Like many, I’m distressed and fearful at what is happening is the United States and potential consequences of the upcoming election. As an author of historical fiction and a blogger on the topic of reading and writing historical fiction, I’ve been wondering what the novels or non-fiction books of 100 years from today will reveal and emphasize about this threatening time.
So as a parallel, let’s take a look at a few books featuring the rise of fascism before WWII. I know this will seem apocalyptic to some, but the seeds being sown today by Donald Trump’s Republican party show remarkable similarities to the 1930s.
I’ve already posted about Anne Applebaum’s book Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism and Madeleine Albright’s book Fascism: A Warning. Albright, a former Secretary of State, specifically calls out Donald Trump as “the first anti-democratic president in modern U.S. history.” And Applebaum reminds us that “all authoritarianisms divide, polarize, and separate people into warring camps.” But these are both recent non-fiction.
What other novels or books might enlighten our perspectives on today?
All The Frequent Troubles of Our Days by Rebecca Donner is the story of Mildred Harnack, an American doing a PhD in Germany who witnesses the rise of Hitler and becomes part of the largest underground resistance group in Berlin. If you want to understand how a country can become mesmerized by one man who becomes a dictator, this is an excellent choice.
The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer: Berlin, 1930—When a wave of change sweeps a radical political party to power, Sofie von Meyer Rhodes’s academic husband benefits from the ambitions of its newly elected chancellor. Although Sofie and Jürgen do not share the social views growing popular in Hitler’s Germany, Jürgen’s position with its burgeoning rocket program changes their diminishing fortunes for the better. But as Sofie watches helplessly, her beloved Berlin begins to transform, forcing her to consider what they must sacrifice morally for their young family’s security, and what the price for their neutrality will be.
Mission to Paris by Alan Furst: It is the late summer of 1938, Europe is about to explode, the Hollywood film star Fredric Stahl is on his way to Paris to make a movie for Paramount France. The Nazis know he’s coming—a secret bureau within the Reich Foreign Ministry has for years been waging political warfare against France, using bribery, intimidation, and corrupt newspapers to weaken French morale and degrade France’s will to defend herself.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: Although much of this novel is set during WWII (the recent movie adaptation is excellent), Doer gives plenty of details concerning the time before the war and its impact on Werner Pfennig who is forced to participate in Hitler Youth programs. Beyond that, it’s a stunningly beautiful instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson: Erik Larson’s narrative non-fiction reads like fiction. The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history. Dodd’s daughter Martha is entranced by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich with their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. As evidence of Jewish persecution mounts, Dodd telegraphs his concerns to a largely indifferent State Department back home and watches with alarm as Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate. As that first year unfolds, the shadows deepen until a spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler’s true character and ruthless ambition.
The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict: Probing the torrid political climate of England and Germany in the 1930s and World War II and the ways that sensible people can be seduced by politics, The Mitford Affair follows the trajectory of the six Mitford sisters – two of whom become acolytes of Adolf Hitler – and Nancy Mitford’s valiant efforts to end the war, and the cost of placing loyalty to her country above loyalty to her family.
Winter: A Novel of a Berlin Family by Len Deighton: Peter and Pauli Winter are two very different brothers born into a time when the horrors of war engulf and extinguish the Germany that is. Yet for all their differences, the destinies of the two brothers are forever bound to the madness that lies ahead. From their sheltered childhood through their violent coming of age in the Great War . . . from the chaos of 1920 Berlin to the spreading power of Hitler . . . the brothers are wrenched apart by conflicting ideals and ambitions.
Children and Fire by Ursula Hegi: The story of one day that will forever transform the lives of the people in Burgdorf, Germany, a fictitious village. It begins in February 27, 1934—the first anniversary of the burning of Reichstag, the Parliament building in Berlin. Thekla Jansen, a gifted young teacher, loves her students and tries to protect them from the chaos beyond their village. Believing the Nazis’ new regime will not last forever, Thekla begins to relinquish some of her freedoms to keep her teaching position. She has always taken her moral courage for granted, but when each compromise chips away at that courage, she knows she must reclaim it.
You might also consider a series by Rebecca Cantrell, all set in 1930s Germany and featuring a female journalist. One considers the plight of a cross-dressing lounge singer; another the kidnapping of the journalist and her son; a third features intelligence gathering during the 1936 olympics; and in the fourth, a crime reporter is trapped in Berlin with her son in 1938 on the eve of Kristallnacht.
