Eden upadły. Prawdziwa historia zbrodni na rajskiej wyspie

by Abbott Kahler, Magdalena Kunz (Translator)

Raj, który stał się w miejscem zbrodni.

Lata 30. XX wieku, wybrzeże Ameryki Południowej. Członkowie wyprawy naukowej dobijają do brzegu bezludnej wyspy i znajdują dwa ciała. Wokół setki wypalonych zapałek, ślady stóp, robaki toczące zmumifikowane zwłoki. Co wydarzyło się na tym opuszczonym krańcu Ziemi?

Zawiedzeni światem Friedrich i Dore postanawiają opuścić Niemcy. Floreana w archipelagu Galapagos ma zostać ich nowym domem – rajem, w którym w odosobnieniu będą wiedli spokojne życie. Ale świat ich odnajduje. Wkrótce na wyspie pojawiają się weteran pierwszej wojny z rodziną oraz ekscentryczna baronessa z dwoma kochankami. Otoczony oceanem skrawek lądu szybko okazuje się za mały dla nich wszystkich.

Kolejne kłótnie oraz dziwne wypadki naznaczają codzienność, która staje się nie do wytrzymania. Do czasu, gdy dwójka mieszkańców znika z wyspy. Kiedy w Europie nazistowski potwór podnosi łeb, na wyspie rodzą się inne demony. Czyją duszą zawładną?

Nawet w raju nie da się uciec przed ludzką naturą

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Audiobook, Crime, Mystery, Biography

448 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2024

About the author

This author is also published under Karen Abbott

Abbott Kahler, formerly writing as Karen Abbott, is the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City; American Rose; Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy; and The Ghosts of Eden Park. She is also the host of Remus: The Mad Bootleg King, a podcast about legendary Jazz Age bootlegger George Remus. A native of Philadelphia, she lives in New York City and in Greenport, New York.

Reviews

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 5 out of 5]

'It could be so beautiful on earth, if humans weren't animals'.

The Great War had ended but the feeling of discontent still existed for many. In Germany, war reparations were crippling the economy and Hitler was beginning to garner support. Friedrich, a doctor, and his acolyte Dore, decide 'civilisation' wasn’t something they wanted to be a part of. The dream to create a utopia, supported by their own, unique, philosophies was realised when they move to Floreana: an island, some purported as cursed, in the Galapagos, 'The islands lie just about as Vulcan cast them down, or perhaps it was Lucifer who heaved them out'. Despite living off-grid and off-line, word of these real-life castaways spreads, 'We had become objects of sensational publicity.' Soon another couple and their son join them. Feathers are ruffled but island life carries on - albeit with a slight tension in the air. It isn't until the Baroness and her minions arrive, after convincing the local government of their intent to build a luxury hotel, that a match is finally struck to, 'the intense, claustrophobic cauldron of a remote island'. Fair to say, the utopian dream is blown sky-high and, ironically, it becomes an experiment of Darwin's survival of the fittest.

'Survivor' has nothing on this true story. Kahler does an awesome job of providing contextual tidbits without distracting the reader or detracting from the core story. Although this story is as readable, and captivating as fiction, the provision of extensive endnotes assures the reader that it is indeed non-fiction.

If you love stories of adventure or psychological thrillers (fiction or non), be assured you'll love this.

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book (and everyone in it) is BONKERS. Abbott Kahler is one of my favorites and her newest book, Eden Undone, does not disappoint.

There is one major problem, though. I don't want to ruin this for you. I went in almost completely blind about the story. I think it's the best way to approach this. Here is what you need to know. Various people decide to try and create isolated lives with their significant others on a deserted Galapagos island. In order not to spoil anything specific, but to also explain just how bonkers the story is, I'd like to provide a list. The following things are in this book:

1. Spouse swapping
2. Hitler
3. Volcanic eruptions
4. Murderous cows
5. Actual murder....maybe?
6. Drownings
7. Shipwrecks
8. Nudity. So much nudity.
9. Sex, duh.
10. Bad philosophy

That's not even all of it. A story like this in the hands of a pro like Kahler is a guaranteed page turner. I shall say no more. I want you to end up on the edge of your seat like I was.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Crown Publishing.)

