Thursday, January 7, 2021

Robert Harris, V2.

 


- As usual, Harris infuses his narrative with real drama and detail. He's a master at constructing fiction from momentous historical events. And he's absolutely reliable, his stories always based on extensive research.

- V2 is set during the final months of Hitler's Nazi regime. The Germans are desperate. Many officers are tired and cynical. The V2 is a powerful, ultra fast, rocket-type bomb launched by the Germans and unleashed on London. According to Harris in his Acknowledgements 'Some 20,000 slave labourers died building the V2. It killed approximately 2,700 people in London, and injured 6,500...Approximately 20,000 houses in Greater London were destroyed and 580,000 damaged'.  

- There's a little too much confected drama, perhaps necessary to flesh out a story weighted towards science and engineering, but the key players, most fictional, are nicely brought to life. 

- One of Harris's insights is the extent and necessity of lies in war - told by both sides to keep spirits up, impress and motivate. But they ultimately don't work. Truth will out. Strategy, power and cleverness will win.

- He's also extremely adept at building tension. 

- A good and enjoyable read once again.

- This positive review in the NYT summarises the book in detail.




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