It's always interesting when you read a story about a person who feels a bit like a fish out of water, but what if the author takes this one step further, using a person that history would rather forget? That's the risk Timur Vermes makes in Look Who's Back, when he brings Adolf Hitler back from the grave, 50 years after his death. It's 2011, and Hitler wakes up in a park (we, and he, have no idea how or why). Somewhat disorientated, he slowly realises that this is not the Berlin he is familiar with. He comes across a newspaper vendor who assumes he is an out-of-work actor playing the role of his life by never breaking character, and touting for business in the area. Hitler does not disabuse him of this assumption and finds refuge with this man. The advantage of this for Hitler is that he gets to read all the newspapers and starts to catch up on the events of the present day - barely believing that his beloved Germany is now run by a woman! The vendor makes an introduction to one of his regulars, and Hitler is recruited for a satirical TV sketch show, where he becomes a sensation. Some viewers are offended by what he says (as they should be), but most think it is hilarious ... little do they know that, being who he actually is, he really means every word he says. What his employers think of as burning satire is, for him, a vehicle to reach the masses with his fervent nazi beliefs. Despite it's subject matter, this is a deeply funny book wrapped around a cautionary tale. The people we may think hold the oddest of views, can express themselves in such a way that at first you may think it's funny, and nobody could possibly take it seriously. However, hear it often enough and it can start to take traction and resonate with so many people that it can turn the world upside down. The humour comes in seeing Hitler trying to get to grips with the modern world, and also his reaction to the politicians and society he sees around him. This makes him determined to put the German people "back on track" and makes it his mission to do so. I read the audio edition, narrated by the marvellous Julian Rhind-Tutt, who almost explodes during the increasing rants from Adolf. I really enjoyed this book and felt it was over all too soon.
POPSUGAR Challenge 2018 prompt 6: A novel based on a real person.
My STAR rating: FIVE.
Length: 384 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.99.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment