This is a fictionalized memoir of the author’s father, Ludwig Schott.
Told through the eyes of a German child from ages 6 through 15 detailing Germany in the 1940's.
Walking through the woods listening to birds rather than playing sports is how this young, slight boy coped and survived. During the bombings and blackouts, the family takes care of each other. Fascinating reading showing the will to survive is so strong.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Ludwig Schott lives with his parents Luise and Wilhelm in Leipzig, Germany. His father is a lawyer, with the rise of Hitler he supports the Nazi party and is a true believer. When Germany invades Poland, his father is positive they will be victorious and he has no idea what the future holds for his family.

Ludwig is small for his age, he loves exploring forests, looking for birds and reading. His father is absent most of the time, busy working and he’s a real ladies man. When the allies start bombing Leipzig, Mrs. Schott and the children move to Colditz and Ludwig and his older brother Theodor are sent to a nearby Hitler Youth camp. Here Ludwig is bullied, forced to perform marching drills, go on long hikes, dig trenches and take part in mock combat.

As the war drags on, Ludwig is stuck at KLV-Lager and one bully is replaced by another. Ludwig can hear the sounds of warfare getting closer, he’s finally had enough and he and a couple of other boys start walking towards Colditz. The Americans arrive first, they don’t mix with the German citizens and they hand the town over to the Russian army.

Ludwig is only eleven years old, he looks after his mother and younger siblings. The winters are brutal, food and fuel is scarce and Ludwig scavenges in the forests for mushrooms and anything edible. Stuck in the Russian Zone, Ludwig and his mother know they need to leave for the West and they form a plan. It’s going to be a hard trip, especially for the three youngest children, Ludwig doesn’t give up easily and he outsmarts the guards.

I received a copy of The Willow Wren from NetGalley and ECW Press in exchange for an honest review. The author Phillip Schott writes about his father’s experiences as a young boy, growing up in Germany during the Second World War and it’s an amazing coming of age story. How one small boy endured so much and he never gave up, his love for his mother and siblings, he was extremely resilient, smart and brave. Ludwig Schott had a big heart, he was fiercer than a lion and five stars from me.

I have read a good amount of WWII novels but there is always something new to learn. I have not read many stories with the perspective of a German young boy. It specifically brought light to how children were effected by Russian occupation! I enjoyed it and it was very eye opening!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC of this book!

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, but I've never a book like this before. It comes from the point of view of a boy living in Hitler's Germany with his family, and I relished in the sheer detail of the novel. Ludwig, the protagonist, is such a likeable character, and I enjoyed glimpsing the war through his eyes. His innocence — the novel begins when he's just ten years old — was so jarring with what I know of the Second World War, and when he's send to 'military camp', I was even more shocked. I enjoyed this new historical perspective, and its structure as a fictional memoir made it even more unique.

