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The Three Nations Trilogy #3
The Black Eagle Inn
The Black Eagle Inn is an old established restaurant and part of a family farm business in the sleepy Bavarian countryside outside of Heimkirchen. Childless Anna Stockmann has fought hard to make it her own and keep it running through WWII. The family is divided by rivalry between family members since her own youth but at the heart of this story one of Anna’s nephews, Markus, owns her heart and another nephew, Lukas, owns her ear, while her husband Herbert is still missing-in-action.
Religion dictates life in Heimkirchen's enclosed Catholic community that was almost unaffected by the fighting in the war. Anna’s brother Hans-Ulrich is involved in the church as well as in post war party politics. He finds that the new generation, his own off spring, are not functioning as well as the older one would like. Bitter conflicts arise in the new forming Germany and the family members all need to decide how to respond to the challenges ahead.
How does a Nation recover from its collective shame, how does it rebuild itself into a modern state and deal with its horrendous past and the difficult path ahead? Restructuring of the political landscape & the influence of religion are strong themes in this historical family saga & post war drama set in Germany 1940 - 1976.
This is war fiction without immediate war, it is literary history about Germany after the Nazi rule with gay, racial, religious and feminist themes, describing the way one family experiences the forward move of a shamed Nation.
Fischer tells a great family saga with war in the far background and weaves the political and religious into the personal with belated or indirect impact of war on people.
Religion dictates life in Heimkirchen's enclosed Catholic community that was almost unaffected by the fighting in the war. Anna’s brother Hans-Ulrich is involved in the church as well as in post war party politics. He finds that the new generation, his own off spring, are not functioning as well as the older one would like. Bitter conflicts arise in the new forming Germany and the family members all need to decide how to respond to the challenges ahead.
How does a Nation recover from its collective shame, how does it rebuild itself into a modern state and deal with its horrendous past and the difficult path ahead? Restructuring of the political landscape & the influence of religion are strong themes in this historical family saga & post war drama set in Germany 1940 - 1976.
This is war fiction without immediate war, it is literary history about Germany after the Nazi rule with gay, racial, religious and feminist themes, describing the way one family experiences the forward move of a shamed Nation.
Fischer tells a great family saga with war in the far background and weaves the political and religious into the personal with belated or indirect impact of war on people.
296 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
12 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Christoph Fischer
49 books469 followersChristoph Fischer was born in Germany, near the Austrian border, as the son of a Sudeten-German father and a Bavarian mother. Not a full local in the eyes and ears of his peers he developed an ambiguous sense of belonging and home in Bavaria. He moved to Hamburg in pursuit of his studies and to lead a life of literary indulgence. After a few years he moved on to the UK where he now lives in a small town in West Wales. He and his partner have three Labradoodles to complete their family.
Christoph worked for the British Film Institute, in Libraries, Museums and for an airline. ‘The Luck of The Weissensteiners’ was published in November 2012; 'Sebastian' in May 2013 and 'The Black Eagle Inn' in October 2013 - which completes his 'Three Nations Trilogy'. "Time to Let Go", his first contemporary work was published in May 2014, and “Conditions”, another contemporary novel, in October 2014. The sequel “Conditioned” was published in October 2015. His medical thriller "The Healer" was released in January 2015 and his second thriller “The Gamblers” in June 2015. He published two more historical novels “In Search of a Revolution” in March 2015 and “Ludwika” in December 2015.
He has written several other novels which are in the later stages of editing and finalisation.
Christoph worked for the British Film Institute, in Libraries, Museums and for an airline. ‘The Luck of The Weissensteiners’ was published in November 2012; 'Sebastian' in May 2013 and 'The Black Eagle Inn' in October 2013 - which completes his 'Three Nations Trilogy'. "Time to Let Go", his first contemporary work was published in May 2014, and “Conditions”, another contemporary novel, in October 2014. The sequel “Conditioned” was published in October 2015. His medical thriller "The Healer" was released in January 2015 and his second thriller “The Gamblers” in June 2015. He published two more historical novels “In Search of a Revolution” in March 2015 and “Ludwika” in December 2015.
He has written several other novels which are in the later stages of editing and finalisation.
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November 1, 2013Book Trailer
http://studio.stupeflix.com/v/mB2JZUu...
Thoughts by the author on the book:
Why I wrote THE BLACK EAGLE INN
I was born 25 years after the end of the war. Our history lessons at school ended with the year 1945. One of the most urgent and important questions remained unanswered for me: How did a country with so much shame and horror in its past recover and move forward? How could it? I don’t think anything can ever make up for what has happened and nobody can forgive or atone for the collective guilt. But can the new generation ever deservedly rid itself of the stigma the previous generation has brought to the country?
Only ten years after the end of the war a wave of Italian and Turkish Immigrants filled the hole in the German employment market, ten years after that a new right wing party formed in Germany.
The Sixties brought the Bader Meinhoff Complex, student revolts and family conflicts. Many of the young adults were disillusioned with politics and turned violent. It took a new generation of politicians to instigate a modernisation of German society.
My book should be particularly interesting for those whose knowledge of Germany also ends with the year 1945. We know about the Nuremberg Trials but what does the little man do with this broken country?
http://studio.stupeflix.com/v/mB2JZUu...
Thoughts by the author on the book:
Why I wrote THE BLACK EAGLE INN
I was born 25 years after the end of the war. Our history lessons at school ended with the year 1945. One of the most urgent and important questions remained unanswered for me: How did a country with so much shame and horror in its past recover and move forward? How could it? I don’t think anything can ever make up for what has happened and nobody can forgive or atone for the collective guilt. But can the new generation ever deservedly rid itself of the stigma the previous generation has brought to the country?
Only ten years after the end of the war a wave of Italian and Turkish Immigrants filled the hole in the German employment market, ten years after that a new right wing party formed in Germany.
The Sixties brought the Bader Meinhoff Complex, student revolts and family conflicts. Many of the young adults were disillusioned with politics and turned violent. It took a new generation of politicians to instigate a modernisation of German society.
My book should be particularly interesting for those whose knowledge of Germany also ends with the year 1945. We know about the Nuremberg Trials but what does the little man do with this broken country?
October 12, 2013
This is a story of a Bavarian family that, for the most part of their lives, lived in or around "a huge farm with an equally impressive and renowned restaurant and inn, called The Black Eagle Inn, just outside the city limits of Heimkirchen, a sleepy Bavarian town."
The back story starts at the beginning of the century, even before the Great War. Anna Stockmann, nee Hinterberger, one of the central figures in this novel, grows up to be a very unusual girl--she has a firm grasp of business and a Machiavellian mind, that allows her to outmaneuver her siblings, even her older brother, when the time came to inherit. To my mind, her story is one of the most interest in seeing how people change through their lives. I would even go so far as to say that her life is an allegory of the old Germany, it mirrors it so closely.
While Anna has ho children of her own, some of her siblings procreate prodigiously, and from those offspring, a new generation of the family, who will play an important role in bringing this story to a conclusion, appears.
