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Für Elise: A Novel
He waited half his life for a homecoming, only to discover his home no longer existed.
. . . But perhaps he can create a new one.
In 1956, more than a decade after the end of World War II, Hans Becker is finally released from a Soviet POW camp and returns to Germany. The reunion is disheartening—his beloved Dresden is largely blackened rubble, and his feelings of disorientation and melancholy hinder his attempt to revive the life—and love—he left behind.
Elise, the once delicate teenager whose memory Hans carried in his heart, has, through unspeakable trauma, transformed into a strong, independent woman skeptical of love. Yet just as she and Hans can spot traces of splendor in the ruins and oppression of Iron Curtain–era Dresden, so they each can see flashes of what attracted them to their long-ago sweetheart. But they—and their world—have changed so much. Are they willing to risk everything to seek a new beginning?
. . . But perhaps he can create a new one.
In 1956, more than a decade after the end of World War II, Hans Becker is finally released from a Soviet POW camp and returns to Germany. The reunion is disheartening—his beloved Dresden is largely blackened rubble, and his feelings of disorientation and melancholy hinder his attempt to revive the life—and love—he left behind.
Elise, the once delicate teenager whose memory Hans carried in his heart, has, through unspeakable trauma, transformed into a strong, independent woman skeptical of love. Yet just as she and Hans can spot traces of splendor in the ruins and oppression of Iron Curtain–era Dresden, so they each can see flashes of what attracted them to their long-ago sweetheart. But they—and their world—have changed so much. Are they willing to risk everything to seek a new beginning?
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 20, 2025
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
For the first 40% of FUR ELISE, I was a frustrated reader and found myself wanting to scan quickly thru the naive, underwhelming story about two love-struck teenagers from opposite sides of the tram line. Hans and his family are very blue collar and are struggling in pre-war Dresden. Elise is the daughter of a doctor. They have plenty and live large. Doctor dad appears to be pro Nazi; mason dad - not so much. One house is champagne the other beer but their teenagers are drawn to each other.
Laying the groundwork goes on far too long. We get no first hand experiences with Hans in the war. Author, Mark Splitstone, handles 14 years of time on two pages with a few press releases. I wanted more; so much more. Details are filled in with flashbacks once Hans returns from POW camp and Part Two of the book begins. The story is better in this section than the beginning.
Splitstone withholds details about what Hans and Elise experienced during the war for a long time. I’m still trying to decide if I like the technique or not for this story. I’m definitely not a fan of the twist at the end because it’s completely contradictory to everything we know about Hans.
It is interesting to find a storyline that has East Germans as main characters. Also, I’d not known that so many men were kept in Russian POW camps arbitrarily, (after WWll), to facilitate reconstruction. The Russian government classified them as “war criminals”, without cause or proof. That designation followed many of them for the rest of their lives; heartbreaking. Information about the city of Dresden itself is enough to become a character in the book. The pre and post war comparisons are well researched and emotional.
For those who are sensitive, FUR ELISE is written without any graphic violence, sexual content or foul language. It’s a book about war so there are horrific events and some descriptions that accompany them but nothing gratuitous or excessive. PG-13 would be a fair rating.
If you’re looking for something different in Historical Fiction, this would be a good choice. Keep in mind that almost half the book reads like a YA story📚
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
For the first 40% of FUR ELISE, I was a frustrated reader and found myself wanting to scan quickly thru the naive, underwhelming story about two love-struck teenagers from opposite sides of the tram line. Hans and his family are very blue collar and are struggling in pre-war Dresden. Elise is the daughter of a doctor. They have plenty and live large. Doctor dad appears to be pro Nazi; mason dad - not so much. One house is champagne the other beer but their teenagers are drawn to each other.
Laying the groundwork goes on far too long. We get no first hand experiences with Hans in the war. Author, Mark Splitstone, handles 14 years of time on two pages with a few press releases. I wanted more; so much more. Details are filled in with flashbacks once Hans returns from POW camp and Part Two of the book begins. The story is better in this section than the beginning.