4.5 stars

I've been reading a lot of WWII historical novels lately and this is yet another perspective, although this one is particularly interesting because the bones of this story are based on the stories of the author's father and grandmother, with some contributions from his aunt and uncle (father's siblings). As he states at the end, he filled in plausible details and conversations to create the story, but much of what he describes is what his father and his father's family experienced during the war and after. The story is mostly written from a first-person POV and is written as if his dad is telling us the story of everything he went through. You would think that by the time I get to the sixth WWII historical fiction novel, it would seem like I am getting the same thing over and over. And yet there was something to intrigue me and teach me in each of these books and I learned something new each time about what different people went through in order to survive. I found Ludwig to be a very observant and introspective child and I really enjoyed getting to know him. This was not as emotionally charged as some of the other ones I've read, but I still found it to be very interesting seeing the world from this child's eyes. I liked that he would add the occasional asides as an adult telling this story that this is what he thought at that time but learned later that it was something else. If you're a fan of historical fiction, especially during this time period, I would definitely add this to your list.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A different view of WWII as well as the post War Germany split. From stories told by his father, Ludwig, Philipp Schott has written this fascinating book that allows us to see WWII from a viewpoint that I've rarely read. I have not read much from this viewpoint and it gave me something to think about that I hadn’t given much thought to - the impact of the war on German families. It brought to light for me how children in particular were affected especially with the Russian occupation. This is a fictional memoir of the author’s father brought up by a Nazi father and an anti Nazi mother. In an interview, he says , “Ludwig is my father, or at least how I picture my father was as a boy. The Willow Wren is his first-person account, as imagined by me, of growing up in Nazi Germany through the terrible war and its aftermath.” His father, Wilhelm, is a hard-core Nazi and a philanderer. His mother, Luise, does not fall for Nazi propaganda and is more concerned about keeping her five children safe. Ludwig is an introverted soul, most comfortable in the forest with the birds (especially the wrens), animals, and trees. But times are bad; suffering is paramount. Ludwig must grow up fast. From his pre-teen years he is forced to skip childhood and begin making adult decisions and doing what he can to help his family and himself survive. Through the eyes of a young boy we see it all: The inevitable removal of nine-year-old Ludwig and his 13 year-old brother Theodur from their home and their forced participation in the militaristic Hitler Youth camp. The constant threat of death—by war or by starvation. The bullying. The absent father. The mother’s struggles. The challenges just to survive. As the war finally winds down, many of these challenges remain as the family, sans father, lives under Russian rule. Ultimately, at age 14, Ludwig realizes the only possible way to freedom and a good life lies within the dangerous attempt to escape from East Germany to the West. We see that the Germans during that time were just like us. Some were gaslighted by Nazi propaganda (Hitler actually won a democratic election) and fought for the rise of fascism. Others could see clearly and were frightened by what they could see happening. Countryman was pitted against countryman. What a jolt to see the rise of fascism from a situation very similar to what we have seen in America the last few years. Thankfully, so far, we have remained out of a world (and civil) war, but we are not out of the woods yet. Interesting how this book and perspective on the German rise parallel's the rise of the COVID scare how media is impacting the resulting actions.. Philipp Schott pens this tale from stories he heard from his father Ludwig and we get a glimpse of the hardships that one family endured. It was

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. insightful to see the perspective of a child for the times before, through, and after the war.

The Willow Wren by Philipp Schott is a historical fiction biography war novel. It is unlike any other war novel, I've read because it is written from a very different perspective. Ludwig Schott, the real life father of the author, is the narrator. He's 6 years old at the beginning of the story and 15 by the end. The story begins in Germany before WWII begins. The anticipation and tension of the war and its subtle movements are written to perfection.

Ludwig's father is a senior Nazi officer and philanderer. Ludwig's mother is a depressed anti-nazi with six children trying to survive. Ludwig and his older brother Theodur are constantly being impressed upon by the propaganda and at 9 years old, Ludwig and 13 year old Theodur are sent to a Hitler Youth Camp. I learned a lot about the camps which is something I knew next to nothing about.

Ludwig is an introverted and bright kid who is drawn to nature, especially birds. He loves to read and looks up to his older brother. He is constantly trying to figure out what is going on around him regarding the war and within his own family dynamics. He uses his resourcefulness in order to deal with bullying and in order to survive, becoming the hero of the novel.

I appreciated that the last chapter is told by the author who gives an explanation of how the story came to be and what was based on truth.

This is a fantastic novel to read if you are interested in WWII. Even if you think you've read enough books on the subject, this one will give you a new or different perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the e-arc copy.

I’ve read a good number of novels about WWII and I find there’s always something new to learn. This story is about a German family, told from the perspective of a young boy. I have not read much from this viewpoint and it gave me something to think about that I hadn’t given much thought to - the impact of the war on German families. It brought to light for me how children in particular were affected especially with the Russian occupation. This is a fictional memoir of the author’s father brought up by a Nazi father and an anti Nazi mother. In an interview, he says , “Ludwig is my father, or at least how I picture my father was as a boy. The Willow Wren is his first-person account, as imagined by me, of growing up in Nazi Germany through the terrible war and its aftermath.” (Link to the interview is below.)

When the book opens, Ludwig is ten years old. He’s more interested in nature and is fascinated by birds and trees. As the son of a Nazi he is sent with his brother to “military camp” for “Hitler Youth”. At ten, he is not always sure or interested in what is going on, until the bombs, the hunger. Over the next five years, we watch him mature and deal with his father’s absence , his mother’s depression, the responsibilities he takes on to find food for his mother and siblings. Ludwig is such a likable character and I loved that the author lets us know what happens to him after the war. This is a moving story made all the more meaningful given that it is based on Schott’s father’s life. The note at the end of the book is worth reading. “This book is born from a memory of memories. My memory of my father recounting his memories.” It’s very well done and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially new perspectives on WWII.

