This is a fascinating book, but readers looking for a ‘thriller’ should avoid this like the plague. Alone in Berlin is a tale of gentle rebellion set within the early days of WW2 and, more than anything, uses the situation to view a number of characters and their interaction. A friend of mine described this as being like “lifting the top off a dolls house and looking down at the activity below”. This was written just after the war and the style is a slightly odd one, it felt like a narrator standing off stage telling you what you are seeing. But this is a special book, deep in atmosphere and character and in essence that is really what the book is about. Yes, there is a central theme by which anti Nazi postcards are left around as a sort of silent protest, but in reality this gives you the flavour of Nazi Berlin at a point where the citizens have come to realise that the gloss has come off the German resurgence and suddenly the freedom of speech and equality is being eroded as the Nazis start to spread their influence. Much of this is based on a true story, details of which are provided at the end of the book. But this is a deep and emotional read, perhaps lacking in page turning thrills but in certainly makes up for this by sucking you into the lives of a group of people. Hardest review I have written for a long time as this is such a hard book to define, but certainly one I am very glad to have experienced.

Alone in Berlin is one of the best books I have ever read. With a gripping plot you feel real empathy for the main characters as the story line pulls you in. Definitely worth reading and worthy of being called a Penguin Classic.

One of the best books I've ever read, gripping, beautifully written/translated into English. Not for the feint-hearted but great read and you really begin to understand what it must have been like to have been a German person in Berlin during Nazi rule. I only bought it because so many people had ratedit so highly on Waterstones,. Glad I did !.

This is a brilliant story that really makes you think about what life may have been like for the Berliners during WWII. It combines so many different emotions including fear, anger, hope and devotion. It brings history to life and is an absolute must-read.

A fantastic novel about resistance to the nazi regime in Berlin in the war.This is the best novel written about the German resistance in the war, based on a real life story of 2 ordinary working class people who drop anti nazi postcards around Berlin.It is exciting, profound, sad and ultimatley redeeming.This is the voice of humanity, resistance to oppression, justice and morality in the face of wickedness and evil. It is a moving classic of LIterature and history. Read it and marvel at the language and the grip it holds over the reader.Truly a masterpiece.