HHhH[HHHH][Paperback]

by Laurent Binet

HHhH <> Paperback <> LaurentBinet <> PicadorUSA

Paperback

Published July 31, 2013

About the author

Son of an historian, Binet was born in Paris, graduated from University of Paris in literature, and taught literature in Parisian suburb and eventually at University. He was awarded the 2010 Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman for his first novel, HHhH.

Laurent Binet est né à Paris. Il a effectué son service militaire en Slovaquie et a partagé son temps entre Paris et Prague pendant plusieurs années. Agrégé de lettres, il est professeur de français en Seine-Saint-Denis depuis dix ans et chargé de cours à l'Université. HHhH est son premier roman.

Reviews

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reinhard Heydrich was one of the top men in the Nazi organization. The HHhH stood for 'Himmlers Hirn heisst Heydrich' which means 'Himmlers brain is called Heydrich'. He was high up in the SS organization and one of the main architects of the Final Solution. He ruled occupied Czechoslovakia and sent out Death Squads.

This is the story of how two men, Jozef Gabcik and Jan Kubis as they escape Czechoslavakia to England where they were trained as assassins. They parachuted into the country and eventually attacked Heydrich as he was riding to work one day. He survived the attack but died later in the hospital. It also covers what happened after the assassination and the brutal standoff that ended in both men's deaths.

Laurent Binet is a French author and this was his debut novel. His work focuses on history, mostly current and political. This novel alternates between the facts of the event and the process of Binet writing it. It was a New York Times Book Review Editors Choice as well as a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. I was not familiar with Heydrich's role but this book was written in such a way, alternating between the evil he was committing and the preparations for his death, that I'll never forget him and the courage of men who volunteered for a mission they knew would result in their own deaths. This book is recommended for historical fiction readers.

[Garry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two-thirds of this unconventional historical fiction, but eventually, the author drove me to distraction with his rambling asides and commentary. Benet tells the story of the rise of Reinhardt Heydrich in Hitler's Nazi power structure and the tale of the young Czech and Slovak men who manage to assassinate Heydrick.

[Mary Gersemalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

HHhH was an exciting reading experience, once I figured out that it is not a straight-ahead nonfiction of World War 2's Operation Anthropoid. Rather, Binet tells the story of his research, unearthing of ghosts, and the stops and starts of wiring about this point in time in our history. Through this approach, these historical figures take on renewed currency, and I became invested in all of it!

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The closest thing to reading a novel looking at history and present in 3D; amazingly well written. The translation into English is good, but the original French is positively lyrical bringing to life a heroic and horrific story and people to life.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting author narrative. Wish I’d read this before I went to Prague! My book was hardback.

[Greg Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read. I’ve never experienced a non-fiction book like this. A sort of meta retelling of the assassination of Heydrich in Prague in WW2. Thrilling and heartbreaking.

[Amethyst Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Innovative way to write a historical novel. Very interesting.