Reviewed by Emma Crowley
When shy, beautiful Edith first met Jewish-born Julius it was love at first sight. Julius swept her off her feet, whisking her from humble beginnings into the sparkling society and glittering ballrooms of Berlin’s powerful elite. It felt like all her dreams had come true.
But her perfect world begins to crack with rumblings of the Nazi party growing in power and influence. Every day there are new laws to strip Jews of their money and their freedom. And there are even more frightening rumours, of horrifying camps, and people disappearing in the night…
Then when Edith’s own brother Joseph enlists as an SS officer, and her whole family turn their backs on them, she knows that it is only a matter of time before they come for her husband. She pleads with Julius that their only chance is to run away and start again. Who cares about worldly possessions if they can still be together, their lives intact? But despite everything, he refuses to believe he is in danger.
Then one terrible night, the sounds of cries and breaking glass ring out across the city as the Nazis wreak their destruction. Edith’s worst fears have been realised— Julius has been taken.
For so long, Edith has led a sheltered life, secluded from the real world. But the only way to save her beloved husband is to defy the Nazis and put herself in grave danger. Can she draw on every bit of strength she has to fight for love and save him… or is she already too late?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The First Spark of Fire to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
The First Spark of Fire is the first in a brand new series, German Wives, by Marion Kummerow and what a brilliant start it was. If this is only the beginning, I can’t wait to see what is to come in future books. It tells the story of two German women, Edith and Helga, who were once school mates but whose lives have split into two very different paths. The story opens in Munich in 1923 and takes us right up to 1938. Right from beginning the author provides us with a fascinating insight into Germany in the years following World War One, detailing how the country suffered an economic depression and also showing the rise of Hitler and his party through to the many absurd laws forced upon the Jewish population. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like it and it really gave me a much deeper understanding of the lead up to World War Two and how ordinary German citizens were so deeply affected by the beliefs and actions of one mad man.
Munich 1923, and the situation is desperate for the citizens of Germany. Desolation is taking hold with hyperinflation and many struggle to put food on the table. The Great War had ruined the country with reparations to be paid which only increases the awful economic situation. A man named Hitler is rumoured to be their saviour and he has recently formed the National Socialist German Workers Party. Reading of the rise of Hitler and initially people’s innocence believing this man will solve all their problems, well it was just heart-breaking. I felt this way because I knew what was to come in future years and you want to reach into the pages of the book and tell the characters what is ahead of them so in that some way they could possibly prepare for it. But sadly that couldn’t happen and the further the story develops the more you feel such sadness and worry for the people you have become invested in.
Edith is married to Julius who owns one of the most important banks in Germany. Julius’s family are Jewish but he converted to Protestantism when he came of age. Edith and Julius have a somewhat strained relationship as she is unable to give him an heir to his business following numerous miscarriages. The love they had for one another when they married has diminished but I sensed underneath it all when the bad times do come that they would be there for each other. That Edith, despite being desperately lonely in Munich away from her family and friends, will always be there for Julius and this sentiment is tested more than ever as the political situation grows unsteady. I loved how we had numerous chapters from Julius’ point of view. Too often it’s only the female characters who are given a voice but here Julius is able to express his opinions and it made me feel some empathy towards him fairly early on.
Given Julius had such a high powered and important job he could have come across as untouchable and invincible but the author gave him a voice and one which I found very interesting. You could see that he did love Edith and as things became worse in Munich he moved them back to Berlin. Both of them were kind and caring when it came to helping others and I loved how Edith wasn’t afraid to ask him for what she wanted in order to aid people. There was no air of arrogance surrounding Julius although I did think he thought he was untouchable in terms of him having Jewish heritage.That the laws that were introduced curtailing the rights of Jews would not affect him given the crucial role he occupied in society. But the author showed how every person with Jewish heritage no matter how fragile was affected. No one was spared and whether you had money or power it made not a scant difference.
An incredible picture was built up of the marriage between Edith and Julius and how they operated in society and as the years pass and the political climate alters you see how they are tested and the reign of terror and its influence spreads and comes closer and closer to their door. As Edith’s family are Jewish, she is encouraged to divorce Julius but I loved how she showed such allegiance to her husband. When family, laws and threats are forcing you to do one thing and you have the ability to stand form and do the opposite that shows a remarkable strength of character. I sense that this trait of Edith’s will be tested time and time again.
Edith’s brother Joseph is the character you will love to hate. He is firm in his views that Hitler is a man for good who will rid Germany of the undesirables who have caused such economic pain and hardship. He becomes a member of Hitler’s SS group and Edith is appalled and firmly against what he stands for and his actions. He is sucked deeper and deeper into the hotbed of pure evil and as the years pass by and Hitler’s party and domination grows in strength Joseph only becomes further entrenched in the worst that has fallen Germany. It’s hard to fathom how two siblings could hold such opposing views and that Joseph could venture down such a twisted path but again this is where the well balanced view portrayed by the author comes into play. As it does with the character of Helga.
Helga is the polar opposite to Edith in terms of where she lives and her family set up. She doesn’t have an endless amount of money at her disposal and when we are introduced to her, her family are struggling to survive the economic depression with her husband Heinrich unable to find work. Her two children Amelie and David suffering cruelty at the hands of friends and teachers in their school all thanks to the laws introduced by Hitler. As with Edith, Helga shows her devotion and love for her husband and family and she will always stand by her man and do anything to help her family survive. She herself is not Jewish but her family members are and as the net tightens around them, she shows her strength, grit and determination time and time again. I did think I would liked to have read more of Helga’s story but as this is only the first book there is plenty more time to discover what fate has in store for Helga and her family.
The First Spark of Fire was a brilliant read filled with honesty and intensity and one which provided the reader with an extremely well balanced view as to how all sections of German society were dealt a deck of cards which would go on to have desperate repercussions for many years. The themes explored and the history detailed were fascinating. Writing this kind of book, there was a danger that it could have read as if it was a history textbook as various events we have all learned about in school are detailed but thankfully it didn’t feel like this at all. The raw, emotional and human side of both Edith and Helga’s story was explored in a considerate, fair and just manner and it allowed you to appreciate both their stories. It showed how no sector of the population was spared. That any connection to being Jewish was ceased upon and therefore those people were marginalised from society no matter what role they held. The story asks many questions – what made the two women stick with their husbands given they could have easily done something which would have meant they were safe? Here love, devotion, bravery and loyalty are words that come to mind. How did their relationships develop and shift over the years as Hitler ruthlessly supressed all critics and made the Jewish population outcasts?
This story highlighted two courageous women who became the people who were to protect their husbands. Traditional roles were reversed in a world that became increasingly fraught with tension and danger with a safe and secure outcome not at all assured. As the book ended on what I would call somewhat of a sombre and uncertain note it only whetted my appetite for what is yet to come. There is so much left unsaid, so much still to happen as the war had not yet begun. There is an awful lot more upheaval, desperation and torment to come for thess characters. I am anxious as to what awaits them but am eager to read the next instalment which I hope I won’t be waiting too long for. It has certainly been one of the best historical fiction books that I have read so far this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment