This is a remarkably interesting account of the German Stender family from Hamburg between 1914 and 1939 and the outbreak of the Second World War, during which period each of the brothers in the family devoted themselves to socialism and workers’ rights and the increasingly dangerous opposition to Hitler and the rise of Fascism. It’s rare to read about such consistent and ideologically based resistance over such a long period, and the author is to be commended for bringing this story to our attention. Her own father was one of these courageous brothers and so the text is enhanced by some family photos and as the book is based on first-hand knowledge, it gives a fascinating insight into the motivations and outlook of the family. However….the author has chosen to write the book as a biographical novel rather than a straight biography and unfortunately it just doesn’t work as a novel. There are endless stilted conversations, the dialogue is unnatural, and the whole book is dry and heavy-going, in spite of the fascinating subject matter. I found it quite a chore getting through it. Nevertheless it’s a valuable historical document and deserves to be read for that alone. And if you go on Google Street View you can actually “visit” 56 Gertigstrasse.