Brandenberg
3 journalers for this copy...
“Brandenburg” is Henry Porter’s fourth novel and won the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller in 2005. The book is set in East Germany’s last few months, leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The book’s hero is Rudi Rosenharte, an academic and former (unwilling) Stasi operative. He has (as the book opens) been brought out of retirement by the Stasi – again, against his wishes – for an operation. However, as his brother and his brother’s family have been imprisoned pending his co-operation, he doesn’t really have much of a choice. Konrad, Rudi’s twin brother, is a film-maker and a known dissident; he has been in prison before, and Rudi fears too long a stretch might kill him. The brothers haven’t had the easiest of live. They were born in 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II to high-ranking Nazis. While this would be something of a stigma in most countries, the burden seems to be that much greater in communist East Germany. Their father saw action in Russia and in defence of Berlin. When their parents died towards the end of the war, the brothers were adopted and raised by their housekeeper. However, while neither brother is particularly with communism, they certainly haven’t adopted their parents’ beliefs.
Although mot of the action takes place in East Germany, the book opens in Trieste – where Rudi has been sent to meet Annalise Schering. The only problem is that Annalise is dead, having committed suicide in Brussels some fifteen years previously. Rudi was not only her contact at this time – she was supplying the Stasi with classified information – but he was also her lover. However, after her suicide, he was placed in a rather difficult situation and didn’t inform his superiors of her death. Now, as far as the Stasi are concerned, she is alive and wants to make contact again : the assumption is she want to resume passing information to the GDR. This ‘new’ Annalise is insisting that Rudi is the only person she’s willing to make contact with. However, in reality, the operation has been set up by Robert Harland and Alan Griswald – representatives of the British and American intelligence agencies. They are particularly interested in alleged links between the Stasi and Abu Jamal, a Syrian terrorist. Rudi, the only person who can apparently obtain this information, is what they plan to use in order to obtain it.
This is a very enjoyable book – it’s very tense throughout, with a genuine air of suspicion, verging at times on paranoia. It also appears to have been meticulously researched – the author’s note and the acknowledgements at the end of the book make for very interesting reading. However, don’t read them until you’ve finished reading the story itself – it’ll give away a couple of twists and surprises if you do !
The book’s hero is Rudi Rosenharte, an academic and former (unwilling) Stasi operative. He has (as the book opens) been brought out of retirement by the Stasi – again, against his wishes – for an operation. However, as his brother and his brother’s family have been imprisoned pending his co-operation, he doesn’t really have much of a choice. Konrad, Rudi’s twin brother, is a film-maker and a known dissident; he has been in prison before, and Rudi fears too long a stretch might kill him. The brothers haven’t had the easiest of live. They were born in 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II to high-ranking Nazis. While this would be something of a stigma in most countries, the burden seems to be that much greater in communist East Germany. Their father saw action in Russia and in defence of Berlin. When their parents died towards the end of the war, the brothers were adopted and raised by their housekeeper. However, while neither brother is particularly with communism, they certainly haven’t adopted their parents’ beliefs.
Although mot of the action takes place in East Germany, the book opens in Trieste – where Rudi has been sent to meet Annalise Schering. The only problem is that Annalise is dead, having committed suicide in Brussels some fifteen years previously. Rudi was not only her contact at this time – she was supplying the Stasi with classified information – but he was also her lover. However, after her suicide, he was placed in a rather difficult situation and didn’t inform his superiors of her death. Now, as far as the Stasi are concerned, she is alive and wants to make contact again : the assumption is she want to resume passing information to the GDR. This ‘new’ Annalise is insisting that Rudi is the only person she’s willing to make contact with. However, in reality, the operation has been set up by Robert Harland and Alan Griswald – representatives of the British and American intelligence agencies. They are particularly interested in alleged links between the Stasi and Abu Jamal, a Syrian terrorist. Rudi, the only person who can apparently obtain this information, is what they plan to use in order to obtain it.
This is a very enjoyable book – it’s very tense throughout, with a genuine air of suspicion, verging at times on paranoia. It also appears to have been meticulously researched – the author’s note and the acknowledgements at the end of the book make for very interesting reading. However, don’t read them until you’ve finished reading the story itself – it’ll give away a couple of twists and surprises if you do !
Journal Entry 2 by cluricaune at Common Grounds Cafe in Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (9/12/2006 UTC) at Common Grounds Cafe in Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Released at the bookcrossers meetup.
C.
Released at the bookcrossers meetup.
C.
Traded for it on readitswapit.co.uk . Now in with a pile of books to be read. Will update site when I have read the book
CAUGHT IN LUTON BEDS U.K
CAUGHT IN LUTON BEDS U.K
