In September 1938, Europe is on the brink of war as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flies to Munich for a last-ditch conference with Adolf Hitler over the fate of Czechoslovakia. Paul von Hartmann, a German diplomat, obtains a secret document revealing Hitler’s true plans for war, which he secretly tries to get into the hands of Hugh Legat, a young private secretary at 10 Downing Street, and Paul’s friend from when he was at Oxford. Once again, Robert Harris manages to put together a story that both gives you a fascinating look at a remarkable time in history, and keeps you on the edge of your seat, despite knowing how it’ll ultimately end.
Although I had heard of the Munich Conference, I never knew the details, and this book does a wonderful job of putting it in context and make it clear why it was important. It’s hard to believe that these leaders sat around and decided the fate of Czechoslovakia (not to mention the rest of Europe) without even giving them a chance to weigh in. The characterization of Chamberlain and Hitler was fantastic: you deeply understand what Chamberlain was thinking, and why he did what he did, even though now, with the benefit of hindsight, we can see what a folly it was.
The characters of Hartmann and Legat are also fantastic. They are faced with an impossible mission, and ultimately, as we all know that World War II breaks out just a year after this conference, we know that these men are doomed to fail… But you can’t help but root for them and somehow still hold out hope they can pull it off. What a fun read.