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly amazing story of love, murder and the search for Utopia on the Galapagos Island of Floreana during the early years of the Depression. Abbott Kohler has written a page-turner that I could not put down. It non-fiction at its best, as she tells the story of Freidrich Ritter and his devotee Dore who move from Germany to Floreana to find inner peace and Utopia. That did not turn out too well. Ritter was a strange man, who espoused Vegetarianism but ate meat. Subject controlled Dore with wild mood swings he also could not stop making contact with the outside world which brought more people to live on the island. Nobody was compatible, some we really bizarre (The Baroness), and after a few years of living in semi-close proximity weird things start to happen. Some are killed on the island, others die as they leave the island, and nobody has the same story as to exactly what happened. It is a fantastic read and another great by this author. To this day, nobody really knows the true story of what happened on Floreana Island!!

[Diane in Australia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars = Don't regret reading it.

*cue Gilligan's Island theme music*

First up, we have a German dentist, and his paramour. They intend to create a personal utopia on an uninhabited island. They chose Floreana (aka Charles Island) in the Galapagos archipelago.

Then along comes a middle-aged German Baroness, and her two young boy toys. She wants to build a 5-star resort.

And last, but not least, a German WWI Veteran, his pregnant lover, and his teenage son. They intend to live as homesteaders.

Sprinkle in a few celebrities, journalists, and various other folks stopping by to visit.

Chaos, sex, murder, and a myriad of shenanigans complete the scene.

If you want to read a true story that is a bit bonkers, this would be the one.

[MM Suarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Women are “vessels of pleasure.” Sex is an “intellectual relaxation.” Man is the pioneer, restlessly searching for new fields, but “woman has neither imagination, logic, nor desire enough to do so” and is incapable of advancement along any of the mental pathways."
- Friedrich Ritter

First I'll say I am not entirely sure what or who killed Ritter, what I do know is that I would have killed the d*ck myself after the first conversation!

Now to this book, it looks like I am in the minority here but I was disappointed, to start, my Kindle version is 592 pages of which only 325 (35%) are the story, the rest are acknowledgements, copious notes, bibliography, photos and index. I appreciate all the research but you would think all of that would have gotten you a better story, the title was the best part but it was misleading, the book was rather dull and after all the back and forth with all the batsh*t crazy people on this island, we still don't know how the dead got dead and who did it. I liked The Ghosts of Eden Park much better.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

EDEN UNDONE by Abbott Kahler is such a bizarre tale. I normally take my time with nonfiction reads, averaging 50 pages a day but I ended up flying thru this book. In the 1930s, some Europeans decide to flee the political unrest, and make their way to a remote Galapagos island. While a utopian community is the ideal, it isn’t the reality for these folks. Make sure to stick around for the Baroness and her men to arrive on the island as that’s when things really start taking a crazy turn. Some will die on this island. *cue the dun dun duuun! music

Thank you to Crown Publishing for sending me a free copy after I won it in a Goodreads giveaway! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true Stranger Than Fiction tale that probably would never have been known or told had not been for just about everyone on the island having kept journal, diaries, and wrote letters as often as they did. This one kept me up late, gobbling up all the pages til my eyes crossed for sleep wanting to know what happened to the fated residents of Floreana. Just.. Wow!

Thank you to Crown Publishing and Abbott Kahler for an ARC via Goodreads giveaway. This was an adventure and history I will not soon forget!

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes!

This story is strange, wild, and sometimes disturbing 😳.

It was hard to put this down at times and others I had to step away because I needed a break to process what I just read.

The Baroness' spirit I could feel strongly through the pages... I have a feeling her spirit may still be at the Island not at peace...

A certain mystery of the Island, i'm wondering if more were involved than what the inhabitants said 🤔 . That question of what really happened will be probably never be answered.

The pictures at the end were interesting and Haunting. One particular picture of the Baroness gave me a squirming feeling.

All of these people are/were interesting in their own way... putting em all together, a weirdly compelling group.

Were they destined to run headlong into the events that went haywire? Will have to think on that one but there definitely was a feeling of doom hanging over like a black cloud ☁️ before a storm.

Would recommend this, another interesting piece of history that should be more well known.. l know this definitely would have caught my attention in high school.

Would I want to visit that place? I'm back and forth on that one.. maybe I'll just have the answer pop up in my mind one day.

[Andi St. John · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very well written and researched. However, oh man does the subtitle oversell this book. I was looking for some sex and murder and really got none of it. This was boring, it sounded so exciting and it was going to be this amazing story but nope, just kind of dull.

