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1930s: Such a thrilling story set against a backdrop of real history and the mix is an explosive one.
Black Roses
What you need to know before your trail
Berlin of the 1930s was a scary place to be. With the rise of Hitler, no -one could rest easy. Everyone felt nervous as if being watched as the new Germany – that which Hitler described as the pure Germany – was being built around them. Jews were being hounded from their homes, ostracised from society. Even the famous Babelsberg film studios were not safe – for Goebbels, Hitler’s right hand man became very interested in it indeed..
Enter Clara – an actress who finds herself in the middle of it all – including the group of Nazi wives with Magda Goebbels at its centre. People are watching her – no one more so that the British Secret Service who think her in an ideal position to become their spy.
At the same time however, Magda is becoming a friend of sorts – so much so that one day Magda entrusts Clara a secret mission of her own…
Travel Guide
Many books have been written on the Third Reich in Germany but few, if any, have considered the view of the women involved – and certainly not the Nazi officer wives. And these women aren’t just partners of rich and powerful men, these women have desires, intrigue and an important role to play in the society as well. Clara, an innocent actress comes to the city of Berlin:
“Berlin! A city she knew absolutely nothing about. Almost her entire image of Berlin had come from Greta Garbo and John Barrymore in Grand Hotel.”
Amidst all the fear and suspicion however, the scenes at the famous Babelsberg studios are captivating, providing a release from the rest of society at that time. However the studios are yet another part of the city under surveillance…
Within the rest of Berlin itself, the Jewish population are suffering on a day to day basis and descriptions of their fate are upsetting. Coupled with the lack of action or a true realisation of what the diplomatic world was doing at that time and it’s all the more tragic. However , perhaps the most eerie part of the novel – for how normal and perfectly simple they are – are the tea parties given by Madga Goebbels where they talk of fashion and other mundane things amidst war. Discussing an upcoming German fashion venture that Hitler has ‘recommended’ –
“Fashion is away by which women can play their part in strengthening the nation
Berlin to Clara soon takes on a whole new image one in which she is in terrible danger…
Booktrailer Review
Susan:
Jane Thynne has clearly done some difficult and painstaking research as the period and setting is evocative and chilling in equal measure. Seeing this part of history through the eyes of the woman who were there at the centre of it is both unique an intriguing – for although their husbands do appear, they are there only to support and explain their wife’s actions.
I was really fasciated reading such a well documented part of history from a very unusual and never before seen angle ( certainly not for me) This was the side of the war that women, actresses etc might have seen during the war and many of them did. I was more fascinated to read of Madga Goebbels than her husband as I’ve never understood what kind of women would be married to such men.But then again hindsight is a wonderful thing and we see that at the time, you just can’t imagine what could happen next.
The feeling of the times – the thrill of the Babelsberg studios contrasted with the danger of the rise of Nazism was a potent mix and I feel as if I have a better understanding events at that time.
The world of the spy and how that works was also very intriguing and the double crossing, tips to avoid detection and methods of mingling with the enemy were fascinating.
Not a world I would really like to be in, but then that is the wonder of fiction is it not?
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