Link to the interview I mentioned above.
http://open-book.ca/News/I-Like-Inhabiting-One-Character-Philipp-Schott-on-Telling-Family-Stories-Building-Character-Invisible-Scaffolding


I received a copy of this book from ECW Press through NetGalley.

A fictional memoir of the authors father, Ludwig, chronicling his life between the ages of 6 and fifteen, growing up in Hitler's Germany. It also covers the period after the liberation with his family stuck in the Eastern part of Berlin under Russian control.

Ludwig stole my heart from the beginning. The second oldest of five, though the mother would birth another during this, he is a nerdish boy, thick glasses, not very athletic, and loves nature, the woods. His parents have different political meanings, his father a higher up in the Nazi party, his mother hating anything to do with such horrific leanings. The family is separated as the American and Russians close in, the mother and children sent East for supposed protection, the two older boys, Ludwig and his elder brother sent to a state run camp. Eventually it would become a camp training Hitler's youth.

This covers a period that I knew little of, or should I say offers a viewpoint of which I was unfamiliar. An inside glimpse of a family trying to survive after liberation. A German family in Berlin. I never realized that at wars end, Germany had Hitler Youth, serving in their armies. They had run out of men and boys as young as twelve and thirteen were sent to fight. How hard it was to get food under the Russians, starvation a real concern and as a mother alone with now six children, Ludwig's mother had more of a challenge.

By centering on one family the author is able to portray the hardships of so many, many who did not believe in Hitler's ideology but suffered for it all the same. Ordinary Germans were all looked at, labeled the same as those who took more active roles. We get to know Ludwig well, this nerdie boy who would become his family's hope, his knowledge of the woods would save them from starvation and eventually much more. A very good look, inside a horrific time.

ARC from Netgalley

This is another WWII story with an unusual viewpoint. Told through the eyes of a young German boy, Ludwig, whose father is a Nazi of some prominence. We the witness the brutality and sufferings affecting all, even Nazi families.
This is a historical memoir and doesn’t read like a novel. I personally didn’t like the author’s writing style. It is detailed, sometimes to a fault. However it was meticulously researched and detailed that must have been an intimidating project.
It is a worthwhile read and addition to the
WWII library. I would like to thank #NetGalley, the publisher and author for the Arc.
3.5*

Like so many others, I thought I needed a break from WWII Historical Fiction. Don't miss this one! The story is based on the authors German father (who was around 11-12 years old at the end of the war). Time span includes several years after the end of the war where the family was located in the Russian controlled East Germany. I've read/listened to so many different WWII Point of Views, but rarely from a German youngster (with the exception of the Book Thief of course).

Fabulous. Definitely on my personal "best of" list for 2021 and might just be my favorite historical fiction that I've read this year (and I've read some great ones!).

I listened to the audiobook version of this book; the narrator (Brian Webber) did a great job.

This book proves that you can have a great book without forcing a love story. Thank you. Bonus points.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (ECW Press Audio), the author Philipp Schott and the narrator Brian Webber for the opportunity to read this advance read copy in exchange for an honest review. Publication date was 23 March 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley & ECW Press for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

This was a stunningly beautiful book, even as it described in great detail the horrors of war. I often found myself getting lost in the language and the phrasing that Philipp Schott used, going back over sentences and paragraphs; reading them out loud to my husband just so I could share them with someone.

This isn't your typical WWII novel, and whereas I don't think the synopsis does the reader a disservice, necessarily, it is worth mentioning that the novel is a lot less of the thrilling escape that it seems it will be. It's more of an intricate look into the depths of human nature that coincides with a family leaving Germany (past the 90% mark).

There is a lot of introspection and descriptive writing in this book (including almost an entire chapter on the particulars of mushroom foraging in wartime, which I found fascinating but which admittedly will not be everyone's cup of tea). I found it incredibly well written and loved the author's note at the end - while it's not the type of WWII novel I normally find myself reading, I think it was all the better for it.

