Recommended by the Reviewers Club
A novel of WWII based on a true story of a mansion outside London, Trent Park, which was used as a luxurious prisoner of war camp for high-ranking German Officers. The theory behind this courteous attitude towards enemy officers was taken from a quote of Johann Wolfgang von Gothe (1749-1832): “correction does much, but encouragement does more.” But no matter how luxurious the conditions, the British still spied on the Germans by a variety of means.
The historical research involved is thorough, but the characterisation and writing lack sparkle. These are too mundane, too clichéd, too formulaic. Nevertheless, the premise used at Trent Park and the valuable information garnered by this process make for interesting reading.
3/5 Stars