Another fantastic book by CJ Sansom. I have long been a fan of his Shardlake historical series and this book set in modern times is no disappointment. As a child of immigrant parents, I have always known all too well that if Britain had not held its nerve in the early days of WW2 then my father would not have had the opportunity to come to this country in the early '50s, my parents probably would never have met and then almost certainly I would not have been born. How's that for the results of an alternative history!
The fate for Britain is only slightly less drastic in this alternative timeline where Britain suffers defeats in Norway and Dunkirk and does not gather its strenght to fight on. Instead it signs a peace treaty with Germany in the early 1940s, fascism takes hold as the country moves more closely under the control of Germany. The non-white countries of the British empire slip further into anarchy as right-wing and "Germanic" methods of dealing with the native populations are enforced ignoring claims for independence. The white countries of the empire seek to distance themselves from fascist Britain. And at home in 1952? All is paranoia, people dare not speak their minds in public for fear of being seized by the blackshirts now in positions of power including an "Auxilliary" police force which legitimises their bully boy tactics. The veneer of civilisation slips as Jews are finally rounded up en masse and transported to holding camps in preparation for "re-settlement" in eastern Germany, Poland and the captured Russia territories. Yes Germany is still at useless and unending war with Russia. People hardly dare speak their thoughts at home either for who truly knows what their spouse or other family members really think? Like East Germany in the real world, anyone could denounce you for some small material gain or to protect someone or something that they hold dear. Everything is grim and dreary, too much economic effort is expended maintaining its hold on the empire and supporting German war efforts on its eastern front. So why did I enjoy this book?
Well, if you have them speak to your grand- or great-grand parents about what the war and its aftermath were truly like. Lots of younger people don't realise that rationing did not fully end in the UK until July 1954. 9 years after the end of the war. The post war years were grim and grey, food, clothing and petrol continued to be rationed. I suspect the only thing that kept a lot of people going was the moral victory of Britain winning the war and we just had thank God we were alive and get on with living.
Keep that in mind as you read the exploits of the protaganist, his friends and accomplices. The characters are all eminently believable and very well drawn by Mr Sansom. The alternative history and major historical characters and events all hang together coherently and very plausibly. You hold your breath as the protaganist sails very close to danger, you root for him and his friends and family to survive each set of perils, despair at one character who is so scared and frankly almost mad that he puts everything in jeopardy on more than one occasion. You read with great dread as the fascists and German SS personnel hunt for each character. Do you have any reasons to cheer? Will they be frustrated or defeated in their manhunt? Does anyone slip through the various nets? The book demands that you read on to find out and the denouement does not disappointment.
Finally, read the historical notes at the end of the book. CJ Sansom's reason for writing the book is an interesting discussion of the dangers of nationalism as applied to Britain's very own backyard never mind its scary resurrection in mainland Europe. A thought provoking way to round off an excellent read.
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2013
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 October 2021
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2023