[Nolan Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to describe this book. This is the most obscure piece of nonfiction I’ve ever read and it’s absolutely riveting. What an insane ride.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT. GOOGLY. MOOGLY.

This is a story, that if you heard about, or read about online, you'd have a hard time believing it; I am not sure that I have ever read a book that was so...CRAZY in every which way it could be [y'all, they were farming NAKED!!!, and that is one of the LESS weird things that happen in this book, if that tells you anything ] and you are left wondering what really happened [poison or food poisoning? Who knows? ] and how in the world did they not all die!! It just constantly blew my mind.

Brilliantly written and researched [make sure you check out the notes at the end ], this book will blow you away with just the sheer scope of it all and leave you 1. wanting to visit the Galapagos [preferably clothed LOL ] yourself, and 2. wondering just what the point of it all was [the original move, though even the "facts" behind the move were not completely true to begin with ].

This was just a fantastic read and I highly recommend it!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Abbott Kahler, and Crown Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and fairly engrossing - a tale of the modern "Robinsons", people who wanted to get away from civilization and found out that human passions still followed them - the book tries to stick out closely to the known facts and doesn't speculate too much about the mysterious deaths on the island, though the story is a little less dramatic than the title implies. Still a good page turning work of non fiction.

[Angelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, this is great. Second, not all mysteries can be solved. Third, there is a lot of horrible treatment of animals - both by the island inhabitants and the visitors...it's not everywhere, but it's enough that it's notable, so sensitive animal lovers should be aware. I loved the book, but I did have so many moments where it was hard for me to read about the treatment of animals.

In spite of that, I was totally absorbed by this. This was fascinating and almost everyone in the book has some level of crazypants going on....actually, maybe all of them have some level of that, but some are better able to live with it than others.

There is so much going on and I think a lot of the plot that is necessary to understand is in the description. What I will say is that if you are interested in history, crime, mysteries, culty people, etc., you'll probably like this book. I need to put it out there, because of other reviews I've seen: there are no easy answers in this book. Mysteries are not solved. There are conflicting viewpoints and multiple people who have investment in blaming others for the tragedies that occur. But you do get a very interesting view of people who have very different views about how best to live - or not live - in society, how to live with others, how we can live with strife, and how cultish people can bring others into their viewpoint to support their cult (however small it is). You also get to make your own assessments of the views/arguments/justifications from the different folks involved about why other folks on the island (there's literally like 9 people who live there) start disappearing.

As a skeptic, I was also fascinated and amused by the pseudo vegetarianism of some of the true believers on the island. At the same time, I think that even though I'm amused by their hypocrisy, it's still unfair for me to completely judge them for what I would view as a mental health issue. They, like so many others who get caught up in cultish views, really believe what they are doing - or when they question it, don't really question the cultish stuff, but thankfully question the abusive stuff. (Don't come at me - I know cult stuff is abusive, but there are levels and some are worse than others.)

It was shorter than I expected (so many notes!!! - which is great) and not all mysteries are solved, but it was fascinating and intriguing and I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between Dore and Margret's versions of their lives. I was totally absorbed and am planning to watch the doc on Youtube that I just found is available.

Also - if a dude brings you into his cult of one and tries to tell you that, as a chick, you should submit...DON'T GO GIRL! Also, if you do go...don't be mean to the only normal people you interact with, even if you are feeling insecure about your choices.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not sure this should have even been written since it’s nothing but contradictions. You don’t know what is true, if anything. The author constantly tells one version but then says the other person involved has letters or journals that tell a totally different story & proceeds to tell us that version. This happens the entire book. Like what was the point of this then.

It’s basically a story of several separate peoples madness, or they eventually become mad while living on the island, with one psychopath, and they all abuse animals in dozens of ways and we are repeatedly told about it throughout the book.

So, yeah, none of the characters are likable, and it’s very aggravating to read, and then it makes no sense that they want to live on this island to escape society, but somehow they all write to the same millionaire (who comes to the island occasionally with scientists to steal the native animals to experiment on) with a wish list of things they need and he brings it. Like how did you think you were going to survive on an island in the 1930’s if this rando is not bringing you milk for your baby? It’s just weird and nonsensical.

