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The Fire Agent
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A sweeping, unforgettable novel of espionage, war, love, and tragedy that redefines our understanding of the first half of the twentieth century.
Ernst Baerwald, the scion of an aristocratic German-Jewish family, is a gifted linguist, a talented musician, and a fearless idealist at the dawn of the twentieth century. His work in Milan and then Japan for what will become the German chemical company IG Farben, which is developing a chemical comopound that will save humanity from the brink of famine, provides pretext to his undercover work as a spy, while his complicated love life fulfills his romantic sensibilities. Yet as one world war breaks out and then another, irrevocably changing all he once believed in, Ernst discovers that his skills in diplomacy and stealth are now useful in ways he never anticipated. As he struggles to stay true to his convictions, he comes to understand that sometimes it is necessary to destroy what you love most for the greater good.
Based on the life of David Baerwald’s grandfather, The Fire Agent is an astonishing work of fiction that takes us from the idealism of 19th-century German science to the dawning of chemical warfare; from Japan’s Yakuza to FDR’s boutique spy shops; from the rise of fascism in Japan and Germany to America’s global dominance at the dawn of the Cold War. A haunting novel about the weight of inheritance and the invisible strings of history that shape us, it has deep resonance for our own times.
Ernst Baerwald, the scion of an aristocratic German-Jewish family, is a gifted linguist, a talented musician, and a fearless idealist at the dawn of the twentieth century. His work in Milan and then Japan for what will become the German chemical company IG Farben, which is developing a chemical comopound that will save humanity from the brink of famine, provides pretext to his undercover work as a spy, while his complicated love life fulfills his romantic sensibilities. Yet as one world war breaks out and then another, irrevocably changing all he once believed in, Ernst discovers that his skills in diplomacy and stealth are now useful in ways he never anticipated. As he struggles to stay true to his convictions, he comes to understand that sometimes it is necessary to destroy what you love most for the greater good.
Based on the life of David Baerwald’s grandfather, The Fire Agent is an astonishing work of fiction that takes us from the idealism of 19th-century German science to the dawning of chemical warfare; from Japan’s Yakuza to FDR’s boutique spy shops; from the rise of fascism in Japan and Germany to America’s global dominance at the dawn of the Cold War. A haunting novel about the weight of inheritance and the invisible strings of history that shape us, it has deep resonance for our own times.
624 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 21, 2025
I loved every word of this book; every sentence, every paragraph, every chapter and especially the ending, which is where most books fail. This book did not fail. It's a masterpiece. It lives on in my mind and heart as few books have. Ever. That's how much it moved me. The story is deep on every level — historical, emotional and dramatic. The prose is exquisite, yet the beauty of it doesn't hinder the furious, torrentially paced unfolding of the story. What a ride. Love, betrayal, greed, evil, courage and a vivid account of previously concealed history that stretched my knowledge of the roots of fascism that left me wanting more from this author. Where the hell has he been?
September 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Speigel and Grau for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF. Although there was a lot of Japanese cultural and historical info that I found interesting, the plot was boring overall and the characters flat. There was also the small matter of the author spelling out the obvious (a pet peeve!). Maybe future work by the author will be better as there was potential but this one couldn’t hook me.
DNF. Although there was a lot of Japanese cultural and historical info that I found interesting, the plot was boring overall and the characters flat. There was also the small matter of the author spelling out the obvious (a pet peeve!). Maybe future work by the author will be better as there was potential but this one couldn’t hook me.
November 19, 2025
I am a huge fan of historical fiction and was so excited to dive into the Fire Agent. The opening scenes captivated me immediately and I felt like I was witnessing the aftermath horrors of Tokyo just after the end of the Second World War. Through the story we follow Ernst and go back in time to see how he navigates all the intricacies & complexities of life, love, friendships, decisions and ethics throughout the 1930s and fragility of peacetime. I really appreciated the rich history and many different genres woven into the story, each chapter gave unique perspective to form a kaleidoscope around culture at the time. I do think this could have been edited down so it wasn’t as long – some parts I really drudged through – but overall I enjoyed this and recommend to other historical fiction lovers out there! Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2025
When I first started reasoning level, I thought it was Interesting decision by the author to name at one of the characters after yourself it wasn’t until I read the authors acknowledgement at the end that I realised that this was a historical story based on the authors relatives lives
My first impression was thatI Don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in this particular time place in history the aftermath of the second world war in American occupied Japan . As the book continued we were taken further back in history to look at various periods of Japanese history from the first world War onwards. I haven’t read very much in this period of history in Japan and I found this immediately interesting and compelling.