Splitstone withholds details about what Hans and Elise experienced during the war for a long time. I’m still trying to decide if I like the technique or not for this story. I’m definitely not a fan of the twist at the end because it’s completely contradictory to everything we know about Hans.
It is interesting to find a storyline that has East Germans as main characters. Also, I’d not known that so many men were kept in Russian POW camps arbitrarily, (after WWll), to facilitate reconstruction. The Russian government classified them as “war criminals”, without cause or proof. That designation followed many of them for the rest of their lives; heartbreaking. Information about the city of Dresden itself is enough to become a character in the book. The pre and post war comparisons are well researched and emotional.
For those who are sensitive, FUR ELISE is written without any graphic violence, sexual content or foul language. It’s a book about war so there are horrific events and some descriptions that accompany them but nothing gratuitous or excessive. PG-13 would be a fair rating.
If you’re looking for something different in Historical Fiction, this would be a good choice. Keep in mind that almost half the book reads like a YA story📚
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
May 27, 2025
I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It's premised on the historical fact (which we learn in the first chapter) that the Soviet Union held on to some of their German POWs until the mid-1950s. It's sort of a take on Rip Van Winkle (which is referred to in the text), with Hans, the main character, being released from a POW camp in 1956 and effectively waking up in a world he no longer recognizes. I thought this was a clever idea for a novel.
The first section of the book takes place at the beginning of World War II. We meet Hans and Elise, a young Dresden couple attempting to begin and maintain a romance as Germany descends into genocide and total war. As this section moves along, there's a sense of impending doom, since the reader knows what's going to happen to Hans, Dresden, and Germany. This section ends when Hans leaves Dresden to fight in the war.
The second, longer section of the book takes place when Hans returns to a world he barely recognizes. Neither Hans nor Elise (nor the reader) knows what happened to the other while they were apart, and the underlying tension in this section is the result of these secrets gradually being revealed and their relationship slowly being rekindled. The book concludes with an emotional chapter set in 2005, where we learn the fate of all the characters.
I liked learning about life in East Germany during the Cold War, especially since novels with this setting are usually about spies rather than ordinary people. I also thought the descriptions of Dresden before and after its destruction were compelling. There have obviously been other novels set in Dresden during the war, but I never thought about what the city was like ten years later. A really enjoyable read.
The first section of the book takes place at the beginning of World War II. We meet Hans and Elise, a young Dresden couple attempting to begin and maintain a romance as Germany descends into genocide and total war. As this section moves along, there's a sense of impending doom, since the reader knows what's going to happen to Hans, Dresden, and Germany. This section ends when Hans leaves Dresden to fight in the war.
The second, longer section of the book takes place when Hans returns to a world he barely recognizes. Neither Hans nor Elise (nor the reader) knows what happened to the other while they were apart, and the underlying tension in this section is the result of these secrets gradually being revealed and their relationship slowly being rekindled. The book concludes with an emotional chapter set in 2005, where we learn the fate of all the characters.
I liked learning about life in East Germany during the Cold War, especially since novels with this setting are usually about spies rather than ordinary people. I also thought the descriptions of Dresden before and after its destruction were compelling. There have obviously been other novels set in Dresden during the war, but I never thought about what the city was like ten years later. A really enjoyable read.
April 26, 2025
Such a tender, sorrowful, yet hopeful coming of age story set in pre- and post-war Dresden, Germany.
Hans and Elise meet in their school orchestra. He's of the working class and she of the upper middle. They enjoy all the wonders and riches which pre-war Dresden affords. That is until he is shipped off to war doing his obligatory duty in Germany's Wehrmacht. It isn't until 1956 that Hans finally makes his way home to Elise after his eleven years as a POW in Russia. He is now labeled a war criminal. Hans is not the same person who left in 1944, nor is Elise the same person, the memory of whom sustained Hans through all those years. Can they find their way back to one another? Can they survive this new East Germany?
Author Mark Splitstone has written a tender account of what wartime Germany was for two teens coming of age and forging into adulthood. There are so few books written from this perspective that it is worth pursuing. The writing is strong. The mise-en-scène is spectacular, beautifully presenting the magnificence of pre-war Dresden and her broken visage, post fire-bombing. The historical detail is well researched and enriches the tale. The characters are few, yet well developed. This appears to be written for a young adult audience. Although some of the topics covered are difficult, they are done as tastefully and respectfully as one can manage.
I am grateful to Amalgam for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Amalgam Books; 1st edition (May 20, 2025)
Publication date: May 20, 2025
Number of pages: 344
ASIN: B0F5V83Y4C
Hans and Elise meet in their school orchestra. He's of the working class and she of the upper middle. They enjoy all the wonders and riches which pre-war Dresden affords. That is until he is shipped off to war doing his obligatory duty in Germany's Wehrmacht. It isn't until 1956 that Hans finally makes his way home to Elise after his eleven years as a POW in Russia. He is now labeled a war criminal. Hans is not the same person who left in 1944, nor is Elise the same person, the memory of whom sustained Hans through all those years. Can they find their way back to one another? Can they survive this new East Germany?
Author Mark Splitstone has written a tender account of what wartime Germany was for two teens coming of age and forging into adulthood. There are so few books written from this perspective that it is worth pursuing. The writing is strong. The mise-en-scène is spectacular, beautifully presenting the magnificence of pre-war Dresden and her broken visage, post fire-bombing. The historical detail is well researched and enriches the tale. The characters are few, yet well developed. This appears to be written for a young adult audience. Although some of the topics covered are difficult, they are done as tastefully and respectfully as one can manage.
I am grateful to Amalgam for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Amalgam Books; 1st edition (May 20, 2025)
Publication date: May 20, 2025
Number of pages: 344
ASIN: B0F5V83Y4C
June 3, 2025
This historical fiction novel was an absolute page-turner - I truly couldn't put it down. What made it stand out most was its unique perspective on a lesser-known part of history, bringing a fresh and insightful lens to the genre. The characters were incredibly well developed, each one rich with depth and authenticity. I found myself deeply invested in their journeys, emotions, and choices. They felt real, and their stories lingered with me long after I finished the last page.
The writing beautifully balances historical detail with compelling narrative, making pre and post-WWII Germany come alive. It's the kind of story that stays with you - thought-provoking, emotional, and unforgettable. Highly recommend.
The writing beautifully balances historical detail with compelling narrative, making pre and post-WWII Germany come alive. It's the kind of story that stays with you - thought-provoking, emotional, and unforgettable. Highly recommend.
May 15, 2025
A great choice for readers who gravitate toward historical fiction novels set in and around WWII. This book has a rare perspective, focusing on German main characters and life in the GDR after the war. The story is well researched and describes regular life in Germany for families while the Nazi movement was rising in power. It was complicated and heart-breaking and devastating, and I know their story will stay with me for a while. The awkward young romance section can be a little slow, but don't let it deter you - the pace reflects a carefree youth before war dominated their adulthood. I also enjoyed learning about Dresden, its history, and its architecture, since it is not a city that I was very familiar with before. I look forward to other books by this author in the future.
I read this is an Advance Reader Copy before publication, but this opinion is wholly my own.
I read this is an Advance Reader Copy before publication, but this opinion is wholly my own.
August 11, 2025
What a page turner! The structure of the book sets it up so that you can sit and read for hours and it feels like minutes… amazing twists and turns both minor and major that keep the book interesting while weaving history into the plot not obviously. Of course the sign of a great book is one where you get emotionally attached to the characters (and perhaps shed a tear or many at the end).
10/10 recommend
10/10 recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2025
Hans Becker is from a blue collar family & falls for a girl named Elise, whose father is a doctor. Even with coming from two different backgrounds & lifestyles, they fall for each other, but the war takes Hans away - away much longer than expected. The Soviet Union imprisoned German POW’s until the mid 1950’s so Hans was gone for well over 10 years. Everything is different when he comes back, even Elise is different. I enjoyed this one, what a good story!
September 7, 2025
I learned so much!! You can tell this book was thoroughly and carefully researched which added so much to an already compelling story. I audibly gasped at the end which is always a sign of a good twist. Wonderful novel all around!
