Kell Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 The Secret Purposes Author: David Baddiel ISBN # 0349117462 Publisher: Abacus First published: 2004 408 pages Rating: 8/10 The Blurb: The Secret Purposes, David Baddiel's third novel, takes us into a little-known and still somewhat submerged area of British history: the internment of German Jewish refugees on the Isle of Man during the Second World War. Isaac Fabian, on the run with his young family from Nazism in East Prussia, comes to Britain assuming he has found asylum, but instead finds himself drowning in the morass of ignorance, half-truth, prejudice, and suspicion that makes up government attitudes to German Jews in 1940. One woman, June Murray, a translator from the Ministry of Information, stands out - and when she comes to the island on a personal mission to uncover solid evidence of Nazi atrocities, her meeting with Isaac will have far-reaching consequences for both of them. A haunting and beautifully written tale of love, displacement and survival, The Secret Purposes profoundly questions the way that truth - both personal and political - emerges from the tangle of history. The Review: David Baddiel has long been a fixture on the hot-list of British comedic talent and his previous two novels, Time for Bed and Whatever Love Means, although not played for obvious laughs, showed evidence of his comedy background throughout his portrayal of modern relationships. However, with The Secret Purposes, Baddiel shows maturity and a deeper understanding of people under pressure, making this novel a groundbreaking achievement for him as a talented writer. This heartrending portrayal of families split apart during World War II due to the interment of Jews on the Isle of Man is both passionate and compassionate, uncovering the extent to which the persecution of an entire race was perpetrated, not only by the Nazis, but by the nation to whom many of them turned for help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Finished reading this the other day. Have to admit it was a great read. I thought it was well written and thought provoking, it is one of those books that has left a lasting impression on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.