There was rather a lot of complex spy related business that became rather confusing after a while. Although this is fiction I began to suspect the author was
trying to get a lot of accurate historical facts in to the book this became quite weighty after a time.
The first third of this book is what feels like a fiction novel and it’s exciting and relevant however these last 2/3 become more of a list of different things that really happened in the authors families’s life. It becomes too complicated and difficult to follow and feels like they’re trying to fit almost everything really happened into the novel. This is a trap that I found a lot of historical novels tend to fall into the compulsion to pad the book out with as much real life history as possible dilute out the historical novel feel.
The author has a clear flowing writing style. The book is an easy enjoyable read.
I’d recommend the novel to those who like historical based family sagas as well as to those who enjoy spy related novels
I read an only copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK in June 2026 Spigel and Grau
This review will appear in NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my personal book blog blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones.
My first impression was thatI Don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in this particular time place in history the aftermath of the second world war in American occupied Japan . As the book continued we were taken further back in history to look at various periods of Japanese history from the first world War onwards. I haven’t read very much in this period of history in Japan and I found this immediately interesting and compelling.
There was rather a lot of complex spy related business that became rather confusing after a while. Although this is fiction I began to suspect the author was
trying to get a lot of accurate historical facts in to the book this became quite weighty after a time.
The first third of this book is what feels like a fiction novel and it’s exciting and relevant however these last 2/3 become more of a list of different things that really happened in the authors families’s life. It becomes too complicated and difficult to follow and feels like they’re trying to fit almost everything really happened into the novel. This is a trap that I found a lot of historical novels tend to fall into the compulsion to pad the book out with as much real life history as possible dilute out the historical novel feel.
The author has a clear flowing writing style. The book is an easy enjoyable read.
I’d recommend the novel to those who like historical based family sagas as well as to those who enjoy spy related novels
I read an only copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK in June 2026 Spigel and Grau
This review will appear in NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my personal book blog blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones.
November 20, 2025
This is based on a true story with photos and diary entries from the author's grandfather. That makes this work all the more compelling, and the historical fiction is fully grounded throughout.
🌟 A Refreshing and Powerful Debut: The Fire Agent
I am completely immersed in The Fire Agent and loving the writing style and the story being created. Thank you for such a wonderful and unique book—it truly introduces a refreshing new voice to literature. That this is a first novel by the author, David Baerwald, leaves me floored.
For readers who appreciate maximalist works like William T. Vollmann's Europe Central, you will likely consider this a 6 out of 5-star read. The style is comparable in its ambition and scope, but Baerwald is far superior in his character work and nailing the emotional depth of his protagonists—a quality I personally found lacking in Europe Central.
🌍 Timeless Themes and Historical Resonance
The author expertly handles the massive concept of relationships and how politics and loyalties affect love and the pursuit of happiness. This novel is far more than a personal drama; it is a sweeping debut of espionage, war, and tragedy that redefines our understanding of the first half of the twentieth century.
Centered on Ernst Baerwald, a German-Jewish idealist and spy working in Milan and Japan for a precursor to the chemical company IG Farben, the narrative takes the reader from high-minded 19th-century German science to the brutal reality of chemical warfare. The historical significance is immense: the novel charts the global political shifts that led to the irrevocable changes wrought by World War I and World War II.
This book is a vital read for everyone, especially those unfamiliar with the history of Japan and Europe leading up to the world wars. The novel serves as a potent reminder that "those who do not remember our world history are bound to repeat it," making its exploration of these invisible strings of history deeply resonant for our own times.
📚 A Potential Modern Classic
I believe this may be a work of literature that becomes a classical work and endures over the ages. It is historical fiction on an epic scale with the weight of moral inquiry at its heart. By weaving a compelling page-turner about love and espionage with such intricate, real-world historical context, The Fire Agent achieves a rare balance of literary prowess and vital historical insight.
For potential readers, this is a slow read due to the density of the work covered. Give yourself time to get wrapped up in the story. The investment is so rewarding.