April 30, 2025
Two inn0cent teens, Hans and Elise, meet during an orchestra practice, and fall in love. Hans is the only child of a mason and a farmer's daughter. Elise grows up as the pampered younger child of a doctor and his vivacious wife. They have a sweetly awkward courtship, interrupted when Hans is drafted into the Army. They will not meet again for fourteen years.
What makes this book more than a love story is the fact that Hans and Elise grow up in Dresden during the Second World War. They experience life under the Nazis, the horrors of war, and later, life in East Germany under the Communists.
I really had no idea what to expect from Fur Elise. While I have read books told from the perspectives of British or American soldiers and civilians, as well as those of Holocaust victims or resistance fighters in Europe, I knew nothing about the lives of otherwise ordinary Germans who happened to be born in a particular time and place through no fault of their own. Hans and Elise and their parents are not Nazis and they have little knowledge of the atrocities going on while they try to live their lives as well as they can.
Mark Splitstone has done an amazing job making me care deeply about people I would previously have dismissed. His research taught me things I didn't know and I look forward to reading more of his work. Fur Elise will be with me for awhile.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amalgam Books for giving me the opportunity to access a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
What makes this book more than a love story is the fact that Hans and Elise grow up in Dresden during the Second World War. They experience life under the Nazis, the horrors of war, and later, life in East Germany under the Communists.
I really had no idea what to expect from Fur Elise. While I have read books told from the perspectives of British or American soldiers and civilians, as well as those of Holocaust victims or resistance fighters in Europe, I knew nothing about the lives of otherwise ordinary Germans who happened to be born in a particular time and place through no fault of their own. Hans and Elise and their parents are not Nazis and they have little knowledge of the atrocities going on while they try to live their lives as well as they can.
Mark Splitstone has done an amazing job making me care deeply about people I would previously have dismissed. His research taught me things I didn't know and I look forward to reading more of his work. Fur Elise will be with me for awhile.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amalgam Books for giving me the opportunity to access a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 30, 2025
I cannot stop thinking about this book. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the book at first, because I was afraid it was going to be the familiar “from opposite sides of the river” trope and it was hard for me to buy the fact they were together for less than a year before he became a POW. But! Oh my, Part II. I don’t want to say anything else, because of spoilers. It was heartbreaking for those that went to war and for those left behind. The author is great at analogies and metaphors - I see you Wolff is a sheep.
Surprisingly I didn’t look up the author while I was reading it, but was shocked the author was male. I’m not sure why. I’m here for it.
I’d give it 4.8 stars.
Surprisingly I didn’t look up the author while I was reading it, but was shocked the author was male. I’m not sure why. I’m here for it.
I’d give it 4.8 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Set in Dresden Germany in the early stages of WWII through the mid-1950’s, this is the story of Hans and Elise. They met as teenagers, slowly developed a relationship, and then were separated for over a decade, with each of them suffering throughout the war and its aftermath. I enjoyed the minutiae of daily life, though the thorough depictions of the architecture of Dresden were hard to imagine. It seemed hard to imagine a happy ending to this novel, and yet there was, in a way. If you’re a WWII historical fiction fan, this novel has a unique perspective and is worth reading.
June 6, 2025
Interesting read humanized the atrocities of WWII. True definition of stolen youth. Nice twist at the end. Tale of Dresden is a tragic one.
April 9, 2025
This was such a wonderful book. I can’t imagine going through what they went through. .
April 6, 2025
A beautifully written book which I totally enjoyed
April 13, 2025
Fur Elise
When I started reading this novel, I was thinking, this is not going to hold my interest. The writing was just mediocre, and I had no empathy for the main character , Hans. Then after about a third of the book, when Hans returned from a Soviet POW camp more than 10 years after the WWII ended, the narrative changed for much better. Having been brought up in communist Hungary, I was very much emphatic to what Hans had to go through after he returned to his home city Dresden, now in communist East Germany. Having my parents and brother going through WWII and its aftermath, I could understand how the devastation affected not only the main characters, but an entire generation. Towards the end of the book, I simply couldn’t put it down.
The ending was sad, but unfortunately very realistic. I strongly recommend this historical novel.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.