Just naming all of the characters would take much of the place for which this review allows. Suffice it to say, this book is a family epic. And when I say "epic," I really mean it. We tend to think of kings and queens, noblemen and their flock, as required to create that "epic" feel to the story. What Christoph Fischer has done is truly remarkable: he took a regular German family and gave us a book with enough plotting, machinations, politics, and intrigue to rival any of the books that concern royalty and then some. Betrayals and ambitions, loyalties and self interests are all mixed together in a constantly changing scene of the narrative without letting go.
However, and as "Howevers" go, this is a big one: This is a book about Germany and her people. While I see Anna as an allegory for the country, her family is the representation of the German people: they can be industrious, which goes without saying; selfish and selfless, self absorbed and carrying, pious and liberal, absorbed in politics and neutral, scheming and naïve. As generations change in the family, we can also trace the changes in the German people. The later parts that of the book that describe Maria's (Anna's niece) marriage and its consequences and Marcus's (Anna's nephew) finally starting to accept himself as a homosexual really underline the changes that the after-war Germany went through and the struggles the country had to face before becoming the modern Germany we know today.
What makes this book unique, is the time period in which the book is set. Most historical novels deal with the "juicier" timelines that involve wars and upheavals, unrest and suffering. While this novel has that as well, of main interest are the other parts that concern the pre- and post-war Germany, and its gradual, grudging transformation through the generations of people who lived through it and built that country.
"The Black Eagle Inn (The Three Nations Trilogy)" by Christoph Fischer is a really great historical novel in best traditions of James A. Michener and Errol Lincoln Uys, that delivers a historical narrative through character exploration; a fascinating journey into a less-explored territory. Highly recommended.
The back story starts at the beginning of the century, even before the Great War. Anna Stockmann, nee Hinterberger, one of the central figures in this novel, grows up to be a very unusual girl--she has a firm grasp of business and a Machiavellian mind, that allows her to outmaneuver her siblings, even her older brother, when the time came to inherit. To my mind, her story is one of the most interest in seeing how people change through their lives. I would even go so far as to say that her life is an allegory of the old Germany, it mirrors it so closely.
While Anna has ho children of her own, some of her siblings procreate prodigiously, and from those offspring, a new generation of the family, who will play an important role in bringing this story to a conclusion, appears.
Just naming all of the characters would take much of the place for which this review allows. Suffice it to say, this book is a family epic. And when I say "epic," I really mean it. We tend to think of kings and queens, noblemen and their flock, as required to create that "epic" feel to the story. What Christoph Fischer has done is truly remarkable: he took a regular German family and gave us a book with enough plotting, machinations, politics, and intrigue to rival any of the books that concern royalty and then some. Betrayals and ambitions, loyalties and self interests are all mixed together in a constantly changing scene of the narrative without letting go.
However, and as "Howevers" go, this is a big one: This is a book about Germany and her people. While I see Anna as an allegory for the country, her family is the representation of the German people: they can be industrious, which goes without saying; selfish and selfless, self absorbed and carrying, pious and liberal, absorbed in politics and neutral, scheming and naïve. As generations change in the family, we can also trace the changes in the German people. The later parts that of the book that describe Maria's (Anna's niece) marriage and its consequences and Marcus's (Anna's nephew) finally starting to accept himself as a homosexual really underline the changes that the after-war Germany went through and the struggles the country had to face before becoming the modern Germany we know today.
What makes this book unique, is the time period in which the book is set. Most historical novels deal with the "juicier" timelines that involve wars and upheavals, unrest and suffering. While this novel has that as well, of main interest are the other parts that concern the pre- and post-war Germany, and its gradual, grudging transformation through the generations of people who lived through it and built that country.
"The Black Eagle Inn (The Three Nations Trilogy)" by Christoph Fischer is a really great historical novel in best traditions of James A. Michener and Errol Lincoln Uys, that delivers a historical narrative through character exploration; a fascinating journey into a less-explored territory. Highly recommended.
January 23, 2014
This book is quite a feat. It has an enormous cast of characters - and each of them is well-thought out and painstakingly developed. The author seems to move with ease from one character's mind to the next and presents a complete point of view for each. I can't add much to what the other reviewers have said, other than to add my vote and recommend it as both an educational and an entertaining read - it teaches us history but is not missing any of the elements of ambition, desire, intrigue, and betrayal that are worthy of the most popular soap opera.
November 14, 2013
In this last book of the trilogy, we are given a micro view of what it means to live in a nation decimated by a war waged and lost against the rest of the world. The Hinterberger's are a proud family living in Heimkirchen, Germany, farming land that has been in the family for a while and running the local inn, The Black Eagle. All the problems that can beset a country in turmoil are seen in this family.
Desperate to own the family properties, Anna drives her brother off. When her father dies, Anna inherits everything and becomes the family matriarch. With her husband off at war, Anna runs everything to suit herself. Unable to have children of her own, she takes in young family members and raises them. She has taken in the propaganda and is a strict xenophobic. She refuses to hire anyone not from her own part of Germany. Religious differences cause strife within the extended family. Relative is pitted against relative in the belief that one or the other will inherit this or that portion of the Hinterberger properties.
Underhanded dealings provide luxury items for the restaurant at a time when they could not otherwise be afforded, and the family prospers. Much like the country at large, the various members of the family are doing what they must to survive and ensure they receive what they believe they are due for their efforts. Underhanded dealings, trickery, poison, creating false documents are all part and parcel of trying to rebuild and survive in the aftermath of a war that leaves many Germans ashamed.
The struggles of trying to survive in a country attempting to rebuild itself and regain respectability as the horrors of its leaders is made public is both heartrending and poignant. Families are torn apart and brought back together. Once again, Fischer has brought to life a world that most of us today weren't alive to witness, and done so eloquently. His characters come to live in a way that draws you into the story. You have to feel for them; he leaves you no choice. Whether those feelings are sadness, disgust, compassion, you must feel.
From a quiet farm to a family and country rising from the ashes back into respectability, Fischer handles everything with a deftness I've come to expect from his writing. Having read all of the books in the Three Nations Trilogy, it is obvious Fischer is passionate and extremely knowledgeable about the subjects of which he writes. His characters are well developed as they are in the other books.
Although the narrative moves slow and is detailed, I believe this is necessary for the reader to fully understand what the family, and in a broader view, Germany itself, is going through. Luck of the Weissensteiners, Sebastian, and The Black Eagle Inn show us a better view of Germany during this time period than any history book I ever read in school. No history can be complete that ignores the citizens of the country being studied. Fischer has done an excellent job filling in important blanks in my own education, for which I give him thanks. This book, and in fact the entire trilogy are thought-provoking, requiring you to question what you thought you knew and understood. You have to feel something. Can any book be ignored that does that?
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Desperate to own the family properties, Anna drives her brother off. When her father dies, Anna inherits everything and becomes the family matriarch. With her husband off at war, Anna runs everything to suit herself. Unable to have children of her own, she takes in young family members and raises them. She has taken in the propaganda and is a strict xenophobic. She refuses to hire anyone not from her own part of Germany. Religious differences cause strife within the extended family. Relative is pitted against relative in the belief that one or the other will inherit this or that portion of the Hinterberger properties.
Underhanded dealings provide luxury items for the restaurant at a time when they could not otherwise be afforded, and the family prospers. Much like the country at large, the various members of the family are doing what they must to survive and ensure they receive what they believe they are due for their efforts. Underhanded dealings, trickery, poison, creating false documents are all part and parcel of trying to rebuild and survive in the aftermath of a war that leaves many Germans ashamed.