If you enjoy Buddy Levy or Dan Simmons' historical-based books, you'll devour this title.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
🌟 A Refreshing and Powerful Debut: The Fire Agent
I am completely immersed in The Fire Agent and loving the writing style and the story being created. Thank you for such a wonderful and unique book—it truly introduces a refreshing new voice to literature. That this is a first novel by the author, David Baerwald, leaves me floored.
For readers who appreciate maximalist works like William T. Vollmann's Europe Central, you will likely consider this a 6 out of 5-star read. The style is comparable in its ambition and scope, but Baerwald is far superior in his character work and nailing the emotional depth of his protagonists—a quality I personally found lacking in Europe Central.
🌍 Timeless Themes and Historical Resonance
The author expertly handles the massive concept of relationships and how politics and loyalties affect love and the pursuit of happiness. This novel is far more than a personal drama; it is a sweeping debut of espionage, war, and tragedy that redefines our understanding of the first half of the twentieth century.
Centered on Ernst Baerwald, a German-Jewish idealist and spy working in Milan and Japan for a precursor to the chemical company IG Farben, the narrative takes the reader from high-minded 19th-century German science to the brutal reality of chemical warfare. The historical significance is immense: the novel charts the global political shifts that led to the irrevocable changes wrought by World War I and World War II.
This book is a vital read for everyone, especially those unfamiliar with the history of Japan and Europe leading up to the world wars. The novel serves as a potent reminder that "those who do not remember our world history are bound to repeat it," making its exploration of these invisible strings of history deeply resonant for our own times.
📚 A Potential Modern Classic
I believe this may be a work of literature that becomes a classical work and endures over the ages. It is historical fiction on an epic scale with the weight of moral inquiry at its heart. By weaving a compelling page-turner about love and espionage with such intricate, real-world historical context, The Fire Agent achieves a rare balance of literary prowess and vital historical insight.
For potential readers, this is a slow read due to the density of the work covered. Give yourself time to get wrapped up in the story. The investment is so rewarding.
If you enjoy Buddy Levy or Dan Simmons' historical-based books, you'll devour this title.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
September 9, 2025
An epic achievement of historical fiction, The Fire Agent keeps the reader turning pages as it crosses genres, successfully jumping from spy adventure to unconventional love story, from sections that read like the best in biography to graphic descriptions of the horrors of war and battle.
Based on the true story of the author’s grandfather, Ernst Baerwald, there is nothing boring in this novel. It is obvious that the author has done prodigious research into the lives of all his real characters, as well as into Japan, China, WWI, WWII, and the early post-war years. Excellent writing makes the multitude of characters and places come alive, but the author is especially adept at describing the culture of Japan and how it changed in the 1930s.
The book opens with a prologue that is essentially a forward flash describing the devastated city of Tokyo immediately after WWII. I have not read before such a graphic description of the horrors of a bomb-flattened cityꟷa description that on its own stands as a powerful anti-war argument. This prologue is matched later by equally graphic chapters on WWI battles in China and the destruction of Tokyo after the 1923 earthquake. These sections are not for the faint of heart or queasy of stomach.
But The Fire Agent is far more than a collection of horrific war scenes. The novel draws the reader into a compelling and tender love story and reveals the machinations of the powers of industry and government, universal subjects with deep relevance to current events.
After the shock and awe of the prologue, the first chapter, set in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1900, starts off slowly. The novel gains momentum gradually as the hero, Ernst Baerwald, travels to Italy, where he spends ten years studying with an expatriate Japanese Sensi, then is assigned to go to Japan as a representative of (and spy for) the German chemical company IG Farben. At this point the story takes off. The Fire Agent is a long novel, and it covers a lot of ground. Though most of it is fascinating and the prologue is essential in this reader’s opinion, I felt the novel might have been better without the first German chapter or the chapters at the end about the CIA—as they did not seem to be an essential part of Ernst’s story. Still, they were interesting, and this is only a small criticism considering the immensity and complexity of this excellent novel.
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Based on the true story of the author’s grandfather, Ernst Baerwald, there is nothing boring in this novel. It is obvious that the author has done prodigious research into the lives of all his real characters, as well as into Japan, China, WWI, WWII, and the early post-war years. Excellent writing makes the multitude of characters and places come alive, but the author is especially adept at describing the culture of Japan and how it changed in the 1930s.
