Solitaire: Magda Goebbels: A Banality of Ambition and Evil

by Byron Williams

Solitaire is the ambitious, seductive and macabre story of the "unofficial" First Lady of the Third Reich, Magda Goebbels. On May 1, 1945, after Adolf Hitler committs suicide, Magda murders six of her seven children and sits down to play solitaire in the Fuhrerbunker, as she waits for her husband, Josef, to return so they can execute themselves in the Reich Chancellery gardens. Magda goes on a retrospective quest for redemption, examining her loving relationship with her Jewish stepfather, Richard Friedlander and her first love, Chaim Arlosoroff, a Zionist leader. She is forced to confront her indefinable desire for "more"... which inevitably leads to the woman she had become --- a banality of ambition and evil. Her obsession with her public image as the paragon of German womanhood has blinded her to the humanity of others, including her own. It was a life that ran a parallel course with the rise and fall of Nazi Germany."

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2018

Reviews

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fantasy novelette about Magda Goebbels playing solitaire as she awaits her husband to return. A comical collection of Jewish friends she may have known haunt her thoughts. This is little more than another attack on the dead by the usual suspects.

[MR ROBIN M E HURLEY · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imaginary

I have decided not to continue reading this book.

Right from the beginning the author is putting thoughts into his subjects head.

This is not what I want from a history book.

Actual facts are mentioned in passing if at all.

[Lindsey Lobree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This is a fascinating way of telling the story of Magda Goebbels. The use of playing cards to examine her life hours before her suicide, was a captivating way of telling the story of this troubled individual. I could not put the story down and was able to read it in one sitting.

[Kerry Eckhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. I enjoy reading Mr. Williams weekly op-ed columns in our Winston Salem Journal every Sunday but this was a disappointing read. I did not like his approach in telling the story of Goebbels. A straightforward biography would have been appreciated.

[Anne Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solitaire. Magic Goebbels

Wanted to read this, I still am but disappointed. Why oh why does the author insert imaginary conversations between this infamous historical person and an imaginary character from a deck of playing cards? This woman killed her six children for fear of life without her beloved fuehrer. Stick to facts!!

[Mary Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

At first I was not pleased with the way this book written, but as it went on it became more enjoyable.

[Jon A. Beemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

story of the perfect Nazi wife

I’ve never read about Magda but this was very interesting. The author presented a very interesting perspective on this interesting person.