I’ve tried to emphasize novels featuring the 1930s which consider the influences that shape this era and how ordinary people were horrified or seduced by the Nazi movement. Of course, there are thousands of novels set during WWII that illuminate the consequences of Hitler’s rise to power. You could also read novels set during the early days of Mussolini’s reign (for example, The Italian Wife by Kate Furnival, Mussolini’s Daughter by Caroline Moorehead) or novels about Spain under Franco’s regime (The Time In Between by Maria Duenas or Until the Curtain Falls by David Ebsworth are possibilities). Beyond that, consider novels featuring Russian dictators like Lenin or Stalin or more contemporary stories featuring regimes in North Korea, China, Turkey, Yugoslavia and so on.
Plenty of possibilities to see how a dictatorship takes place. A closing quote from Madeleine Albright’s Fascism: A Warning:
“Mussolini observed that in seeking to accumulate power, it is wise to do so in the manner of one plucking a chicken – feather by feather.”
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M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel THAT WAS THEN is a contemporary thriller. Mary’s other novels, THE ADMIRAL’S WIFE, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.
16 Responses
” I know this will seem apocalyptic to some, but the seeds being sown today by Donald Trump’s Republican party show remarkable similarities to the 1930s.” What about your Dem party Mary…who have taken so much away from the American Dream. Please don’t bring in political preferences. Our country was so much better off with Trump than now. Facts are out there. And he’s not promoting socialism as the Dems are saying He never has. Now as for the Repubs…2025 project…he’s rejected it and it is a handful of repub idiots causing trouble. For socialism look at the UN for it’s resolution for the global world…I do not remember it’s title or moniker sr….??? But that is pure socialism that the UN wants to shove down the throats of the world.
I believe it was called Agenda 21. Now It may have a different name. It’s the transition from representative govt. to governance by unelected boards and commissions. Not a very pleasant thought!
Hi Judy .. I knew this post would prompt some feedback. Let’s look at your comments one by one.
– First, I’m a Canadian. So not a Dem or a Rep. In the Canadian context I’ve voted both Conservative (our right of center party) and Liberal (our left of center party). We also have a group called NDP – more left wing and two other peripheral parties. However, unlike many Americans, I read widely from news organizations in Canada, the US, the UK and others and as a result feel quite well informed about US politics.
– Second, what is the American Dream? I suspect that if you were to conduct a survey, you would find many different versions of the American dream. What does your version include? If I were American, mine would include freedom to choose (things like abortion rights and equality come to mind), opportunity to grow and be successful, access to education, access to healthcare without bankrupting my family, the protection of future generations, sustainability, and likely many others! In my opinion, these values are not honoured by Donald Trump or the current Maga-led Republican party.
– Trump’s term of office was notable for many actions detrimental to both America and the rest of the world. He went from lies about the size of his inaugural audience to Muslim bans, to abandoning a two-state solution to Israel and the Palestinians, to revealing highly classified information to Russians, to saying people from Haiti all have Aids, to not condemning racist attacks in Charlottesville, to throwing paper towels at Puerto Ricans who’d been devastated by a hurricane, to cutting taxes for the wealthy that resulted in huge deficits … and that was only 2017. He pulled out of the nuclear accord with Iran, denied years and years of climate science, insulted Nato allies, permitted the longest US government shutdown ever and on and on it went. And let’s not get started on his denial of Joe Biden’s win in 2020.
– as for Project 2025, have you read it? I’ve read bits of it, several articles highlighting parts of the document, and listened to a podcast and I understand there are more than 300 references to Trump in that document, to say nothing of the fact that many of those who developed these policies are former members of Donald Trump’s administration. It’s laughable to say that Trump has had nothing to do with it or that the people behind Project 2025 won’t have any influence if DT were elected.
– as for the UN, I think you’re mixing apples and oranges. The UN has nothing to do with the US election. However, you could look to various other countries with a more liberal political history and see some very successful social policies that have been put in place. Universal healthcare is one example that’s been implemented reasonably successfully in many countries. There’s a difference between social/liberal policies and socialism.
You will rightly conclude that if I were able to vote, I would vote democrat. Unfortunately, despite the influence the US has on the world, others in the world are unable to have a say.
Mary, you sound very Canadian. Not as an insult either. But it appears you have believe to one side of the story on Trump. And I don’t believe half of what you said. Yes he has a temper and he’s not politically correct but he did for America more than any other president recently. Much of what you have heard is wrong about him. And I too listen to a wide variety of news channels.
