Upheaval
By David Munro

Upheaval, written by Scottish author David Munro is rather a different, captivating book set in-between the two world wars. It truly captures the attention with its originality in the angle, where a rich, evocative tapestry is woven with fact and fiction giving unique insights into life and challenging, ever changing times. Although it is historical fiction, it has some thought-provoking questions posed that link to present day circumstances in a unique manner.
Check out the blurb and my full review below…

Blurb

Claudine Dubois, a young actress from Paris, is spotted by a German film director and offered a lucrative contract if she moves to Berlin. In the German capital, she meets charming Ernst Vasel, and a relationship develops. It is 1912, and life in the capital is prosperous. However, the Kaiser is power-driven and will embrace war against established nations.
Post-war, Claudine gives birth to a son. Germany has to pay reparations and economic as well as social chaos ensue. With the assistance of America, the German economy improves and its film industry starts to rekindle. With Claus now at school, Claudine attempts to resume her career. Now in her thirties, parts are scarce. Being active, she finds work in a department store. Jobs are aplenty, but underlying social and political issues increase.
In 1929, Germany is again plunged into economic despair. The National Socialists gain momentum and after the Reichstag elections of 1933, impose their policies and tighter their grip. Ernst refuses to abide by their rules and is imprisoned. As Claudine is employed by a Jewish-owned company, she suffers abuse. Claus, now at university, resents the Nazi regime. After Claudine is attacked by Nazi supporters, she and Claus flee to Paris. Whilst there, she is approached by French Secret Service officials who want Claus to resume his studies and act as a spy. With another war looming, his information vital. Claudine is hesitant but agrees.
Claus is sent to Scotland for training, then returns to university. He meets vivacious Helga and they become friends. However, she has been instructed by the SS to determine his validity. After Claus’s contact in Berlin is arrested, Helga alerts Claus. She reveals the truth about herself and feelings for him.

Review

Upheaval is fascinating as it shows what was happening on the “road to war”. It gives, not only a sense of the political sphere and what was going in the far right wing and far left wing, but also socially in the lives of civilians.
The book is also mindful not to sensationalise anything and that’s testament to the writing style and research done by the author.

What there is a real sense of is how Berlin was once offering the good life and a relative calmness, but how chaos and hardship ensues. Munro skilfully depicts a part of life that is rarely shown, which draws you in. 

Readers are initially taken into 1912 where the perceptions of Germany towards the UK are explored and how London was a city to envy and aspire to be like, especially by Berlin. People have aspirations too, even under the rule of Kaiser Wilhelm and life is pretty good. You see this through young actress, Claudine Dubois, who meets a significant man, Ernst Vasel.
From here, is a rich tapestry of characterisation and history, as Claudine moves to hospital duties following the assassination of Duke Franz Ferdinand, which was the catalyst to WW1. The historical fact that appear are accurate and the precision and the way they are woven throughout storytelling on the human level is a rich tapestry that creates imagery and people can learn something from it too or remind themselves of aspects that aren’t talked about so much anymore when we talk about the world wars.

Interestingly is a question that perhaps not many of us think about, who pays the price of war in the socio-economic sense. It also questions the US and why they wanted to help in the war effort. It made my attention turn slightly to their motives in present day to what they are doing with Ukraine and Greenland. As time marches on these are the thought-provoking questions explored in a historical sense by one of the characters as the 1920’s comes into full swing, changing the world again. It shows how the arts and science returned and the new ‘flapper’ fashion came into being. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 is delved into and how it affected Germany. It also delves into how the road to another world war was being paved, even when new politicians come into power, who know war themselves or have heard about it.

It made me think about how it’s too easy to think that war just happens, but the reality is, past and present how there is always a “road” leading to it, full of cause and effect occurrences happening across the globe.

The book never strays too far from what is happening is civilian life, although the political scenes and soldiers are looked at too.
The upheaval people had to endure through the decades is masterfully captured.

I highly recommend upheaval to those who like social or political or war times history. Upheaval has unique, strong storytelling into a period of time that gives insights rarely talked about nor seen.