The struggles of trying to survive in a country attempting to rebuild itself and regain respectability as the horrors of its leaders is made public is both heartrending and poignant. Families are torn apart and brought back together. Once again, Fischer has brought to life a world that most of us today weren't alive to witness, and done so eloquently. His characters come to live in a way that draws you into the story. You have to feel for them; he leaves you no choice. Whether those feelings are sadness, disgust, compassion, you must feel.
From a quiet farm to a family and country rising from the ashes back into respectability, Fischer handles everything with a deftness I've come to expect from his writing. Having read all of the books in the Three Nations Trilogy, it is obvious Fischer is passionate and extremely knowledgeable about the subjects of which he writes. His characters are well developed as they are in the other books.
Although the narrative moves slow and is detailed, I believe this is necessary for the reader to fully understand what the family, and in a broader view, Germany itself, is going through. Luck of the Weissensteiners, Sebastian, and The Black Eagle Inn show us a better view of Germany during this time period than any history book I ever read in school. No history can be complete that ignores the citizens of the country being studied. Fischer has done an excellent job filling in important blanks in my own education, for which I give him thanks. This book, and in fact the entire trilogy are thought-provoking, requiring you to question what you thought you knew and understood. You have to feel something. Can any book be ignored that does that?
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2013
Every time Christoph Fischer publishes a new book, I lose a night of sleep, happily and willingly. Yes, his books are that good. Impossible to put down. What I love about his writing is his incredible ability to present impeccably researched historical events with a personal perspective, through family stories – and isn’t that the best way to engage the readers and make history real? Especially if the story is well-told. And Christoph Fischer knows how to write amazing stories. I absolutely loved his first two books, and this one is even better – and I didn’t even think that was possible.
The book is about Germany, its history, and its people, but Christoph Fischer’s presentation of that history will hold interest of readers well beyond Germany. Part of my childhood was spent in Russia, and I clearly remember the animosity that the older generation held towards Germany – towards everything German, to the point of refusing to take German classes in schools because nobody wanted to learn “the language of the fascists.” When I was younger, I saw the events of World War II exclusively from the Russian perspective – post-war re-building, re-structuring, recovering, etc. Like many of my peers, I never considered the other point of view – how did Germany recover, not just economically and physically, but philosophically and culturally? How can a country move forward, regain its pride, its sense of identity after so many atrocities and horror that it inflicted upon the world and, of course, upon its neighboring countries. And that’s one of the main issues that Christoph Fischer addresses in his book, and that’s what fascinated me and kept me glued to my Kindle until the very last page of this beautifully written and incredible novel.
But, of course, this is not a textbook – even though the research that obviously went into writing it can surpass that of most textbooks – it is a riveting story of a family, of specific people, with their own opinions, ideologies, philosophies and issues, all set against the backdrop of the changing political landscape of wartime and post-war Germany. Christoph Fischer does not shy away from tough issues, so there’s everything in this novel, from religion to politics to homosexuality –all real issues that real people have to tackle. A fascinating new book from a talented author. Absolutely brilliant.
The book is about Germany, its history, and its people, but Christoph Fischer’s presentation of that history will hold interest of readers well beyond Germany. Part of my childhood was spent in Russia, and I clearly remember the animosity that the older generation held towards Germany – towards everything German, to the point of refusing to take German classes in schools because nobody wanted to learn “the language of the fascists.” When I was younger, I saw the events of World War II exclusively from the Russian perspective – post-war re-building, re-structuring, recovering, etc. Like many of my peers, I never considered the other point of view – how did Germany recover, not just economically and physically, but philosophically and culturally? How can a country move forward, regain its pride, its sense of identity after so many atrocities and horror that it inflicted upon the world and, of course, upon its neighboring countries. And that’s one of the main issues that Christoph Fischer addresses in his book, and that’s what fascinated me and kept me glued to my Kindle until the very last page of this beautifully written and incredible novel.
But, of course, this is not a textbook – even though the research that obviously went into writing it can surpass that of most textbooks – it is a riveting story of a family, of specific people, with their own opinions, ideologies, philosophies and issues, all set against the backdrop of the changing political landscape of wartime and post-war Germany. Christoph Fischer does not shy away from tough issues, so there’s everything in this novel, from religion to politics to homosexuality –all real issues that real people have to tackle. A fascinating new book from a talented author. Absolutely brilliant.
October 20, 2013
Family dynamics are often complex and disagreeable. In THE BLACK EAGLE INN, the Inn and adjacent farm are as much characters in the story as the various members of the Hinterberger family and those who interact with them throughout the book.
This is imaginatively achieved by the nice blend of characters that stagnate refusing to grow in spite of life offering them great opportunities to do so as well as characters that grow, either by experience or example. The subtleties and blunt ways of attacking each other as members of a dysfunctional family are clever and easy to visualize.
The wide diversity infused in the small town setting through the historical periods is ingeniously woven by allowing some characters to grow through experiences in other cities or countries as well as by the international influence of the `foreign' elements, through visitors to the BLACK EAGLE INN or the flow of immigration through the various changes in Europe before during and after WWII, and well into the Cold War.
As the book covers a large time period it addresses historical attitudes to prejudice of all kinds, from the Jews, to women's rights as well as prejudice to Muslims with its strongest note to homophobia.
My favorite character was Markus; as a reader he took me in a journey of understanding success and failure. The possibility of redemption when feelings run deep and there is the presence of love and forgiveness. I also found the development of the character's journey trying to accept his truth, while battling the religious beliefs that made his very nature a sin a very believable one. It was very interesting to have a story that combined how society sees homosexuality through various time periods as well as how Markus learns to balance and accept who he is.
Emotions; positive and negative run deep at THE BLACK EAGLE INN. Rivalries make sense and the Karmic wallop to those who deeply deserve it made for a most enjoyable ending. I am a big Fan of Christoph Fischer and now that he has so nicely wrapped his Three Nation Trilogy and entered the realms of modern times, I am most curious as to what he will write next. BRAVO and well done!
This is imaginatively achieved by the nice blend of characters that stagnate refusing to grow in spite of life offering them great opportunities to do so as well as characters that grow, either by experience or example. The subtleties and blunt ways of attacking each other as members of a dysfunctional family are clever and easy to visualize.
The wide diversity infused in the small town setting through the historical periods is ingeniously woven by allowing some characters to grow through experiences in other cities or countries as well as by the international influence of the `foreign' elements, through visitors to the BLACK EAGLE INN or the flow of immigration through the various changes in Europe before during and after WWII, and well into the Cold War.
As the book covers a large time period it addresses historical attitudes to prejudice of all kinds, from the Jews, to women's rights as well as prejudice to Muslims with its strongest note to homophobia.
My favorite character was Markus; as a reader he took me in a journey of understanding success and failure. The possibility of redemption when feelings run deep and there is the presence of love and forgiveness. I also found the development of the character's journey trying to accept his truth, while battling the religious beliefs that made his very nature a sin a very believable one. It was very interesting to have a story that combined how society sees homosexuality through various time periods as well as how Markus learns to balance and accept who he is.
Emotions; positive and negative run deep at THE BLACK EAGLE INN. Rivalries make sense and the Karmic wallop to those who deeply deserve it made for a most enjoyable ending. I am a big Fan of Christoph Fischer and now that he has so nicely wrapped his Three Nation Trilogy and entered the realms of modern times, I am most curious as to what he will write next. BRAVO and well done!
December 17, 2013
This book gives insight into Germany after the war but not about the Nazi trials and the rebuilding of the bombed out cities. It is the story of one family struggling and fighting about money, politics and religion. They are a mirror of what happens in the entire country. As family saga this is as entertaining as a good soap opera: the characters take some extreme measures, are stubborn or change, kiss and make up or never speak to each other again. It is a great portrayal of the human condition and family life in an interesting historical setting.
April 28, 2014
A new Germany
The third in his series, this is Fischer's most approachable book. Fighting by the family members is the only war that goes on, but it is just as fatal for some of them. Without war the historical aspects of the book are more political and subtle, but I found it fascinating to see how the aftermath of the war played out in a small community such as Heimkirchen and the Hinterberger family. Again, I learned a lot from the book and enjoyed the colorful characters. A great ending to the trilogy. I look forward to more from this author.
The third in his series, this is Fischer's most approachable book. Fighting by the family members is the only war that goes on, but it is just as fatal for some of them. Without war the historical aspects of the book are more political and subtle, but I found it fascinating to see how the aftermath of the war played out in a small community such as Heimkirchen and the Hinterberger family. Again, I learned a lot from the book and enjoyed the colorful characters. A great ending to the trilogy. I look forward to more from this author.
October 12, 2013
Wow what a harrowing and as far as i can tell accurate telling of what life back then would have been like post world war 2. This is usually not my cup of tea but i have to say i was enthralled from the moment i started to read this to the time i put it Christoph has certainly got my historical juices going with this book.
Hearlt recommend this to anyone who likes real life stories
Hearlt recommend this to anyone who likes real life stories
October 16, 2013
Christoph Fischer is one of my favorite “Undiscovered writers” who, with the publication of the final book of his Three Nations Trilogy, is certain to become known to a wider audience. He writes detailed historical fiction in an approachable way that places the reader in the period. Before I go on about The Black Eagle Inn, I must again recommend his first two books; The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian.
In The Black Eagle Inn (The Three Nations Trilogy) by Christoph Fischer, the author takes us into a sweeping tale of a Bavarian family during the twentieth century. It is a journey of an unremarkable family as they endure the history, hardships and celebrations that came with life during that period. Fischer has many strengths as a writer but creating characters that come alive within the pages may be his best. After reading his work, I feel I know some of these people better than my own family. I care about them, they occupy my thoughts when the book is no longer in my hands. His ability to weave multiple story lines within a grand plot is remarkable and proof his audience with grow. Very highly recommended – deserving of six stars.
In The Black Eagle Inn (The Three Nations Trilogy) by Christoph Fischer, the author takes us into a sweeping tale of a Bavarian family during the twentieth century. It is a journey of an unremarkable family as they endure the history, hardships and celebrations that came with life during that period. Fischer has many strengths as a writer but creating characters that come alive within the pages may be his best. After reading his work, I feel I know some of these people better than my own family. I care about them, they occupy my thoughts when the book is no longer in my hands. His ability to weave multiple story lines within a grand plot is remarkable and proof his audience with grow. Very highly recommended – deserving of six stars.
November 14, 2013
"Clinical, Real, Fascinating"
Usually I am not a fan of family sagas, but over the last few months I had my attention drawn to Christoph Fischer's 'The Three Nations Trilogy' and had seen a number of very complimentary reviews.
So being the perverse individual that I am, I decided to start with the last book in the series, 'The Black Eagle Inn', which is set against the backdrop of twentieth century Germany.
Fischer paints a picture of a wounded country, its people dealing with collective shame and guilt while trying to come to terms with a changing world. Bavaria, where most of the action takes place, is portrayed as a retrograde backwater, where traditions and old prejudices run deep.
The Hinterberger family are an obsessive bunch. The matriarch, Anna, is determined to keep control of the family lands and the Black Eagle Inn, at whatever cost to her personal relationships. Her brother, Hans-Ulrich, cannot see beyond the short-sightedness of his own religious bigotry, which drives away and alienates his children. The feuding and squabbling of the Hinterberger clan continues over decades, while their dreams die around them, and the world moves on regardless. They continue to shampoo the family rug while others progressively pull it out from underneath them.
There are fascinating vignettes of family power, almost all of which lead to disillusionment and corruption. There is little love in this family, although Maria - the youngest of Hans-Ulrich's daughters - does manage to balance a degree of personal happiness with career success.
I enjoyed Christoph Fischer's clinical narrative. His writing has a degree of alienation about it, and he pins his characters mercilessly to the wall like so many butterflies in an unusual collection. It doesn't feel like fiction: it feels like a 'real' family history. In spite of the unattractive personalities of many of the individuals in this book, I found I had to keep reading to see how all the various sub-plots were resolved. Fascinating stuff and well executed.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
Usually I am not a fan of family sagas, but over the last few months I had my attention drawn to Christoph Fischer's 'The Three Nations Trilogy' and had seen a number of very complimentary reviews.
So being the perverse individual that I am, I decided to start with the last book in the series, 'The Black Eagle Inn', which is set against the backdrop of twentieth century Germany.
Fischer paints a picture of a wounded country, its people dealing with collective shame and guilt while trying to come to terms with a changing world. Bavaria, where most of the action takes place, is portrayed as a retrograde backwater, where traditions and old prejudices run deep.
The Hinterberger family are an obsessive bunch. The matriarch, Anna, is determined to keep control of the family lands and the Black Eagle Inn, at whatever cost to her personal relationships. Her brother, Hans-Ulrich, cannot see beyond the short-sightedness of his own religious bigotry, which drives away and alienates his children. The feuding and squabbling of the Hinterberger clan continues over decades, while their dreams die around them, and the world moves on regardless. They continue to shampoo the family rug while others progressively pull it out from underneath them.
There are fascinating vignettes of family power, almost all of which lead to disillusionment and corruption. There is little love in this family, although Maria - the youngest of Hans-Ulrich's daughters - does manage to balance a degree of personal happiness with career success.
I enjoyed Christoph Fischer's clinical narrative. His writing has a degree of alienation about it, and he pins his characters mercilessly to the wall like so many butterflies in an unusual collection. It doesn't feel like fiction: it feels like a 'real' family history. In spite of the unattractive personalities of many of the individuals in this book, I found I had to keep reading to see how all the various sub-plots were resolved. Fascinating stuff and well executed.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
October 6, 2013
Set up over several generations the reader meets a dysfunctional family against the back drop of WW1 and 2.
Dealing with internal politics and manipulation the main protagonists is also involved in hiding from, taking part in and trying to advance in main stream politics of the day with them falling in and out of favor much like they do within their family dynamic.
When the man of the house and owner of the inn returns from being a pow he has some new ideas of his role in the family. Having had little else in common he and his fellow prisoners get to discussing home. He learns that his wife is manipulating him and that "real men" does not stand for this.
