent!

One of the greatest historical novels I have ever read. Heart wrenching love story, well written. Couldn’t put it down. Read this book. Highly recommended!

[ann betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pathfinder

I always enjoy reading Mathews books they always give an insight into events that I am not as well informed.

[Tracy Shanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Ending a little.rushed but I enjoyed it