I would definitely recommend this to other readers of WWII Historical Fiction, especially if you like learning more about the historical aspects.

This one is a bit of memoir mixed with historical fiction and is set during one of my favorite book settings -- WWII. This time from the perspective of a young German boy, with a father who is a senior German official. Ludwig would much rather be out in nature enjoying the trees and the birds and reading. Forced to flee Leipzig due to bombing, the family eventually separates, with the two older boys at a youth camp and two other siblings with a farmer. The parents are able to pull some strings and eventually get an apartment in Colditz and work to reunite the family. Ludwig’s parents are nearly opposite with his father following strict adherence to the German ideology and his mother seems to know it is all propaganda. Ludwig doesn’t see his father for most of the war and much falls on his mother’s shoulders.

As the war drags on and with several younger siblings at home, Ludwig becomes their unofficial caretaker when his mother suffers with depression and the whole family struggles with trying to get enough to eat. Six children require a lot of food! At 14, his older brother is dragged from the camp into fighting the war.

This part of Germany eventually falls under first American control and then Russian control. Ration coupons don’t provide nearly enough for the family and they scrounge the farmer’s fields and the forest for anything edible. Money is complicated and bartering becomes critical. Travel between the zones is forbidden, but Ludwig tries convincing his mother to flee to the west where they have a better shot at a good life.

Philipp Schott pens this tale from stories he heard from his father Ludwig and we get a glimpse of the hardships that one family endured. It was insightful to see the perspective of a child for the times before, through, and after the war.

Rounded to 4 stars.
It’s well written and I was hooked during the first 30%, but after that I did loose interest. I don’t know what happened. I felt that something was lost on the retelling. I missed that heartbeat that I have always found between the lines of books with this topic, which is one of my favourite topics.
The storyline is really good and interesting but I wasn’t wowed.
Still, it is worth a read,

The Willow Wren by Philipp Schott 

From stories told by his father, Ludwig, Philipp Schott has written this fascinating book that allows us to see WWII from a viewpoint that I've rarely read. From the beginning, I'm drawn to introverted Ludwig, who feels so connected to birds and trees before, during, and after the horrors of WWII. Ludwig and his siblings are born to two people who are very different from each other. The imbalance between the lives of his German mother and father is highlighted by his mother's constant devotion to her children while his father seems a distant, cold, devotee of Hitler's regime. Father is a senior Nazi while it's obvious that Ludwig's mother believes that true believers are fools and throughout the book you can see that Ludwig and his older brother's doubt increase toward the propaganda that is forced on them through teachers, their father, and Hitler Youth camp.

As Germany suffers more and more defeats during WWII, shortages grow and the people suffer. While hearing of Germany's great wins and advances, it's impossible to ignore that food, supplies, electricity, and things that had been every day features of prewar life are dwindling and disappearing. Eventually Ludwig's mother and siblings must flee the city and split up to survive, with ten year old Ludwig and his older brother living in a Hitler Youth camp, where they are (reluctantly) prepared to do their duty to Hitler and their country. Ludwig's fourteen year old brother, Theodur, is finally sent to the front lines where children and old men alike become the latest cannon fodder for the ego of the leaders of Germany. If they can't win, they want every man, woman, and child to die for the lost cause. 

During the years of Germany's increasing losses in the war and after their defeat, I'm amazed at the strength of Ludwig's mother. She is suffering from depression, malnutrition, pregnancy, nursing a baby while starving, and a constantly philandering husband but she still ekes out an existence for her six children. Both Ludwig and his older brother must grow up way too quickly and do not seem inclined to believe the party line that their father allows to rule his life. Possibly through hindsight, Ludwig's memories seem to be those of an older person, even when he's remembering things from his very early years. This is a boy who is obviously an old soul but also a boy who has lost his childhood along with so many other children of a war that destroys humans on all sides. 

At the end of the book, the author lets us know what happens to Ludwig and his family, when they are reunited with their father, and up to the present day. I enjoyed knowing that although Ludwig didn't become a forest ranger like he dreamed of being, he did plant trees and grow food on his own place in Canada, where he raised a family. It's hard to believe there could be a life after the brutalities of war, but in this case, Ludwig carried his memories with him and shared them with his family, allowing them to now be shared with us. 