When I started reading this novel, I was thinking, this is not going to hold my interest. The writing was just mediocre, and I had no empathy for the main character , Hans. Then after about a third of the book, when Hans returned from a Soviet POW camp more than 10 years after the WWII ended, the narrative changed for much better. Having been brought up in communist Hungary, I was very much emphatic to what Hans had to go through after he returned to his home city Dresden, now in communist East Germany. Having my parents and brother going through WWII and its aftermath, I could understand how the devastation affected not only the main characters, but an entire generation. Towards the end of the book, I simply couldn’t put it down.
The ending was sad, but unfortunately very realistic. I strongly recommend this historical novel.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.
March 21, 2025
4.5⭐️
[a copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher from netgalley. thank you!]
thoroughly enjoyed the character development & writing style of this historical fiction novel about a returning German POW from the Soviet Union. it was interesting to read about this perspective in historical fiction. highly recommend.
[a copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher from netgalley. thank you!]
thoroughly enjoyed the character development & writing style of this historical fiction novel about a returning German POW from the Soviet Union. it was interesting to read about this perspective in historical fiction. highly recommend.
July 27, 2025
A different read from anything I’m used to; however, I found myself flipping through the pages at a faster pace than anything I’m used to. Every night I’d allow myself a few chapters and find myself still reading ten later. I love the length of the chapters as well (around 5-10 pages). Beautifully written, this book is very easy to read and makes you want to know more. The twists and turns keep you hooked even with how tragic the premise is. A job very well done. I’m excited for the next with this up and coming author!
October 28, 2025
WWII From Another Angle
Although it was the title that caught my attention ( I love the piece), this novel is simply wonderful! I am amazed it is the author's first novel.
This novel allows the reader to experience the war from the German side and probably learn some things about WWII he/she didn't know. The characters are well drawn and the plot moves right along.
"Fur Elise" is a beautifully written, poignant story which I highly recommend. Congratulations to the author!
Although it was the title that caught my attention ( I love the piece), this novel is simply wonderful! I am amazed it is the author's first novel.
This novel allows the reader to experience the war from the German side and probably learn some things about WWII he/she didn't know. The characters are well drawn and the plot moves right along.
"Fur Elise" is a beautifully written, poignant story which I highly recommend. Congratulations to the author!
March 2, 2025
This book was a 3.5 for me. The characters and storyline held a lot of appeal. It felt like it had the makings of an epic and it just fell short. There are these huge events: the bombing of Dresden, ten years in a soviet camp, and living in East Germany and I was left feeling like I didn’t really get enough depth on any of them.
August 10, 2025
I loved the author’s descriptions of Dresden and the unique storyline of post war east and west Germany. Some of the descriptions of the war atrocities were a little graphic for me but they did add to the gravity of the story line. The 2nd half of the book was definitely my favorite as I thought the first half was a little slow. All in all a very good historical fiction novel.
August 11, 2025
Beautifully written novel. I truly enjoyed reading a WW II historical fiction from the perspective of a young teenage boy living in Dresden in 1942. Limited novels that take the reader to this side of the war. The author’s in-depth research is evident in every chapter. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and family. Very impressive for a first novel!
July 4, 2025
Very eye opening book. Never thought about the every day German during WWII and their love of their country and their hugh losses. Just goes to shoe you how devastating war is to everyone. No one is untouched!
June 23, 2025
Historical fiction is one of my favorite reads but is marred by items that were not current in 1956. At times it was slow but the anticipation of secrets being revealed kept me reading.
January 22, 2026
Hans Becker has waited fourteen years. As a prisoner in a captivity camp, he sustained the horrors of war by fantasizing about a heartfelt reunion with Elise. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go the way he has planned. His hometown of Dresden, Germany, is unrecognizable, ravaged by the bombings, and Elise is a shell of the woman she once was—cold and dejected. Moreover, he requires a job and a place to live. Still, the agents at the Stasi headquarters seem to think he is a war criminal in need of rehabilitation.
Hans has heard that life in West Germany is kinder to ex-soldiers in his position. Still, with the Stasi invading his privacy and opening his mail, he feels hopeless that he will make it there unscathed. And what about Elise? He sees glimpses of the woman she once was, but there is so much she is keeping from him.
Can Hans make a new life for himself and the woman he loves, or will the aftermath of war blemish his future forever?
Für Elise by Mark Splitstone is a character-driven novel about the perils and far-reaching effects of war. Hans Becker was an eighteen-year-old with stars in his eyes when he left Dresden in 1942, but over a decade later, time has not been kind to him. He must now learn to navigate a brand-new world, teeming with poverty and suffering. Heavy topics like death, suicide, and PTSD are explored, as well as themes of love, family, and resilience.
Both Hans and Elise had internal battles they needed to face. Elise’s reticence was holding her back from reconnecting with Hans. The time between the bombings and when Hans returned was rife with trauma, and she coped by swallowing down the pain, hoping it would go away. Hans grappled with PTSD, and essentially still felt like an eighteen-year-old in a 30-something man’s body. He’d been robbed of time as a prisoner of war and of life experience, resulting in a lack of self-awareness. While the author has deftly illustrated characters in crisis, there was also a strong undercurrent of hope. The characters could either face adversity alone or be brave and reach out to one another. I’m glad they chose the latter.
Through Splitstone’s flawless character development and the stunning prose that evoked all sorts of emotions, there’s no denying Für Elise is a novel you won’t forget. Readers who love historical war fiction that explores complex relationships will be drawn to Hans and Elise’s story. For me, this is a stand-out book of the year!
Hans has heard that life in West Germany is kinder to ex-soldiers in his position. Still, with the Stasi invading his privacy and opening his mail, he feels hopeless that he will make it there unscathed. And what about Elise? He sees glimpses of the woman she once was, but there is so much she is keeping from him.
Can Hans make a new life for himself and the woman he loves, or will the aftermath of war blemish his future forever?
Für Elise by Mark Splitstone is a character-driven novel about the perils and far-reaching effects of war. Hans Becker was an eighteen-year-old with stars in his eyes when he left Dresden in 1942, but over a decade later, time has not been kind to him. He must now learn to navigate a brand-new world, teeming with poverty and suffering. Heavy topics like death, suicide, and PTSD are explored, as well as themes of love, family, and resilience.
Both Hans and Elise had internal battles they needed to face. Elise’s reticence was holding her back from reconnecting with Hans. The time between the bombings and when Hans returned was rife with trauma, and she coped by swallowing down the pain, hoping it would go away. Hans grappled with PTSD, and essentially still felt like an eighteen-year-old in a 30-something man’s body. He’d been robbed of time as a prisoner of war and of life experience, resulting in a lack of self-awareness. While the author has deftly illustrated characters in crisis, there was also a strong undercurrent of hope. The characters could either face adversity alone or be brave and reach out to one another. I’m glad they chose the latter.
Through Splitstone’s flawless character development and the stunning prose that evoked all sorts of emotions, there’s no denying Für Elise is a novel you won’t forget. Readers who love historical war fiction that explores complex relationships will be drawn to Hans and Elise’s story. For me, this is a stand-out book of the year!
June 19, 2025
I really loved this book--excellent historical fiction! It caught my attention at first because it's set in the former East Germany (German Democratic Republic), and since I have relatives who live in that area and I used to spend a lot of time there in my teenage years as my first boyfriend lived there, I wanted to read more. From the first few pages, I was amazed at some of the other things that spoke to me. For example, my father was also born in 1924 like Hans, one of the two main characters, and he was also held in Russian captivity during the war, although he managed to escape and did not suffer the long incarceration that Hans did. Then on the first few pages, he travels through the city of Breslau, which was where my mother was from, although by the time Hans passes through it had become part of Poland and was called Wroclaw. Although I didn't travel to East Germany until the late 60's/early 70's, the description of life there was wonderfully accurate. I was told that the authorities knew the details of all of my visits, probably read my letters to my boyfriend, and that we were closely monitored. All this (probably overly personal) detail is to say that I think the author's research was impeccable and that he really captured the essence of life in that country. I appreciated that it shows that everyone suffers in war and that both civilians and the young soldiers on all sides are subjected to unspeakable horrors. I thought the ending and the surprise epilogue was beautifully written also. I will read this book again and recommend it widely! Many thanks to Girl Friday Productions/Amalgam Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this remarkable book.
