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janeta12's review
4.0
4.5. Read this shortly after watching The Darkest Hour followed by Dunkirk, which follow in time when this is set. This happened randomly as I put Munich on hold at the library before I even planned to watch those movies. I was rooting for Legat and Hartmann all the way, on all fronts. It seems a kinder portrayal of Chamberlain, but knowing what happens later.... I was really rooting for an intervention to the Munich agreement. Still curious what happens later for Legat, especially on the personal level.
boundsie's review against another edition
4.0
A great read with the attention to detail one expects from Harris. The future of the fictional characters is masterfully hinted, both the German and English characters symbolic of their nation’s path the Munich. Harris is far more sympathetic to Chamberlain than I might have been, but describing him as “corvine” one me over – love a good adjective.
sophiamv's review
4.0
Loved this insight in the proceedings into the Munich Agreement of September 1938 between Germany, Great Britain, Italy and France. I hadn't realized the Dachau camp was already up and running by then. Chilling to read knowing what is to come.
kmoonen's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
franklyfrank's review against another edition
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
foxvolant's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lorinlee's review
4.0
It's September 1938 and British PM Neville Chamberlin is dealing with psychopath Hitler, who is poised to seize parts of Czechoslovakia. Harris has researched the efforts carefully, and crafted an interesting story. Two junior foreign service reps are center stage, Hugh Legat on the British side and Paul von Hartmann on the German side. They attended Oxford at the same time earlier. Paul is one of a group of Germans who, in words which sound like they could be written about Donald Trump, recognizes that many people admire Hitler because he has done this or that---but that they will come to regret their support of him. He hopes to pass info to Hugh that make it clear that Hitler plans to expand and expand Germany. I'll leave it to you to see how that plays out. The conclusion was a bit weak, but the story itself fascinating and that's what kept me going.
laurieb755's review
4.0
It's a testament to Robert Harris' skill to spin a yarn that, despite my knowing exactly what the real-world outcome was of the famed meeting in Munich, I found this story a page turner. His evocative descriptions of people and places had me feeling like a bug on the wall taking it all in.
This is historical fiction grounded in fact with just enough suspense to keep me engaged till the last page. My husband thought that perhaps Harris ran out of steam by the end, but I liked the ending precisely because it had me wondering what happens between the end of the book's text and the futures alluded to by Harris for the two main "fictional" players. I put fictional in quotes because, while Legat and Hartmann were not real people, they were based on real people. As to who are Legat and Hartmann? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out. :-)
This is historical fiction grounded in fact with just enough suspense to keep me engaged till the last page. My husband thought that perhaps Harris ran out of steam by the end, but I liked the ending precisely because it had me wondering what happens between the end of the book's text and the futures alluded to by Harris for the two main "fictional" players. I put fictional in quotes because, while Legat and Hartmann were not real people, they were based on real people. As to who are Legat and Hartmann? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out. :-)
legalchip's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75