Impressive work

The background: The two friends Martin Schulse and the Jew Max Eisenstein studied together in Germany. After her studies she wander as penniless artists to America, where they work together to build a well-running gallery. Martin is married with family. In 1932 he returned to Munich because he wants his children to grow up in Germany. Max leads meanwhile continued the gallery and transfers Martin regularly its share of profits. The customer base includes mostly older Jewish matrons.

The epistolary novel begins when Martin Schulse 1932 already again lives in Munich, where he can with his acquired wealth to acquire a lock. The population in Germany is suffering at this time under an economic crisis, it's a lot of unemployment, poverty and discontent.

In the first letter, which is dated 12 November 1932, Max inquired at Martin as he has settled in Munich. Based on the then every 3-6 weeks following letters, you can track how changes the mood in Germany. Nazism spreads and the skeptical and initially only opportunistic attitude of Martin Schulse turns into a fanaticism, which culminates in the fact that Martin indeed happy to take the money from the gallery, but otherwise want to break off contact with Max, because he contained his Position can not afford a letter Contact a Jew. Max may, if it is really necessary, the letters only sent to the bank with the business mail.

Max Eisenstein's sister griselle is an actress and takes a commitment to a Berlin theater at. Soon the anti-Semitism is so common that it gets into trouble. A letter addressed to Max griselle, comes back with a note unknown addressee. Max fears the worst and asks Martin for help

The letter Contact continues until March 3, 1934. For an understanding of the novel, it is advantageous if you are somewhat familiar with the most important facts of history as the rise of Hitler and the persecution of Jews. In the second part of the epistolary novel, the plot takes an unexpected turn. The heavily disappointed by his friend Max changes in his letters that he sends back to the home address of Martin, a remarkably friendly tone and leaves the danger lurking between the lines.

A story set in the time of National Socialism, as there is quite a lot, you might think at first glance. But far from it! The quality of this work is not in the original format of the mur epistolary novel. The American author Katherine Kressmann Taylor has this book published in 1938, the year of Kristallnacht. At a time when, supposedly where not many people knew in Germany what happened to the Jewish population and what it had to concentration camps to be.

The audio book is spoken by Matthias Brandt and Stephan Schad. I was impressed by the freezing cold, which is able to put in your mouth Stephan Schad Martin Schulse. Matthias Brandt also interpreted the letter from Eisenstein spring with very warm, amicable tone, but also terrified by his sister one can literally feel.

I have repeatedly heard this relatively short audio book of 60 minutes duration was very attentive and every time discovering a new aspect that had escaped me until now. There are still a few points that I have not yet understood all the details. But I think I have interpreted the meaning between the lines of Eisenstein's last letters correctly and at the end took my real breath.

A short book in a masterful audiobook implementation. I was very touched this audiobook. From me 5 points.