I wanted to stop reading this so many times. I wish I had. I was hoping this would be interesting & I would learn a lot, like The Wager, but this was rough. I need a palate cleanser.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tale of people on the fringe moving to an 'idyllic' South American island. The book explores the relationship between 3 groups of Germans in the 1930s. There is the eccentric dentist and his paramour, the sexually charged, dominating, self-centered baroness and the German homesteaders. We see the reasons they moved to Floreana Island in the Galapagos Island group and how their dreams ended. We see the tragic deaths of many of them and the survivors. It is a real-life version of Lord of the Flies. Though not outstanding, it is a worthwhile read.

[Alex Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you pitched this as a script you’d be laughed out of my office for thinking anyone could believe such an outlandish story. A unique story featuring sex, violence, nature, travel and humor

[Ronald Koltnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be published by Crown in September, 2024.

Fiction has to seem true to life. Non-Fiction does not have that burden. Narrative historian Abbott Kahler (who used to write as Karen Abbott) has given us a true story so outrageous, so indescribable, it would never pass as fiction. In the early 30’s a Nietzsche-loving doctor and his patient/lover/ acolyte Dore give up their lives in Germany to live on one of the more inhospitable islands in the Galapagos. They do not want a jungle paradise; they want hard work tinged with a hint of punishment. Soon they are joined by others, including the vampish Baroness, who prove the old adage that Hell is other people. Based on primary sources, the book is more LORD OF THE FLIES than ROBINSON CRUSOE. Sex, distrust, and a penchant for retribution do not a Utopia make.

[Etta Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this suspenseful and engagingly written non-fiction book. Thanks to an advance copy from the publisher, I'm writing a review for an academic journal and giving a presentation on this book in the fall. It's totally in line with studies of "utopian" visions of creating Edenic places to live--that's why I requested a copy. After the review is available, I'll share more thoughts here.
If you're interested in utopian dreamers and true stories of adventure, then you should definitely get a copy of Eden Undone. Abbott Kahler did her research and presented it in a way that is both gripping and thoughtful!

[SueCanaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this nonfiction book that is whackadoo in all the events which happened. So unbelievable, and the reason why history can be fun. If you have read Vincent Bugliosi's "And the Sea Will Tell", you'll enjoy the psychological similarities 40 years before that true story.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

"As I turned and went back to our guests," she wrote, "I knew that dire events were on the way, violence and death—and for the first time vague and ominous presentiments which I had felt before crystallized into a feeling of murder."

After World War I, a German couple searches for Utopia and enlightenment, for a return to the primitive way of living thinking that modern conveniences have made the world a worst place. Him: a war veteran and doctor, her: his former patient, together they packed up their bags and took off to a remote place where they could be alone with nature. This place? Floreana, an island in the Galápagos archipelago. This eccentric way of living, of thinking draws attention to their little heaven on earth and soon they will be joined by another couple and their children, and a disruptive violent baroness with her two lovers. Mistrust, jealousy, hatred, and violence soon ensue and the story of utopia ends with death.

A book that proves the reality is weirder and wilder than fiction. Engrossing and well narrated, Kahler put a lot of work into the research and it shows. There was a lot of material available that allowed the reader to get to know the psyche and inner thoughts of these persons, elevating them from mere words on the page to the actual flesh and blood human beings they were. The short, sharp, exciting chapters made this a quick read, a page turner for sure. I wouldn't want to spoil this at all, that's how strange it gets, so I'll only make some observations.

I think it's so interesting how life in Floreana ended up becoming a microcosm of Europe in this era and the events that led to WWI and WWII. You have these entitled foreigners taking over a piece of land because they think they know better than the locals, deriving some sort of benefit from this endeavor (in this case fame really if you think about it), which in turn drives others to come do the same. Once you have multiple factions, there starts a fight for resources: water, land, food, presents and attention from the Americans. And this all leads to an explosion of violence.

Entitlement is the word I would use to describe everyone we met in this tale. The two German couples who just moved and decided to live there, the baroness and her men expecting everything to work out their way, the Americans and their "scientific exploration" trips which were more like plundering and kidnapping of fauna. As a South American this is what was more insidious about everyone's actions, the sheer disregard for anything that didn't fit their ideas of the world.

As cliché as it sounds, this books proves that hell is other people and wherever you go there you are.

[Natara · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐2.75. The title drew me in—sex, murder, WWII. I wanted to leave because I just wasn't feeling it, there wasn't enough excitement! But I stayed because I'm a curious bugger.

