Munich
A novel
-
-
4.0 • 421 Ratings
-
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this “crackling and intelligent thriller spun from the ill-fated Munich Agreement” (USA Today), two opposing diplomats reunite under the shadow of World War II on a secret mission—from the acclaimed author of Conclave, V2, and Fatherland.
The inspiration for the Netflix film Munich – The Edge of War starring Jeremy Irons
“Meticulously researched and expertly paced. . . . Harris steeps his tale in vivid descriptions of Europe on the brink of conflict.” —The New York Times Book Review
September 1938. Adolf Hitler is determined to invade Czechoslovakia. The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, is desperate to avoid the war that would certainly follow such a move. The city of Munich is to be the site of an eleventh-hour meeting between them—a last-ditch effort to preserve a precarious peace.
Aboard the plane flying Chamberlain to the meeting is Hugh Legat, a rising star of the British diplomatic corps, serving at 10 Downing Street as a private secretary to the prime minister. Aboard the overnight train bringing Hitler to Munich is Paul von Hartmann, a staff member of the German Foreign Ministry.
Legat and Hartmann were close friends at Oxford in the 1920s but have not been in contact for six years. Each of them is carrying the weight of a painful personal secret. Now, as their paths cross in Munich, they will become privy to state secrets that could profoundly affect the very future of Europe. And each will be confronted with a dreadful decision.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The author of Fatherland and Enigma returns to World War II with this gripping thriller. As an unprepared Britain braces for Hitler’s fury, Hugh Legat—secretary to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain—learns a secret that could alter the outcome of the looming war. Full of vividly drawn scenes of real historical events and crackling spy intrigue, Munich is Harris at his best: sophisticated and suspenseful.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The 1938 Munich peace negotiations form the backdrop for this intelligent novel. Thriller Award winner Harris (Conclave) presents the diplomatic give-and-take through the perspectives of two friends who have fallen out of touch: Hugh Legat of His Majesty's Diplomatic Service and his Oxford schoolmate, Paul von Hartmann, who serves as a translator for the German Foreign Ministry. For Hugh, the international crisis coincides with the deterioration of his marriage. Paul is recruited by a group of conspirators hoping that Hitler's militarily unrealistic plans to attack Czechoslovakia will lead his generals to support an effort to topple him. Meanwhile, Neville Chamberlain holds vigorous discussions with his cabinet about what he could and should do to avert what he believes will be a civilization-shattering conflict that will cost many British lives over "a quarrel in a faraway country between people of whom we know nothing." Harris succeeds in not only transforming a familiar historical event into a novel of suspense but in making the derided Chamberlain sympathetic. 100,000-copy announced first printing.)
Customer Reviews
Very good book
A very good book. The level of interest and even tension was maintained throughout; even though the eventual outcome was well known.
Excellent read
An excellent read.
Munich
Was hoping for more... disappointing