March 17, 2025
I really enjoyed Fur Elise. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction, but this one is different in a couple of ways. First, it tells the story of WWII from the perspective of German characters, rather than the typical Allied “good guys.” Second, it tells the story of a German POW who was held in Russia for 13 years. I had no idea that that happened, and always appreciate learning things I didn’t know through fiction. I also discovered more about what life was like in Communist East Germany after the war; again, something you don’t typically run into in popular historical fiction books.
The first part of the story captures the feeling of young love in a beautiful way, against the backdrop of Hitler and the beginnings of WW II. The second, darker, section of the book focuses on what happens when our hero, Hans, returns from his incarceration. In both instances, Dresden takes center stage, with great descriptions of the city. Through flashbacks, there are glimpses as to what life was like in Dresden during and after the bombing, as well as what it was like in the Russian POW camp. We get to know the flawed and traumatized yet ultimately human characters in a way that has stuck with me long after I finished reading.
Fur Elise is a book that is well-researched and has some of everything – it’s a love story, a war story, a tragedy, and a thriller, with some unexpected twists as well as moments of subtle humor. Ultimately, it’s a story of hope. It’s a quick read, and I found it hard to put down. Highly recommend.
The first part of the story captures the feeling of young love in a beautiful way, against the backdrop of Hitler and the beginnings of WW II. The second, darker, section of the book focuses on what happens when our hero, Hans, returns from his incarceration. In both instances, Dresden takes center stage, with great descriptions of the city. Through flashbacks, there are glimpses as to what life was like in Dresden during and after the bombing, as well as what it was like in the Russian POW camp. We get to know the flawed and traumatized yet ultimately human characters in a way that has stuck with me long after I finished reading.
Fur Elise is a book that is well-researched and has some of everything – it’s a love story, a war story, a tragedy, and a thriller, with some unexpected twists as well as moments of subtle humor. Ultimately, it’s a story of hope. It’s a quick read, and I found it hard to put down. Highly recommend.
May 20, 2025
The book begins on an interesting premise: a soldier returning home after spending over a decade following the end of the Second World War in a Soviet POW camp. The soldier, Hans, is German and is returning to Dresden, a city vastly changed—structurally and politically—since he left it in 1942. Further, he is no longer a teenager, but in his thirties, having lost his twenties to imprisonment.
The beginning of the story drew me in, and I was curious to see what would happen upon his return. Hans had left his teenage love—Elise—behind. Delving into the past, the reader learns how his relationship began with Elise. Here, the book could have benefitted with a little less time spent on the teenage relationship, once established. It felt a little drawn out, and made the story read more as a young adult story.
However, the way the author chose to jump forward (through newspaper articles) once Hans left for war works. As the reader is not given much about what happened to Hans and Elise in the intervening period, the reader has to learn with them, on their reunion, what they went through. Once reunited, Hans and Elise have to grapple with what they experienced and their new reality in Dresden.
I enjoyed reading about a less common World War II storyline and learning about Dresden. Also, I really liked the Rip Van Winkle reference. 3.25 stars
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
The beginning of the story drew me in, and I was curious to see what would happen upon his return. Hans had left his teenage love—Elise—behind. Delving into the past, the reader learns how his relationship began with Elise. Here, the book could have benefitted with a little less time spent on the teenage relationship, once established. It felt a little drawn out, and made the story read more as a young adult story.
However, the way the author chose to jump forward (through newspaper articles) once Hans left for war works. As the reader is not given much about what happened to Hans and Elise in the intervening period, the reader has to learn with them, on their reunion, what they went through. Once reunited, Hans and Elise have to grapple with what they experienced and their new reality in Dresden.