The book opens with a prologue that is essentially a forward flash describing the devastated city of Tokyo immediately after WWII. I have not read before such a graphic description of the horrors of a bomb-flattened cityꟷa description that on its own stands as a powerful anti-war argument. This prologue is matched later by equally graphic chapters on WWI battles in China and the destruction of Tokyo after the 1923 earthquake. These sections are not for the faint of heart or queasy of stomach.
But The Fire Agent is far more than a collection of horrific war scenes. The novel draws the reader into a compelling and tender love story and reveals the machinations of the powers of industry and government, universal subjects with deep relevance to current events.
After the shock and awe of the prologue, the first chapter, set in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1900, starts off slowly. The novel gains momentum gradually as the hero, Ernst Baerwald, travels to Italy, where he spends ten years studying with an expatriate Japanese Sensi, then is assigned to go to Japan as a representative of (and spy for) the German chemical company IG Farben. At this point the story takes off. The Fire Agent is a long novel, and it covers a lot of ground. Though most of it is fascinating and the prologue is essential in this reader’s opinion, I felt the novel might have been better without the first German chapter or the chapters at the end about the CIA—as they did not seem to be an essential part of Ernst’s story. Still, they were interesting, and this is only a small criticism considering the immensity and complexity of this excellent novel.
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
November 9, 2025
Sadly, I lost passion and momentum and DNF'd at 79%
The Fire Agent is a somewhat complex, yet intriguing read, whereby the Haber-Bosch process of creating nitrates "from air", and how this affects international trade and politics, is at the heart of the story. It is truly international, with Ernst as a German-Jew, being sent to Milan, then to Manchuria and then Japan, meeting a whole host of people (Prussians, French, Americans etc.), in his new role in espionage pushed upon him by his father, due to his excellent linguistic and observational skills. This book scratched my itch for stories set in or around Asian countries/culture. I really enjoyed Tetsuo's character and his teachings to Ernst (over 9 years!).
The Fire Agent is rich in history and includes some shocking moments in the past lives of notable people. However, this is part of why I found the book quite complex and couldn't keep going. There are sooo many characters and so many things happening, jumping from one person to another, that made me feel out of the loop. I tried to cling to the family of Ernst, Lina, Chizuko and Kurt, but they're meeting people left, right and centre and I couldn't keep track of who was who, what their motives were and what they had to gain/lose. I feel like if it was trimmed back and more clearly laid out, this book would be infinitely better. I felt as though I needed it to be spelt out to me who was who - the book kind of assumes you know who most of the people mentioned are.
I feel as though readers who are more politically minded and/or have a good grasp of history during this time period will get a lot out of this book. Also people who are intrigued with the first world war and chemical annihilation through the use of chlorine gas. Overall, it's a really well written and intriguing book that I think historical fiction fans, who are interested in politics and war, especially in relation to Japan, would really enjoy this book. For people such as myself who isn't very familiar with the big Japanese names during this period, it can feel a little overwhelming. I would still recommend this book though!
The Fire Agent is a somewhat complex, yet intriguing read, whereby the Haber-Bosch process of creating nitrates "from air", and how this affects international trade and politics, is at the heart of the story. It is truly international, with Ernst as a German-Jew, being sent to Milan, then to Manchuria and then Japan, meeting a whole host of people (Prussians, French, Americans etc.), in his new role in espionage pushed upon him by his father, due to his excellent linguistic and observational skills. This book scratched my itch for stories set in or around Asian countries/culture. I really enjoyed Tetsuo's character and his teachings to Ernst (over 9 years!).
The Fire Agent is rich in history and includes some shocking moments in the past lives of notable people. However, this is part of why I found the book quite complex and couldn't keep going. There are sooo many characters and so many things happening, jumping from one person to another, that made me feel out of the loop. I tried to cling to the family of Ernst, Lina, Chizuko and Kurt, but they're meeting people left, right and centre and I couldn't keep track of who was who, what their motives were and what they had to gain/lose. I feel like if it was trimmed back and more clearly laid out, this book would be infinitely better. I felt as though I needed it to be spelt out to me who was who - the book kind of assumes you know who most of the people mentioned are.