Thank you to the author, ECW Press, and NetGalley for this digital and print ARC.

I read a lot of WWII books and this one stands out because I haven't read many books set in Germany, with non-Nazis, and then continuing after the war with the Russian occupation. I love that it's based on a real family and rooted in facts. It was a bit slow, maybe because it wasn't written on the front lines of the war, but it held my attention enough that I looked forward to reading more.
Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for the advance copy.

Wow, what a magnificent novel this is! All of you (like me) who are beginning to tire of WWII stories, dust yourselves off and make room for this one. This is a “historical fiction memoir,” if you will. The author, Philipp Schott, is the son of the real-life protagonist, Ludwig Schott. The frame of the story is Ludwig’s, the details are Philipp’s. Ludwig narrates all the way up to the epilogue. Philipp gives us the last chapter/epilogue.

This is unlike any other WWII book I have read, and I have read a lot of them. The story takes place from the mid 1930s through 1949. Ludwig was born in 1934 and was only 15 at the end of the book. Thus, we see the buildup, the actual war years, and the difficult aftermath through the eyes of an East German boy. His father, Wilhelm, is a hard-core Nazi and a philanderer. His mother, Luise, does not fall for Nazi propaganda and is more concerned about keeping her five children safe. Ludwig is an introverted soul, most comfortable in the forest with the birds (especially the wrens), animals, and trees. But times are bad; suffering is paramount. Ludwig must grow up fast. From his pre-teen years he is forced to skip childhood and begin making adult decisions and doing what he can to help his family and himself survive. Through the eyes of a young boy we see it all: The inevitable removal of nine-year-old Ludwig and his 13 year-old brother Theodur from their home and their forced participation in the militaristic Hitler Youth camp. The constant threat of death—by war or by starvation. The bullying. The absent father. The mother’s struggles. The challenges just to survive. As the war finally winds down, many of these challenges remain as the family, sans father, lives under Russian rule. Ultimately, at age 14, Ludwig realizes the only possible way to freedom and a good life lies within the dangerous attempt to escape from East Germany to the West.

It is a real eye opener to read a war novel through perspective of a young German. We see that the Germans during that time were just like us. Some were gaslighted by Nazi propaganda (Hitler actually won a democratic election) and fought for the rise of fascism. Others could see clearly and were frightened by what they could see happening. Countryman was pitted against countryman. What a jolt to see the rise of fascism from a situation very similar to what we have seen in America the last few years. Thankfully, so far, we have remained out of a world (and civil) war, but we are not out of the woods yet. When I first began reading WWII books, I wondered why the people did not rise up against the fascist leaders. Now I understand much better why they did not. A charismatic (in some eyes) leader, gaslighting and fake news.

Despite the horrors of the war, it was so inspiring to see how young Ludwig handled the overwhelming odds of all that confronted him. He was courageous, resourceful, resilient, and never gave up. You know that question about if you could have dinner with 5 people who would they be? Ludwig would be one of my guests. He was a phenomenal young man, and I’m glad his brother made sure he would not be forgotten by writing his story. I highly recommend The Willow Wren for all readers of historical fiction.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Alex and the ECW Press, and Philipp Schott for the gift of an ARC. Opinions stated are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

The Willow Wren is the story of Nazi German, World War II and beyond, as seen through the eyes of a child. He and his family suffer greatly. Through Ludwig’s revelations the reader feels every nuance of his experiences. The Willow Wren is an enlightening read.

The Willow Wren is a based on memories about Germany seen through the eyes of a young German boy, during the Second World War and for a few years after, in East Germany.

The story began in 1944, with a memory from ten-year-old Ludwig; he and his mother looked on at the partly bombed house that was once their home in Leipzig. They’d returned to the city for Ludwig’s birthday and hoped to meet with his father.

The story then went back, and built up through the early years of Ludwig’s life. We were introduced to a young bookish boy who preferred the peace and quiet of a forest with birds and trees. When war broke out, much of it was far away from Ludwig’s life and was meaningless to him, until the bombs began to fall. While his father stayed in the city the family were split up; Ludwig and his older brother Theodore were sent to a camp, where they were ‘encouraged’ to join the Hitler Youth. Those were terrifying years for two small boys who didn’t like war games and preferred books, made worse when teenager Theodore was sent to the Russian front.