I enjoyed reading about a less common World War II storyline and learning about Dresden. Also, I really liked the Rip Van Winkle reference. 3.25 stars
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
June 25, 2025
This work is told from multiple POVs using third person omniscient. This worked well as it allowed us to know just what everyone was thinking and feeling without any guesswork or misleading. The book also explores PTSD using an older character, which was well done and I appreciated this aspect of the work. There were also interesting and important historical details woven throughout the tale, which was much appreciated.
Where this book didn't work for me was that the entire first half of the book doesn't match the blurb. The first half is about two teens falling in love in a small town while the war is breaking out, which made this work feel YA. I found their love story to be somewhat predictable and underwhelming, and overall quite slow and difficult to engage with. The way its written made it difficult for the emotion to come through, especially in the dialogue, which added to the disconnect and the flat feel of this read. I picked this up expecting it to be solely about two older people reuniting after the war, rebuilding (or not) their relationship, with flashbacks about their times during the war. I wouldn't have requested this book if I'd known this wasn't accurate.
This book will likely work well for people who enjoy WWII fiction, but unfortunately it didn't work for me. My thanks to NetGalley and Amalgam Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Where this book didn't work for me was that the entire first half of the book doesn't match the blurb. The first half is about two teens falling in love in a small town while the war is breaking out, which made this work feel YA. I found their love story to be somewhat predictable and underwhelming, and overall quite slow and difficult to engage with. The way its written made it difficult for the emotion to come through, especially in the dialogue, which added to the disconnect and the flat feel of this read. I picked this up expecting it to be solely about two older people reuniting after the war, rebuilding (or not) their relationship, with flashbacks about their times during the war. I wouldn't have requested this book if I'd known this wasn't accurate.
This book will likely work well for people who enjoy WWII fiction, but unfortunately it didn't work for me. My thanks to NetGalley and Amalgam Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 26, 2025
Set against the tumultuous background of mid-twentieth century Germany, the narrative opens with teenagers Hans Becker and Elise Engel meeting in pre-war Dresden. Their budding romance is interrupted when Hans gets called up to serve in the German army in WWII. He is captured by the Soviets and spends more than a decade in a grim POW camp. He returns to Dresden in 1956, to a city that is almost unrecognisable, and reunites with Elise, whose own experience during the war have inevitably marked her, just as Hans’ own experiences have marked him. I never became fully engaged with what I expected to be a moving post-war story. The beginning section when Hans and Elise are embarking on their relationship went on for far too long, and felt more like a young adult novel. This added little to the more serious themes of post-war trauma and quite frankly was dull. The latter part of the novel was more interesting, following how the two navigate their new world, but it was still a fairly ordinary tale of love and survival among the ruins, with many well-worn tropes and clichés, and often clunky dialogue. I found the actual writing flat and pedestrian and found myself skim reading on occasion. Not a bad book, by any means, just not a very good one. The premise was good but the execution lacking.
September 20, 2025
When I began reading Fur Elise I was expecting a war story. It wasn’t long before I discovered I was reading an outstanding love story that happens to be set during World War II, a remarkable history of a place I knew little about, and the story of some ordinary but loveable people written from an unusual perspective. All I knew about Dresden was that the city was known for porcelain. I had no knowledge of their fine architecture, the massive bombing of Dresden at the end of the war, and the years of living under Communism in East Germany. I also was astonished to learn that Russia did not release some of their POWs until 1956.
In telling the tale of a young couple living against this background, Mark Splitstone avoids the expected. Instead of dwelling on the bombing and the years as a POW, the author tells us about living in Nazi Germany and then jumps to the release of the POWs 13 years after the war and returning to find the city under Communist occupation. Through the eyes of Hans and Elise, he shows the difficulties of life in two different regimes. The reader will learn much from this book, will be moved, and will remember the story for many years to come. A must read for lovers of history and love stories. 5 stars.
In telling the tale of a young couple living against this background, Mark Splitstone avoids the expected. Instead of dwelling on the bombing and the years as a POW, the author tells us about living in Nazi Germany and then jumps to the release of the POWs 13 years after the war and returning to find the city under Communist occupation. Through the eyes of Hans and Elise, he shows the difficulties of life in two different regimes. The reader will learn much from this book, will be moved, and will remember the story for many years to come. A must read for lovers of history and love stories. 5 stars.
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