Derek Jones The Passenger - Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz
Author: Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz
Category: Fiction
Format: Paperback
Finished: Yes
Rating: 9/10
Comments: Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz was a German-born British novelist renowned for his compelling narratives that explore themes of displacement, identity, and the upheaval of the Nazi era. However, there is no widely recognised work titled "The Passenger" attributed to Boschwitz.
Germany, November 1938: Otto Silbermann hears a knock at his door and immediately wishes he'd invested in a better peephole. A well-known German-Jewish businessman, Otto’s been dodging the Nazi regime like it’s a poorly-organised game of hide-and-seek, and so far he’s been winning—though the prize is mostly just continued breathing. But now, with escape plans crumbling faster than a day-old Berliner, he’s got no choice but to grab his suitcase (packed with cash and exactly zero clean socks) and abandon his home right in the middle of Kristallnacht’s unwelcome festivities. Otto hops train after train across Germany, nervously clutching his suitcase and trying not to stick out—though blending in is tough when your entire plan is “look casual, act innocent, and hope nobody wants to chat about your family tree.”
This is a very good, easy-to-read book. I initially thought it would be long and difficult, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. It tells a compelling story of a Jewish businessman fleeing the chaos caused by the German SA, highlighting the people he encounters and the trouble he gets into along the way. However, we shouldn't forget the serious issue at its core—the reason he spends a week riding around on the German railway network is to avoid being captured and sent to a concentration camp. It's a must-read.