Overall, the research was well done, the writing was good, but the actual content wasn't what I was expecting. I wanted less interpersonal drama, more action!

These people left their homes in order to find freedom and paradise in their own world. And then they ended up feuding between each other and worrying about how they are being portrayed by the others to the outside world. These adults seemed so high school! "They escaped civilization only to become obsessed with how society might judge them."

Friedrich and Dore & Magret were a bit complainy, the Wittmers mostly just wanted to do their own thing, and the Baroness seemed insane, with her love- & lust-brainwashed men. Friedrich and the Baroness were controlling (in their different ways) of their partners, but the Baroness is the one with weapons. She seemed like a dangerous woman because of her unpredictability! "Men and dogs are all alike, if they won't come willingly, you bring them down by force, and then you make them well again. They will stay then, and it does them good to know who is their master." Terrifying!

Another aspect of this story is the visitors to the island and its residents. The research boats who visited the Galapagos Islands seemed like they were taking local animals left and right for their research and zoos. The poor animals!!!! The author does note how Capt. Hancock's team discovered new species, so I guess that's beneficial, but still...

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo! A thoroughly engaging non-fiction account of murder in a utopian community on a remote island in Galapagos during WW II.

This reads like fiction, however as Abbott states in her Author’s Note, everything between quotation marks comes from an archive, diary, letter, newspaper article, book & unpublished manuscripts. The details & descriptions are spot on.

If you love history and want to learn the true life happenings of what becomes of the individuals searching for a utopian world of their own on the island of Galapagos, then you must read this novel. You will be intrigued & disgusted at the same time. These people were sociopathic, narcissistic, deceitful, cruel & greedy individuals. And oh the debauchery!

Favorite Lines:
“You never see the animal in man….And yet, there lies the root of every evil. It is the animal in us that torments us, and drives us from the path. That is the evil spirit which we must drive out, and it is all the more difficult because it appears so often in a charming mask.”

“ It could be so beautiful on earth…if humans weren’t animals.”

“Do you know that there may be moments in our relations with those we love, when we leave them to be nearer to them?”

Thank you to NetGalley, Crown Publishing & Abbott Kahler for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was insane! It was basically like taking your neighborhood drama to a deserted tropical island. There were 3 different groups trying to live on the island with their own extremist beliefs. I had this both in kindle and in audio, but mainly listened to the audio due to timing. It was fine, but would probably have been better in print. There was a map in the kindle version that I liked to refer back to at times. And, often the accounts of events were drastically different depending on who was telling the story (or even the same person would change their story multiple times). I would sometimes have to rewind a little bit to keep it all straight. It was such a bizarre story. It does make me want to visit it though as there is a village now with several hotels.

[Jill Milnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had previously heard this story on episode 129 of my favorite murder, which I still feel hits all the high points along with a hilarious delivery. I definitely am glad I read it, but if you’re looking to save 9 hours I’d recommend the podcast. The book goes into more depth of everyone’s unhinged diary entries and day to day drama on the island. I can only hope that one day my husband will have such kind words for me on his death bed as Friedrich did for Dora.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure I have ever felt more lost in a narrative non-fiction. This is probably my fault because I started on audio and was having a hard time keeping track of the people, so I switch to my digital copy. While the book became easier to follow, I was just unable to really get into the story. I think that I will hold on to this and try it again in a few months.

[Marcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - The title of this exhaustively researched and well written story grabbed my attention . About half way through I started to lose interest and developed little tolerance for the people involved. The historical context kept me reading.

[Georgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap, this book is, as one of my friends posted, BONKERS. I love a good historical mystery with oddball characters and when there are unexplained murders and overall mayhem, well- even better!

[Sara Heimlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow. One of the crazier stories I’ve read — and TRUE! This book is so well written and researched, and crazy intriguing. Loved it from start to finish.

[Yessi V · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such an oversell, was constantly waiting for the ‘murder’ and something exciting to happen.

[Villa Park Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dramatic true story about a bunch of misfits that end up on a secluded island is a rollercoaster read. German doctor Friedrich and his lover Dore attempt to create their own utopia on an island in the Galapagos. Much to their chagrin, the publicity surrounding them inspires others to join their island, with a family making a homestead. Once an eccentric Baroness and her two lovers come, in an attempt to develop the land for a luxury hotel, tensions boil over and some of the inhabitants wind up dead.

Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!