I feel as though readers who are more politically minded and/or have a good grasp of history during this time period will get a lot out of this book. Also people who are intrigued with the first world war and chemical annihilation through the use of chlorine gas. Overall, it's a really well written and intriguing book that I think historical fiction fans, who are interested in politics and war, especially in relation to Japan, would really enjoy this book. For people such as myself who isn't very familiar with the big Japanese names during this period, it can feel a little overwhelming. I would still recommend this book though!
September 17, 2025
I am always intrigued by tales of intrepid europeans travelling to the far east, embracing totally different cultures and making a difference to these countries and history in general. Here we have Ernst Baerwald, German Jewish, starting in Germany then travelling to be trained in Milan then after years of training moving to Japan. So straight away I like the background of the book and it covers plenty of geography and over half a century.
Ernst is born into an elite Jewish family and schooled at an exclusive institution that will provide bankers and leaders throughout the German speaking world. He is more of a wild card than his brother who enters banking and gets ear marked for a future in dealing with German industrial companies interests in Japan.
He begins with idealistic views that providing fertilisers to the developing world will greatly reduce poverty and benefit mankind. But where you make fertilisers you also make bombs. Throughout the book we see displays of all nations and power groups getting carried away in the pursuit of power and wealth and losing track of their original intentions.
I had not realised that the Jews in Germany had been hounded as early as the start of the 20th century and their plight is a steady factor throughout the book.
Towards the end of the book we see that the hopes Ernst had of America becoming the saviour of many of his ideals are being dashed.
But apart from dealing with lofty ideals and heritage the book is a very enjoyable read with all the different settings and the complex multicultural love life Ernst has.
It is a longer than average book but I found I read it in no time at all.
Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC
Ernst is born into an elite Jewish family and schooled at an exclusive institution that will provide bankers and leaders throughout the German speaking world. He is more of a wild card than his brother who enters banking and gets ear marked for a future in dealing with German industrial companies interests in Japan.
He begins with idealistic views that providing fertilisers to the developing world will greatly reduce poverty and benefit mankind. But where you make fertilisers you also make bombs. Throughout the book we see displays of all nations and power groups getting carried away in the pursuit of power and wealth and losing track of their original intentions.
I had not realised that the Jews in Germany had been hounded as early as the start of the 20th century and their plight is a steady factor throughout the book.
Towards the end of the book we see that the hopes Ernst had of America becoming the saviour of many of his ideals are being dashed.
But apart from dealing with lofty ideals and heritage the book is a very enjoyable read with all the different settings and the complex multicultural love life Ernst has.
It is a longer than average book but I found I read it in no time at all.
Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC
September 27, 2025
This is an interesting book, filled with a mixture of real people and fictional characters with diverse cultural background. The key character, Ernst, is the son of a German Jewish family and has heavy expectations placed on him. He is also a bit of a rebel, and his skills in languages are identified early on so he gets recruited to train in Japanese language and cultural arts in Italy. Ultimately, it is expected that he will becopme a spy and be based in Japan. While living in Italy, he meets a young Japanese woman who is also a pathbreaker for her generation, living on her own and working as a costume designer for the Opera. The book is long, as the tale spans from the early 1900s through the war years. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but eventually, it took root and I became curious to know what happens with the intercultural relationship. Overall, despite its length, it help my interest sufficiently. While I may not remember it a year from now, it was entertaining. Read this if you like spy novels peppered with historical facts and romance.
September 6, 2025
You salty cantankerous ol' Rottweiler. Some things get me emotional. The Fire Agent does. Just does. TFA reads like a symphony of fire, heart, bullets, back-door operators, front-door operations, grit and sinew, lightness into dark and the reverse. Romanticizm of concrete and blast shadows. Love of music and patriotism. Woe of music and patriotism. This wonder that is "we, the people." Us. Them. US. Hope.
Thank you for the privilege of reading this epic. I will never be the same. Not ever. Earth needs more artists doing what you do, David.
Thank you for the privilege of reading this epic. I will never be the same. Not ever. Earth needs more artists doing what you do, David.
November 19, 2025
Interesting read. I'm grateful to the author for taking me into history about which I had no idea. The first 500 pages was fascinating. I was disappointed about how the book ended. It seemed there was an entirely different story being told at the end- did we get two novels mangled into one? New characters introduced in the last 100 pages of a 600 page book. And some of those historical characters were not treated kindly (or accurately). My satisfaction with the book declined significantly at the end. Perhaps there are two completely different novels here.