After the war they both found their way back to live in Colditz with their mother and younger siblings. It was now part of the Russian ruled East Germany and Ludwig’s memories of those years were very enlightening.
This book was such a pleasure to read, the writing flowed smoothly and I was engrossed by Ludwig’s life and his perceptions of all that went on around him. I thought that seeing the war years through an adult’s memories of his childhood worked really well; children notice different things and their understanding of events can be different from an adults. I also liked how the author interspersed parts of the narrative with what Ludwig knew later, comparing it to a current event.

Although I can recommend the whole book, two parts stood out for me; I was quite shocked to read that near the end of the war desperate German leaders kept lowering the age limit of Hitler Youth needed in the fighting fronts and children were sent to face the enemy. The other part of the book which I found very interesting was life in East Germany, especially the first few years after the end of the war, when the adjustments to living under Soviet rule were difficult.

I loved the ending and the author’s notes at the end were very enlightening and worth reading to add perspective to the narrative; I found them quite emotional after the final chapter. Definitely a book to read for fans of historical fiction and the war years.

This is a fictionalized memoir of the author’s father, Ludwig Schott. The focus is Ludwig’s life when he is between 6 and 15 years of age in the 1940s in Germany.

Ludwig’s father Wilhelm is a senior Nazi leader. His position means that initially the family does not suffer unduly when compared to other Germans. However, once fighting comes to Germany, Wilhelm is not able to protect his family and their situation becomes more challenging. Leaving her husband in Leipzig to continue his duties for the Reich, Luise takes her children to Colditz, a town deemed safe from bombing because it is home to a POW camp for officers. Once the war is lost, Colditz is controlled by the Soviets. The Schott family faces harsh conditions, including food shortages. Ludwig, as the second-eldest child, helps however he can to ensure that he, his mother, and his five siblings survive.

The book provides an interesting perspective of World War II, that of a German child living through the war and its aftermath. The book shows the situation in Germany during the war but also after the war. Civilians suffered greatly. The Americans entered Colditz, but they were replaced by Soviet occupation forces when Germany was divided into four occupied zones. It is this latter period that I found most interesting, since I have encountered little written from a first person perspective about the Soviet occupation of Germany.

As a child, Ludwig is exposed to differing political views. Ludwig’s father Wilhelm is devoted to Hitler; Luise tells her son that, “’If the Party said do not breathe on Sundays, [your father] would hold his breath until he passed out.’” Even when the war does not go well for the Germans, Wilhelm has no doubts: “The situation for our beloved Fatherland may appear to be difficult, but we must trust in the Fuehrer. He has knowledge that we do not have, and he has wisdom that we do not have.” Ludwig’s mother, on the other hand, is skeptical. She calls Goebbels an idiot and the Nazis clowns. Because of his parents’ differing views, his closeness to his mother, and his father’s emotional and physical distance, Ludwig questions what he is told.

Ludwig is an interesting child. He tends to be a loner who prefers his own company. He is bothered by excessive noise and finds solace in nature in the company of birds. He is an intelligent and observant boy. Though he is not able to always fully understand what is happening around him, he recognizes propaganda and “lethal fanaticism.” He is also a loving child who supports his mother as best he can even though he does not completely understand the burden she has of looking after six children. Though his life is very much at the mercy of forces beyond his control, he doesn’t give up. He certainly shows that he possesses the resourcefulness of the little wren, his favourite bird.

The story I would love to know more about is that of Wilhelm and Luise. How did two people with such opposite personalities come to marry? Luise seems not to wear blinders when it comes to her husband. When Ludwig asks about what his father does, she begins with “’When he is not combing his hair or smiling at pretty young women . . .” before explaining his duties. She emerges as an admirable person who looks after her children alone during very difficult circumstances. Wilhelm, on the other hand, as one of his sons points out, “’doesn’t accept personal responsibility. Not really anyway. Not in an honest emotional sense.’” Instead, he spouts, “‘Let us not burden our remembrances with a heaviness that’s gone.’” Wilhelm seems a stereotypical German: emotionally cold, inflexible, and extremely disciplined.

I enjoyed the book. It provides a look at a historical time period from an original perspective. It also offers advice on how to overcome obstacles.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.