The UN is not what you think it is of late. I will find more about that resolution they are promoting. It’s all socialism at its finest.
As for The American Dream…it is all about personal choice and freedom. Not being dictated to.
Project 2025 was NOT Trump’s ideas. But did a group of Repub refer to him when written? Sure. But he has stated that he is not considering it at all at the moment. But the opposing party makes it sound constitutional.
I’m not going to go into all Trump did for the world as well as for the US, because it is way too long. And what the democrats have done to the US is deplorable. I’m voting Trump. Not republican because they are also owned by the Globalists. It’s not going to a pretty picture for a number of years I am afraid to say. I’m just glad God’s got this. It is all that keeps me sane.
Thank you, Mary, for your thoughtful and well-researched post, and the many excellent novels and non-fiction resources you mention! Another resource is the video about Fascism that Rick Steves, the travel writer, put out: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/fascism
I appreciate your willingness to address this critical subject, in spite of the flak you receive.
Many thanks for your encouragement, CLR Peterson.
Thank you for your recommendations Mary. In the Garden of the Beasts is one of most frightening books I’ve ever read; I was just thinking about it yesterday. You are correct that we in Canada are watching the events in the US with distress, especially since what happens there is often a precursor to events in our country.
Many thanks, Cathy. I realize that a post like this sparks controversy, however, I find the current situation more than frightening.
You may have an opinion, and you have a right to that opinion. But when you market yourself as an author it’s not appreciated that you use your ‘earned’ platform to smear a political candidate. Do you have that right, based on the trust that your following has put in you? I am one of those, and have no desire to hear your liberal views. It’s wrong that you use a platform that people follow because of your historical knowledge and then switch and bait to force your voice on anyone. Shame on your for stepping on my toes and the millions of others who have the courage and belief to back him. His faults aren’t any worse than yours.
As a fellow Canadian, I have an “a plague on both your houses” view of current American politics. But I don’t think the label fascist is appropriate or helpful when applied to either party. Yes, there is a strain of xenophobia in the Republicans. Yes, there is a strain of antisemitism and statism in the Democrats. But I think that it is important to remember that on every social and political issue you care to name, the predominant political and social views that are now labeled “fascist” were the predominant political and social views of every ALLIED country in 1939-45. The fascism they were fighting was a beast of a very different stripe.
Many thanks, Mark for adding to the discussion. Definitely a contentious topic.
A story that captures contemporary political and social events paralleling the US’s current situation is one that took place nearly two hundred years ago in the same country under a different President – Andrew Jackson. If you are curious about the origins of some of the strife and divisions in American society, go no further than my recent novel, Red Clay, Running Waters – the story behind Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears.
Many thanks for adding to the discussion, Leslie. For those interested in further information about Red Clay, Running Waters, you can check out Leslie’s article: https://awriterofhistory.com/2023/10/31/the-haunted-mansion-of-history/
Why not forget about fictional agents like Bond and Bourne dashing to save the world from disaster and forget about CIA and MI6 officers reclining on their couches dreaming up espionage scenarios to thrill you. Check out what a real MI6 and CIA secret agent does nowadays. Why not browse through TheBurlingtonFiles.org website and read about Bill Fairclough’s escapades when he was an active MI6 and CIA agent? The website is rather like an espionage museum without an admission fee … and no adverts. You will soon be immersed in a whole new world which you won’t want to exit.
After that experience you may not know who to trust so best read Beyond Enkription, the first novel in The Burlington Files series. It’s a noir fact based spy thriller that may shock you. What is interesting is that this book is apparently mandatory reading in some countries’ intelligence agencies’ induction programs. Why? Maybe because the book is not only realistic but has been heralded by those who should know as “being up there with My Silent War by Kim Philby and No Other Choice by George Blake”. It is an enthralling read as long as you don’t expect fictional agents like Ian Fleming’s incredible 007 to save the world or John le Carré’s couch potato yet illustrious Smiley to send you to sleep with his delicate diction, sophisticated syntax and placid plots!
See https://theburlingtonfiles.org/news_2023_06.07.php and https://theburlingtonfiles.org/news_2022.10.31.php.
Mary, many of the stories you cite explore how (as you wrote) “evidence of Jewish persecution mounts…” And of course, anti-semitism was probably the most obvious and heinous face of German Nazi-ism. But when I look at what has been happening in the US since October 7, the rapid and frightening rise of Jewish persecution is being perpetrated by the Left, not the Right.
Thanks for your comment, Bill. Any theories on that?