Upon returning home he finds the landscape changed and he feels even more inadequate and insecure. He lashes back by becoming a tyrant and for his trouble he gets into situations steered by a united front of family members who does not take kindly to change.
This is part of the world building against which the book is set. The story is however character driven and addresses a man who believes he is a genius and is thus better than everybody else. His nephew struggles with admitting and coming to terms with the fact that he is a gay man in a country where it is illegal. Their niece marriages a Muslim, breaking the family's claims to being all Catholic and all Bavarian all in one go.
In a world where survival is still primary and thriving secondary 3 generations of a family needs to learn to grow, accept and stop with manipulating others which is now as much part of their make up as their previous belief systems.
A detailed descriptive book of hope.
WaAr
Dealing with internal politics and manipulation the main protagonists is also involved in hiding from, taking part in and trying to advance in main stream politics of the day with them falling in and out of favor much like they do within their family dynamic.
When the man of the house and owner of the inn returns from being a pow he has some new ideas of his role in the family. Having had little else in common he and his fellow prisoners get to discussing home. He learns that his wife is manipulating him and that "real men" does not stand for this.
Upon returning home he finds the landscape changed and he feels even more inadequate and insecure. He lashes back by becoming a tyrant and for his trouble he gets into situations steered by a united front of family members who does not take kindly to change.
This is part of the world building against which the book is set. The story is however character driven and addresses a man who believes he is a genius and is thus better than everybody else. His nephew struggles with admitting and coming to terms with the fact that he is a gay man in a country where it is illegal. Their niece marriages a Muslim, breaking the family's claims to being all Catholic and all Bavarian all in one go.
In a world where survival is still primary and thriving secondary 3 generations of a family needs to learn to grow, accept and stop with manipulating others which is now as much part of their make up as their previous belief systems.
A detailed descriptive book of hope.
WaAr
May 24, 2014
This is the third part of Mr. Fischer's trilogy and it is even better than the first two which were both fantastic. This time, he chooses a Catholic family from a small town in Germany. Being so far from any cities, the town was spared the bombing and destruction of the war. But, this family's prejudices and geed shows that there are worse things to consider, Anna has manipulated her way into the position of owner of the family farm and Inn. She alienated her brothers, except the youngest, who was too weak and went to live in town. Hans became involved heavily with the Church and met his wife there. His dogmatic stand on religion alienates his children. Anna could not have children and used those of her brothers to work the farm. She adopted one of them after his father died and felt he was her Golden boy. She never appreciates the work of the other children and alienates them all. What happens when the "golden Boy' embezzles all the money from the farm and Inn and disappears? Does she realize the error of her ways? Powerful story, characters are well developed and the historical data is well researched. Another great book from this talented author!
I am adding this: Christoph shows us through this trilogy that there are worse things than war. Hate, prejudice and greed cause more destruction.
I am adding this: Christoph shows us through this trilogy that there are worse things than war. Hate, prejudice and greed cause more destruction.
October 24, 2013
THE BLACK EAGLE INN BY CHRISTOPH FISCHER
After reading and thoroughly enjoying the two earlier books in this Three Nations Trilogy (The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian) I was expecting to be enthralled yet again and I wasn’t disappointed!
This book kept me captivated right to the very last page. I was drawn in so cleverly and couldn’t wait to turn the pages. This is a family saga with a difference. It revolves around the restaurant - the Black Eagle Inn and a farm owned by the Hinterberger family and set in Bavaria. There is Anna and her brother Hans-Ulrich who are from a large family. With the Great War and all the problems that brought, the younger children were mostly left to the care of older brothers. However, Anna soon proved to be a natural leader and took charge herself. Although Anna was ten years older than Hans-Ulrich, the pair developed a special bond which was to last for many years. We learn how the siblings deal with the many happenings of that time. Anna wasn’t blessed with children so took a special interest in her nieces and nephews.
There is Maria, one of Hans-Ulrich’s daughters, whose life takes a surprising turn. Then we have Lukas, Maria’s brother, and Marcus, their cousin and how the rivalry between the two develops.
There is so much more I could say but you need to read this marvellous book yourself to find out what happens.
This story takes us through all the turbulent years during and after the second world war. How a rural family, and indeed much of Germany, coped with the many changes. Christoph Fischer brings to life, through his colourful characters, history in such a way that the reader has a better understanding of those times.
Another excellent book from the pen of Christoph Fischer that really must be read.
Fully deserving of five stars (I would give it six if possible!).
After reading and thoroughly enjoying the two earlier books in this Three Nations Trilogy (The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian) I was expecting to be enthralled yet again and I wasn’t disappointed!
This book kept me captivated right to the very last page. I was drawn in so cleverly and couldn’t wait to turn the pages. This is a family saga with a difference. It revolves around the restaurant - the Black Eagle Inn and a farm owned by the Hinterberger family and set in Bavaria. There is Anna and her brother Hans-Ulrich who are from a large family. With the Great War and all the problems that brought, the younger children were mostly left to the care of older brothers. However, Anna soon proved to be a natural leader and took charge herself. Although Anna was ten years older than Hans-Ulrich, the pair developed a special bond which was to last for many years. We learn how the siblings deal with the many happenings of that time. Anna wasn’t blessed with children so took a special interest in her nieces and nephews.
There is Maria, one of Hans-Ulrich’s daughters, whose life takes a surprising turn. Then we have Lukas, Maria’s brother, and Marcus, their cousin and how the rivalry between the two develops.
There is so much more I could say but you need to read this marvellous book yourself to find out what happens.
This story takes us through all the turbulent years during and after the second world war. How a rural family, and indeed much of Germany, coped with the many changes. Christoph Fischer brings to life, through his colourful characters, history in such a way that the reader has a better understanding of those times.
Another excellent book from the pen of Christoph Fischer that really must be read.
Fully deserving of five stars (I would give it six if possible!).
October 12, 2013
An epic masterpiece, Black Eagle Inn, by the very talented Christoph Fischer has concluded his brilliant trilogy with this his best yet. From the gripping first traumatic pages through to the surprising end this read does not disappoint. The characters are compelling and we can’t help falling in love with Maria and her family, flawed and imperfect as they all are, they are who we are, who we love, who we struggle with in our daily lives, who support us and help us have a sense of worth, they are the best and worst of the human condition expressed through gripping dialogues and historical scenes. Black Eagle Inn burns its image into the heart and mind of the reader, and lingers on for days after the last page is closed.
October 28, 2013
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for a review.
This is the third book in the historical series by this author and continue the themes in the previous two, addressing different lives during world war 2 and how people were changed by the politics and religious beliefs at the time. Unlike the previous two this goes up to the modern day and a large amount of time is covered in a short space of time, even more so than before. This means a lot of information is packed into a short space and on a few occasions makes it a little dry but I still found myself interested in the characters and their lives.
The story was very believable and well researched. A good read for history lovers.
This is the third book in the historical series by this author and continue the themes in the previous two, addressing different lives during world war 2 and how people were changed by the politics and religious beliefs at the time. Unlike the previous two this goes up to the modern day and a large amount of time is covered in a short space of time, even more so than before. This means a lot of information is packed into a short space and on a few occasions makes it a little dry but I still found myself interested in the characters and their lives.
