Hans Fallada‘s Alone in Berlin (aka Every Man Dies Alone) was a tantalizing yet tragic tale of resistance and moral fortitude in WWII Germany under fascist Nazi rule, based on a true story. Despite the narrative’s relatively unsurprising progression (with only a few plot twists), I found myself utterly engrossed – so much so that I read the last half of the book in less than two days. Indeed I preferred to sacrifice my sleep to finish this absolutely gripping novel.
What I enjoyed most about Alone in Berlin, apart from the fact that it is set in my favorite European city (which I know all too well – from Prenzlauer Berg to Hellersdorf), was the rich development of the characters by Fallada. He masterfully describes the essence of human nature. From the volatile Emil Borkhausen to the Gestapo detective Inspector Escherich to the main protagonist Otto Quangel, he skillfully captures each character’s personality in a way that you can vividly picture them right before your eyes. It is clear from the narrative that Fallada has done his research meticulously, as the historical detail is impeccable.
Perhaps my only minor critique of this masterpiece, is that towards the end it felt a bit drawn out. Fallada possibly could have brought the story to a conclusion earlier, with no loss of impact, yet, he chose to extend it (to 590 pages). In spite of this, I honestly can only highly recommend Alone in Berlin to anyone looking for a thrilling read, especially if you are into crime mysteries and dramas.
Also worthy of note:
1. Hans Fallada’s depiction of Berlin is quite remarkable. All of the transit stations, streets and place names really exist in modern-day Berlin.
2. While the author did use artistic licence in telling this tale, the story is based on real-life events which is quite impressive. The moral strength and determination of the main characters Otto and Anna Quangel is heartwrenching.
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