December 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for the ARC. I really enjoyed this novel based on the life of the authors father. I was especially interested into how the development of nitrates contributed to the German Japanese relationship prior to WW2. The novel ticked all the boxes for me, science, history and interesting well developed characters. I loved learning about Japan and Japanese culture. The novel is long and has a lot of information so it took me a lot of time to read it and at times I needed to back and check details.
October 14, 2025
This book was intriguing. A bit slow in the beginning but then for me took off. With his unique skills and abilities he became a spy and was based in Japan It starts from the 1900s and spans years during and after both wars. It has unconventional romance but still. Amazing. How different cultures has changed and interact. Read if you really love historical fiction.
I have received this e arc for an honest review, thanks to netgalley
I have received this e arc for an honest review, thanks to netgalley
November 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley an the publisher for this arc- this book was not my cup of tea and dove deep into the Japanese cultural and the world wars and left me behind, I guess you could say. The writing was great and the research the author did in order to write this was amazing.. but just a “not for me” kind of book. If you enjoy historical world fiction you will probably love this.
Review of advance copy received from Shelf Awareness Pro
good book
Review of advance copy received from Shelf Awareness Pro
November 10, 2025Great
Want to read
August 26, 2025Many thanks to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for providing a digital eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am looking forward to starting this novel!
I am looking forward to starting this novel!
November 13, 2025
It may be a cliche in the literary world, but the phrase "I couldn't put it down!" wholly applies in this instance.
Author David Baerwald's epic debut novel takes off at a breakneck pace, with a prologue diving into the story during the post-WWII devastation of Tokyo, then circling back in the first chapter to the beginning in early 20th century Germany prior to WWI.
It's an expansive, vividly told tale of war and peace, loyalty and betrayal, cruelty and kindness, and ultimately life and death. The story follows our protagonist, Ernst Baerwald (the author's grandfather) from his younger days as a student graduating from the elite and esteemed Philanthropin School in Frankfurt, Germany at the turn of the 20th century, through to the end of WWII in Japan and the start of the Cold War years. As a young man, his intellect and linguistic skills were noted and capitalized on by the power brokers of that time and place, and he was set on his life's course of international diplomacy and espionage. It is his journey through the perils and danger of those years, the characters he meets, and their narratives that keep you turning the next page.
I found the author's rhythm with words to be almost lyrical in structure. There seems to be a musical, syllabic cadence to the writing that carries the reader into the next sentence. Which brings me to the musical aspect of the story.
Music, and it's performance, is central to a crucial period in the book that I will not spoil with details here - suffice to say, the most important aspects of music and its performance, being dedication, practice, harmony, and fellowship, are all on full display in this story, and given the respect and reverence so richly deserved.
I laughed out loud on more than one occasion in the reading of Ernst's story, and I am not ashamed to tell you I cried more than once as well.
I anxiously await this author's next effort.
Author David Baerwald's epic debut novel takes off at a breakneck pace, with a prologue diving into the story during the post-WWII devastation of Tokyo, then circling back in the first chapter to the beginning in early 20th century Germany prior to WWI.
It's an expansive, vividly told tale of war and peace, loyalty and betrayal, cruelty and kindness, and ultimately life and death. The story follows our protagonist, Ernst Baerwald (the author's grandfather) from his younger days as a student graduating from the elite and esteemed Philanthropin School in Frankfurt, Germany at the turn of the 20th century, through to the end of WWII in Japan and the start of the Cold War years. As a young man, his intellect and linguistic skills were noted and capitalized on by the power brokers of that time and place, and he was set on his life's course of international diplomacy and espionage. It is his journey through the perils and danger of those years, the characters he meets, and their narratives that keep you turning the next page.
I found the author's rhythm with words to be almost lyrical in structure. There seems to be a musical, syllabic cadence to the writing that carries the reader into the next sentence. Which brings me to the musical aspect of the story.
Music, and it's performance, is central to a crucial period in the book that I will not spoil with details here - suffice to say, the most important aspects of music and its performance, being dedication, practice, harmony, and fellowship, are all on full display in this story, and given the respect and reverence so richly deserved.
I laughed out loud on more than one occasion in the reading of Ernst's story, and I am not ashamed to tell you I cried more than once as well.
I anxiously await this author's next effort.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews