4 out of 4 stars
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The War and Hannah Thaller is the third book in the Drava series, written by retired academic Ronald McQueen. As a child, the author was fascinated by the tales recounted by his parents of their experiences during the war. He developed an interest in what he calls the “small stories” of World War II and decided to compile them into this captivating novel. This book is largely Hannah’s story who, it turns out, is the author’s mother. It begins in the small town of Lienz in southwestern Austria, in the years leading up to the outbreak of the second world war.
Hannah Thaller is a girl growing up under the care of her uncle, August Thaller, who is an alpine mountain man and a highly trained marksman. At the start of the war, their little village is overrun by Nazi soldiers due to its strategic location. The townsfolk have to adjust to the new reality of living with their brutal occupiers in spite of the difficulties. Through this, the story of Hannah is the central theme. Her simple, carefree world is shattered by the stark horrors of war, and she is unwittingly drawn into it. Her story is exciting and unpredictable, starting off as a member of the Hitler Youth and then working at the local Gestapo headquarters. She is even accepted into the prestigious Luftwaffe, the elite German air force. The narrative is told in the third person, with the focus alternating between Hannah’s story and the experiences of her uncle, August.
August Thaller had previously served in the Kaiserjäger, the Kaiser’s rifle regiment based in the Tyrol region during World War I. In a series of flashbacks to his involvement in the Great War, the threads of the past and the present are woven together. August Thaller’s recollections also serve to re-introduce characters from the first two books in the series, soldiers who fought alongside him in battle. It is not imperative to have read the earlier books to understand this one; it can be read on its own and still enjoyed fully.
I was impressed by the strong characterization in this novel, particularly of August Thaller. August is shown to be a strong, quiet, principled man who is well-respected by family and friends alike. Hannah is his beloved niece and is endearing and likable. I felt able to sympathize with her and had the sense of a childhood lost while growing up in war-torn Austria. The author paints a poignantly moving picture of the war with skillfully chosen words and powerful descriptions. It was easy to become immersed in another world while reading this book and I was so captivated that it was difficult to put down at times.
I loved every aspect of this book and read each chapter with relish. Meticulous research has been done to make sure the events are portrayed as accurately as possible. In addition, the author adeptly incorporates the personal anecdotes of his parents whose romance began in Austria towards the end of the war. This book is historical, but it is also to some extent biographical. Knowing these characters are real lends even more appeal to the story.
If I have one criticism, it is that sometimes the oscillating back and forth between August’s flashbacks and the present can be a little taxing. Although the flashbacks are clearly subtitled, there are many of them, and the memories are not always strictly linear. This sometimes impedes the flow of the story. Although I enjoyed reading about August’s military experiences in the previous war, I found myself anxious to get back to Hannah’s tale which interested me more.
There were only a few errors in the text, mostly consisting of issues with line and word spacing. Additionally, the under-use of commas in certain places sometimes made the text a little difficult to read. Generally, I found the editing to be of a very high standard, and the story was compelling enough to overlook these errors entirely.
The book draws to a close with a historical tragedy of which I was previously unaware. At the end of the war, the town’s residents invite the British troops into Lienz to help restore peace and stability. However, this results in one last horrific act of betrayal, the effects of which have far-reaching consequences.
The War and Hannah Thaller will enchant lovers of historical fiction and non-fiction alike, and anyone who enjoys war stories will revel in this one. The appeal of this book is very broad, and both men and women would enjoy it. Children and teenagers likely would not appreciate the historical depth of this book. Readers who prefer a faster-paced plot with fewer descriptions should not attempt it; neither should those who find historical details tedious. Apart from the requisite bloodshed usually encountered in war stories, there is no sensitive content to be aware of. Occasional mild expletives (mostly in German) are used, but these are infrequent and cause no offense.
This is an exceptional and extremely well-written story. While books in series don’t usually appeal to me, I can honestly say that The War and Hannah Thaller is an exception. I unreservedly give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars as the minor errors in no way detract from an amazing literary experience.
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The War and Hannah Thaller
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