The story was very believable and well researched. A good read for history lovers.
January 9, 2021
What am I missing? I could barely finish this. No description of setting. Shallow with too many characters. All quite despicable. The only ones that worked for me were Maria and her Turkish love. The author tried to cover way too much material. All telling, no showing. Cannot recommend.
October 22, 2013
The Black Eagle Inn (The Three Nations Trilogy) by Author Christoph Fischer
Talented Author Christoph Fischer has done it again! This is the second historical fictional novel that I have read and reviewed in this epic Trilogy Series and it did not disappoint. Reading a book by this author is like visiting a cherished, reliable, and trusted friend. The reader knows exactly what to expect and Author Christoph Fischer delivers each and every time. His endearing style of putting pen to paper warms the heart with its charming desire to educate, entertain, and captivate the most discerning readers.
He meticulously draws his readers into the story line with a very soft and gentle approach. In "The Black Eagle Inn" we are hypnotically tantalized by the life of Anna Stockman, nee Hinterberger, and her strong and ambitious personality. She is determined to be the heiress to her family's successful restaurant business and adjacent farm. She succeeds in outsmarting her brother by picking away at his self-confidence and then expertly cons her father into choosing her to ensure the legacy of their family business. After taking over, Anna manages to make her mark in the sleepy Bavarian town of Heimkirchen.
She seems untouched by the warring country around her but feels its sting nonetheless when her prisoner-of-war husband, Herbert, unexpectedly returns when the war is over. Anna is a far cry from pleased to see him and finds her plans to name an heir to her fortune are being foiled by her now angry and moody husband. With no children of their own, Anna has been diligently keeping an eye open for her successor in this family business and adopts the son of her older brother. Markus, her golden boy is nowhere near as pleasing to her husband as the quick-minded Lukas, son of Han-Ulrich her younger brother. With his innate aptitude for numbers, he is chosen to mind the books. Herbert smells a rat when it comes to Markus' accounting and soon realizes that Anna is covering up for him. Little does Anna know that Herbert it spot on and her nephew is "cooking the books" and leading a secretive double life which has yet to unfold. On the other hand, Lukas who appears to be righteous and loyal has a hidden agenda of his own. The vast cast of characters in this fictional family epic never cease to amaze me with their duplicity, greed, ambition, and thirst for power and wealth...but then there is Anna's niece, Maria. Could she be the breath of fresh air that this feuding family so desperately needs?
What an incredible story laced with historical truths to give it both authenticity and believability. Author Christoph Fischer is definitely a gifted raconteur as he spellbindingly pens his captivating plot and mesmerizes his reading audience. Very enjoyable indeed!
Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte
http://www.amazon.com/Not-Perfect-Its...
Talented Author Christoph Fischer has done it again! This is the second historical fictional novel that I have read and reviewed in this epic Trilogy Series and it did not disappoint. Reading a book by this author is like visiting a cherished, reliable, and trusted friend. The reader knows exactly what to expect and Author Christoph Fischer delivers each and every time. His endearing style of putting pen to paper warms the heart with its charming desire to educate, entertain, and captivate the most discerning readers.
He meticulously draws his readers into the story line with a very soft and gentle approach. In "The Black Eagle Inn" we are hypnotically tantalized by the life of Anna Stockman, nee Hinterberger, and her strong and ambitious personality. She is determined to be the heiress to her family's successful restaurant business and adjacent farm. She succeeds in outsmarting her brother by picking away at his self-confidence and then expertly cons her father into choosing her to ensure the legacy of their family business. After taking over, Anna manages to make her mark in the sleepy Bavarian town of Heimkirchen.
She seems untouched by the warring country around her but feels its sting nonetheless when her prisoner-of-war husband, Herbert, unexpectedly returns when the war is over. Anna is a far cry from pleased to see him and finds her plans to name an heir to her fortune are being foiled by her now angry and moody husband. With no children of their own, Anna has been diligently keeping an eye open for her successor in this family business and adopts the son of her older brother. Markus, her golden boy is nowhere near as pleasing to her husband as the quick-minded Lukas, son of Han-Ulrich her younger brother. With his innate aptitude for numbers, he is chosen to mind the books. Herbert smells a rat when it comes to Markus' accounting and soon realizes that Anna is covering up for him. Little does Anna know that Herbert it spot on and her nephew is "cooking the books" and leading a secretive double life which has yet to unfold. On the other hand, Lukas who appears to be righteous and loyal has a hidden agenda of his own. The vast cast of characters in this fictional family epic never cease to amaze me with their duplicity, greed, ambition, and thirst for power and wealth...but then there is Anna's niece, Maria. Could she be the breath of fresh air that this feuding family so desperately needs?
What an incredible story laced with historical truths to give it both authenticity and believability. Author Christoph Fischer is definitely a gifted raconteur as he spellbindingly pens his captivating plot and mesmerizes his reading audience. Very enjoyable indeed!
Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte
http://www.amazon.com/Not-Perfect-Its...
April 26, 2014
The Black Eagle Inn is the wonderfully written anthology of the rise and fall of the Hinterberger-Stockmann family dynasty from World War II through the 1970’s. Fischer’s insightful development of the characters makes you feel like you know them personally and gives the story a biographical impression.
Quote - “Anna Stockmann, nee Hinterberger, and her husband Herbert owned a huge farm with an equally impressive and renowned restaurant and inn, called The Black Eagle Inn, just outside the city limits of Heimkirchen, a sleepy Bavarian town. Their wealth of earthly possessions had made her the undisputed leader of the wider Hinterberger family and everyone who had joined them through marriage. She was a sly tyrant and a cold and hard business woman, but she had a soft spot for her little brother Hans-Ulrich.” - End of quote.
At Hitler’s onset of hostilities in Europe, Anna was at an age where she decided it was time to select and groom a successor to her reign of the family. With no children of her own, she looked to the nephews for candidates. Over time, she had openly shown favoritism to one of Hans-Ulrich’s sons, Lukas. In 1947, however, when her brother Alfones died of consumption and his wife Erica declared her intention to move away, Anna turned her attention to his son Markus, the oldest of the nephews. Markus had done a wonderful job with The Black Eagle Inn and she needed him for that purpose and agreed to adopt him, which activated jealousy and competition among the cousins and the ultimate disintegration of the family.
Fischer’s writing talent deftly exposes man’s frailties through the story: anger, greed, theft, and embezzlement—even arson, poisoning, politics, and zealous piety. He tastefully deals with stigmas under the Nazi rule: interracial marriage, homosexuality, and paid foreign workers as the laws and public acceptance change to adjust to the new Germany.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and gained a new perspective with the efforts to rid Germany of the Nazi atrocity mindset, and the efforts that continue today to show the world a Germany to be proud of.
There are many more facets to Fischer’s story that space does not permit me to cover, and I strongly encourage you to experience the entire book. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of the book for a fair and unbiased review.
Quote - “Anna Stockmann, nee Hinterberger, and her husband Herbert owned a huge farm with an equally impressive and renowned restaurant and inn, called The Black Eagle Inn, just outside the city limits of Heimkirchen, a sleepy Bavarian town. Their wealth of earthly possessions had made her the undisputed leader of the wider Hinterberger family and everyone who had joined them through marriage. She was a sly tyrant and a cold and hard business woman, but she had a soft spot for her little brother Hans-Ulrich.” - End of quote.
At Hitler’s onset of hostilities in Europe, Anna was at an age where she decided it was time to select and groom a successor to her reign of the family. With no children of her own, she looked to the nephews for candidates. Over time, she had openly shown favoritism to one of Hans-Ulrich’s sons, Lukas. In 1947, however, when her brother Alfones died of consumption and his wife Erica declared her intention to move away, Anna turned her attention to his son Markus, the oldest of the nephews. Markus had done a wonderful job with The Black Eagle Inn and she needed him for that purpose and agreed to adopt him, which activated jealousy and competition among the cousins and the ultimate disintegration of the family.
Fischer’s writing talent deftly exposes man’s frailties through the story: anger, greed, theft, and embezzlement—even arson, poisoning, politics, and zealous piety. He tastefully deals with stigmas under the Nazi rule: interracial marriage, homosexuality, and paid foreign workers as the laws and public acceptance change to adjust to the new Germany.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and gained a new perspective with the efforts to rid Germany of the Nazi atrocity mindset, and the efforts that continue today to show the world a Germany to be proud of.
There are many more facets to Fischer’s story that space does not permit me to cover, and I strongly encourage you to experience the entire book. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of the book for a fair and unbiased review.
October 15, 2013
This is the third book in The Three Nations Trilogy. The story is about the Hinterberger family who own and run a farm and restaurant, named The Black Eagle Inn. Anna has been running it with an iron fist for most of her life however not having been blessed with children, she is constantly weighing up her nephews and nieces as potential heirs. It soon is clear that the choice lies between two of her nephews, Markus and Lukas. Unfortunately her best laid plans are ruined by the one she loves most.
I actually found this book quite sad. It wasn’t sad in that it made me cry – it didn’t. It was more in that you were sad that so many of the characters were blinded by their greed and that when things fell apart they were too proud to forgive.
The story was well written and there was a lot of development in the characters. My attention was caught from the beginning and the outcome of the story was quite unknown to me until the very end – i didn’t find it predictable at all.
I found the tone to be a little different compared to the first two books, The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian. They were more historical fiction whereas this was more of a family saga simply set in the past. There was a lot more actual politics in this book as well compared to the other two. The other two were political in the sense that they involved the war and all the politics surrounding that however this book had a lot of politics to do with area of Germany where the story was based. I actually found in a section towards the end of the book that it was a bit too political – i felt like i was being too heavily persuaded in certain views and opinions.
I also just wanted to say that i really appreciated one of Christoph’s notes at the end. The book had a lot of negative religious content and this is what he wrote – “Equally, the book is by no means intended to offend religiously devoted readers. Religion is not at all meant to be criticised, only misuse of it for other purposes.”
I would definitely recommend this book to those who like family saga and also historical fiction although it’s not technically in that genre.
This review is based on a digital ARC provided by the author.
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
I actually found this book quite sad. It wasn’t sad in that it made me cry – it didn’t. It was more in that you were sad that so many of the characters were blinded by their greed and that when things fell apart they were too proud to forgive.
The story was well written and there was a lot of development in the characters. My attention was caught from the beginning and the outcome of the story was quite unknown to me until the very end – i didn’t find it predictable at all.
I found the tone to be a little different compared to the first two books, The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian. They were more historical fiction whereas this was more of a family saga simply set in the past. There was a lot more actual politics in this book as well compared to the other two. The other two were political in the sense that they involved the war and all the politics surrounding that however this book had a lot of politics to do with area of Germany where the story was based. I actually found in a section towards the end of the book that it was a bit too political – i felt like i was being too heavily persuaded in certain views and opinions.
I also just wanted to say that i really appreciated one of Christoph’s notes at the end. The book had a lot of negative religious content and this is what he wrote – “Equally, the book is by no means intended to offend religiously devoted readers. Religion is not at all meant to be criticised, only misuse of it for other purposes.”
I would definitely recommend this book to those who like family saga and also historical fiction although it’s not technically in that genre.
This review is based on a digital ARC provided by the author.
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
October 22, 2013
Ah. The Black Eagle Inn really is the most beautiful book I've read in a long time. The third of The Three Nations Trilogy (and I can highly recommend the other two in the series, The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebstian) it is written just as engagingly, with wonderful characters, fabulous story, and a unique perspective.
The Black Eagle Inn is set in Bavaria, at the end of World War II, and deals with a country that has been brought to its knees. How refreshing to read a different take on it all! And how well done the theme of redemption throughout the country and its citizens as a new way of being has to come into play for both country and populace to move on.
Christoph Fischer is an excellent writer, and he chose to tell this marvellous story through the medium of a family saga (and boy, is he good at that). So we are introduced to the matriarch, Anna, and her relations, and her wealth - the inn itself, together with restaurant and large farm.
Money, family, religion, politics, sexuality, forbidden love, scheming, plotting, hate and scandals engulf Anna, and all of these are mirrored in what is happening within the country too, a very clever thing to do for those readers (myself included) who wouldn't previously have known what life was like in Germany at the time.
But it is not heavy-going, quite the opposite, as you are caught up in what is happening to the family - the book is quite the page-turner.
And the redemption that I mentioned at the start of the review, of which the author has written so eloquently? Well, if you are willing to change, things will change around you and you can embrace those new things; if you don't, you are sure to be left behind. And I don't think there's much more you can say to make a case for humanity than that.
An excellent read.
The Black Eagle Inn is set in Bavaria, at the end of World War II, and deals with a country that has been brought to its knees. How refreshing to read a different take on it all! And how well done the theme of redemption throughout the country and its citizens as a new way of being has to come into play for both country and populace to move on.
Christoph Fischer is an excellent writer, and he chose to tell this marvellous story through the medium of a family saga (and boy, is he good at that). So we are introduced to the matriarch, Anna, and her relations, and her wealth - the inn itself, together with restaurant and large farm.
Money, family, religion, politics, sexuality, forbidden love, scheming, plotting, hate and scandals engulf Anna, and all of these are mirrored in what is happening within the country too, a very clever thing to do for those readers (myself included) who wouldn't previously have known what life was like in Germany at the time.
But it is not heavy-going, quite the opposite, as you are caught up in what is happening to the family - the book is quite the page-turner.
And the redemption that I mentioned at the start of the review, of which the author has written so eloquently? Well, if you are willing to change, things will change around you and you can embrace those new things; if you don't, you are sure to be left behind. And I don't think there's much more you can say to make a case for humanity than that.
An excellent read.
July 26, 2016
Full Circle: The Third Volume of the Epic Trilogy
In the rural Bavarian countryside outside of Heimkirchen, the Black Eagle Inn is an old established restaurant and part of a family farming concern. The family conflicts run deep and leave scars, as strong personalities battle to manipulate weaker ones.
"Did this also mean that he had intercepted the will completely or merely gained access to the information? What had Herbert written in his will that could not wait and had to remain a secret? She could not bear to think that Markus already knew. If only she could ask him, then she would know whether to try and rescue the dying man over at the farm building or finish him off with some extra ‘medication’."
Christoph Fischer demonstrated his talent with the The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian, the first two volumes of his compelling and excellently written trilogy.
With The Black Eagle Inn, Mr. Fischer evolves from talent to genius. From a macro perspective, the book delivers scope and breadth on difficult social, economic, political, and religious issues. From the micro perspective, the work delves into family conflicts and issues.
In the rural Bavarian countryside outside of Heimkirchen, the Black Eagle Inn is an old established restaurant and part of a family farming concern. The family conflicts run deep and leave scars, as strong personalities battle to manipulate weaker ones.
"Did this also mean that he had intercepted the will completely or merely gained access to the information? What had Herbert written in his will that could not wait and had to remain a secret? She could not bear to think that Markus already knew. If only she could ask him, then she would know whether to try and rescue the dying man over at the farm building or finish him off with some extra ‘medication’."
Christoph Fischer demonstrated his talent with the The Luck of the Weissensteiners and Sebastian, the first two volumes of his compelling and excellently written trilogy.
With The Black Eagle Inn, Mr. Fischer evolves from talent to genius. From a macro perspective, the book delivers scope and breadth on difficult social, economic, political, and religious issues. From the micro perspective, the work delves into family conflicts and issues.
January 20, 2014
The Black Eagle Inn (The Three Nations Trilogy) by Christoph Fischer is another 5 star book from the author.
I love where this story takes place and The Black Eagle Inn, an old restaurant and part of a family farm business is in a sleepy Bavarian town outside of Heimkirchen. Anna Stockmann has fought hard to keep it running through WWII. She is a hard woman and strong and very manipulative. All of the characters in this book are wonderful and fully developed and as this wonderful story moves along I became totally invested in each of their stories and their lives.
Christoph Fischer manages to enthrall me in his books, where the culture is both different from any I know and filled with so much rich history. The pages turn themselves and as you get deeper into his very creative and marvelous story there will be many twists and turns to deal with.
I would recommend the entire collection of The Three Nations Trilogy to everyone for a great experience with a wonderfully talented author.
Christoph Fischer gets 5 stars for this captivating book
I love where this story takes place and The Black Eagle Inn, an old restaurant and part of a family farm business is in a sleepy Bavarian town outside of Heimkirchen. Anna Stockmann has fought hard to keep it running through WWII. She is a hard woman and strong and very manipulative. All of the characters in this book are wonderful and fully developed and as this wonderful story moves along I became totally invested in each of their stories and their lives.
Christoph Fischer manages to enthrall me in his books, where the culture is both different from any I know and filled with so much rich history. The pages turn themselves and as you get deeper into his very creative and marvelous story there will be many twists and turns to deal with.
I would recommend the entire collection of The Three Nations Trilogy to everyone for a great experience with a wonderfully talented author.
Christoph Fischer gets 5 stars for this captivating book
March 1, 2015
Oh, I was so disappointed by this book! The first two books were so, so, so good... but this one just fell flat. I think part of the reason was that I wanted, and expected, historical fiction. What I got was a family drama between some of the most unlikable characters I have ever read about. I guess if you are into reading about backstabbing, sniveling, conniving, nasty excuses for human beings, then this book might be for you. If, however, you loved the wonderful characters in the first two book, and enjoyed cheering for them as they survived despite some horrific events,then skip this book. There is very little in the way of history, and by the end I felt like I was reading the cliff notes version... for some reason the story became choppy and sparse, and even though I did not like the characters, their stories still should have been fleshed out more. I will still read this author again, but I cannot recommend this particular book to anyone.
October 23, 2013
"The Black Eagle Inn (The Three Nations Trilogy)" by Christoph Fischer is a wonderful historical story. This book is about Germany, its history and people, but it’s really about so much more. The writing is breathtaking and rich. There are so many issues that come to the forefront that the author doesn’t seem to have a problem tackling. I loved all three books and this last one was just as good as the first two. There were so many suspenseful moments that were not at all obvious. I had no idea until the end what was going to happen. It was a real roller coaster of a ride that captures so much humanity. So much of this story was so realistic that it felt like these events were really happening. You should read these three books for yourself and see what all the fuss is about. There is sheer brilliance throughout these pages. These books moved me and touched me deeply.
February 5, 2014
This story was so moving, with so many different emotions, I found myself feeling sorry for the family. This was a perfect example of how money can corrupt, and destroy an otherwise simple family. How sad that there could be so much infighting and lack of loyalty among family members, that it was carried from one generation to the next. The Hinterberger family is a clear example of a dysfunctional family in spite of all their riches. It was also sad to see in the end, all the fighting and greed over money that the only family members who achieved a modicum of happiness were the ones that had the good sense to walk away from it all… In the end, death will have its due. Great story telling, powerful and moving.
March 25, 2014
Right from the start, it wouldn't take you long to see that this book was written by a naturally talented writer. The Black Eagle Inn is centred around a family with an old restaurant and a farm business. and when you consider how redundant such a storyline can be, you cannot help but marvel at the author's unique skill and creativity in crafting out a thrilling page-turner from this theme. This perspective of Germany after the World War is delivered with the unique taste of a first hand witness, and with that sense of richness and cultural sensuality that you cannot help but admire! Once more, Christoph Fischer proves why he deserves to be on my very scarce Favourite Authors' list. Highly recommended reading!
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August 19, 2014Christoph Fischer has taken historical fiction to a higher level. This beautifully told story delves into the questions surrounding post-war Germany and how the country and its people coped psychologically and culturally from the horror and atrocities that its society inflicted on so much of world. How does a country get back on its feet and face reality after that? Fischer answers these probing questions with a flawlessly-researched novel told from a kind, personal, and family perspective. What’s more, Fischer’s writing style is so easy going that the story and the history unfold masterfully. All around great read.
September 13, 2014
Tumultuous family dynamics set against a complex historical backdrop!
Well, he's done it again! Christoph Fisher has taken us into the inner recesses of his character's minds as they grapple with a culture turned inside out and emptied like a pants' pocket. There is intrigue, betrayal,love and hate...even a servant who poisons her employer. It seems that brutal times exact brutality from some people, but there is always the possibility of reconciliation and redemption. I thoroughly enjoyed this last book of the trilogy.
Well, he's done it again! Christoph Fisher has taken us into the inner recesses of his character's minds as they grapple with a culture turned inside out and emptied like a pants' pocket. There is intrigue, betrayal,love and hate...even a servant who poisons her employer. It seems that brutal times exact brutality from some people, but there is always the possibility of reconciliation and redemption. I thoroughly enjoyed this last book of the trilogy.
November 14, 2013
Fischer has such a talent at portraying family dynamics. Having read all three of his books niw, I consider myself a fan.
The Black Eagle Inn, again portraying Germany's history, deals with the trials and tribulations of a country family who own a farm and inn. What is different about this book us that Fischer approaches the issues of foreigners in Germany post World War II and the acceptance of homosexuality in Germany.
As usual, Fischer approaches these subjects with poise and class.
The Black Eagle Inn, again portraying Germany's history, deals with the trials and tribulations of a country family who own a farm and inn. What is different about this book us that Fischer approaches the issues of foreigners in Germany post World War II and the acceptance of homosexuality in Germany.
As usual, Fischer approaches these subjects with poise and class.
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