A Fight in Silence by Melanie Metzenthin
(translated by Deborah Rachel Langton)
Genre: Historical fiction
Read: 18th December 2019
Purchase: Amazon
(publication date: 11th November 2019)
★★★★★ 5 stars
I have to say that if it weren't for Netgalley, I wouldn't be introduced to so many different authors that I would probably never read otherwise. And this is one of those cases where I am so grateful to have done so!
A FIGHT IN SILENCE by Melanie Metzenthin (and translated by Deborah Rachel Langton) is a truly remarkable story that, to me, loses nothing in translation. I don't even know where to begin, it was that amazing!! It provides us with a very different perspective of WW2 of not only being in Germany but centering around medicine, the aslyums and of those who had been sent there. But it is so much more than that. To experience it, you really have to read it yourself.
Spanning two decades, the story begins in Hamburg in 1926 with Paula Engelhardt and her friend Leonie, as medical students, attending a lecture about mental illness and the state of mind of sufferers, when Paula meets Richard Hellmer, also studying medicine. The two find themselves sitting in a cafe after the lecture debating the prospective nature of life and suffering, with both expressing their desire to specalise in psychiatry. Paula's own father is a psychiatrist, leading her to follow in his footsteps. Richard's father is a carpenter, something in which Richard became fully qualified before studying medicine. Paula is an only child, whereas Richard is one of three children. Both families are close and continue to be so with the engagement and marriage of Paula and Richard.
In the wake of the Great war, Germany is experiencing unrest as the National Socialist Party (Nazis) begin to make their presence felt in smaller circles. With each election they gain more votes and a greater movement throughout the country. But the propaganda which they are flouting leaves Germans in serious doubt as to where their country is headed...and what it means for them. Rumours begin to surface and soon life becomes harder for those less fortunate than the healthy blonde, blue eyed Aryan.
Paula continues to study while Richard moves into the area of psychiatry, taking up a position some miles away at a reputable asylum. Paula then discovers her difficulty in following in her father's footsteps when it appears men are favoured for positions ahead of her. She decides to enter pediatrics alongside Leonie working in the children's hospital in Hamburg. All the while, their growing concern for what is happening in Germany continues to build...even moreso when Leonie is suddenly without a job. It is now illegal for Jews to hold such positions as doctors or to study, as they face the political unrest and turmoil that continues to grow. Soon Leonie flees with her father to Switzerland, who is neutral, before things get worse for them and Paula finds herself missing her best friend.
When Paula discovers she is pregnant, both are shocked to discover they are expecting twins. Paula continues to work at the hospital throughout her pregnancy, despite some older colleagues misgivings. After 18 long hours of labour, Paula gives birth to a baby girl but the boy has some difficulties delivering. But he soon arrives and the new parents are elated. They name their daughter Emilia and their son Georg, after Richard's older brother. But it isn't long before Richard notices that something isn't right with Georg. He is a happy child, certainly, but he fails to respond to noise or his name being called. Paula refuses to believe this, stating that she would have noticed. After a brief barrage of tests, Richard's fears are confirmed - their son is deaf. Paula berates herself for not noticing. But both parents are fearful for what this could mean for their son should his deafness be made known. The Nazis have been known to eradicate anyone being of "life unworthy of life", that being a disability.
So beginning with early intervention, Paula and Richard work tirelessly with Georg as he grows, teaching him both sign language and lip reading, and how to speak smoothly. Emilia is incredibly protective of her brother and George is saddened when he must attend a different school to that of his sister. Despite attening the deaf and dumb school, he speaks effortlessly like that of a hearing child. The story is that he is "hard of hearing" as a result of complications during birth, which everyone accepts without question.
As the unrest in Germany continues to grow, the depression hit people hard and many struggle to find work and feed their families. All the while the socialist movement in Germany found this easy to exploit as Hitler gained popularity and the Nazis ultimately seized power. Once war is declared, life for Germany as they know it changes. However, Richard and Paula are doctors - their occupations are reserved, although as Paula is a mother, her working life is over. But for Richard, the changes that he finds himself faced with are both horrific and barbaric. When his superior retires, a colleague with socialist ties is promoted and the once reputable asylum becomes a living nightmare.
New legislation has been passed stating that anyone with a disability, suffering a mental condition, a hereditary illness or classed as imperfect is considered a liability and they are either forced to be sterilised or, even worse, euthanised. This becomes even more important to the Hellmers to keep Georg's deafness secret and ensure that his "hearing problem" isn't classed as and inherited condition, such as hereditary deafness. Some doctors went along with the forced sterilsation and euthanising of their disabled patients, some - like Richard - fought to save their lives, though it was incredibly risky and very very dangerous. To be caught would mean death.
Richard began by falsifying the medical records of his patients, deeming them fit to work, otherwise they were driven to the forest in sealed lorries and gassed. But the fact that he deemed every patient fit, drew the attention of the Gestapo, and he was instantly dismissed from his position of twelve years. But before they could send him off to a punishment regiment, he enlisted alongside his best friend Fritz, a notable surgeon, in the medical corp as a doctor. He's sent to Italy, Africa and Egypt as he and Fritz work in the miedical hospital far from the frontlines.
While the war rages, Paula is left with her children, their extended family and Fritz's wife Dora and their children as they survive the nightly air raids and attempt to keep Georg's deafness a secret. But when Georg comes down with hepatitis and is sent to Richard's former workplace that now doubles as a children's hospital, Paula fears for her son's safety as Richard's nemesis will stop at nothing to oust their son's condition just for the sheer spite of it.
A FIGHT IN SILENCE is like nothing I have ever read... and I have read many WW2 books set in England, Germany and even Austria. But this one is very different to any of those. Building slowly, the story unfolds at a pleasant pace as we learn about each of the characters and their facets, as we become invested in them and their lives. I was very quickly hooked and was completely immersed in the story that I found myself not wanting it to end...while at the same time wanting the horror for those involved to end.
A truly remarkable story, A FIGHT IN SILENCE is unique in its subject matter of psychiatry at the time as well as being a beautiful tale of love, friendship, family and courage.
I have to make mention of the fantastic work of Deborah Rachel Langton in her impeccable translation of this beautiful and remarkable book. In reading it, one would think that it had been written in English, the translation is that flawless.
I simply loved A FIGHT IN SILENCE and cannot give it a high enough rating in my opinion. I would love to give it 10 stars! I hope the second novel featuring Paula and Richard is translated so I can continue their journey with them post-war.
I cannot recommend A FIGHT IN SILENCE highly enough! To experience the beauty of this unique and remarkable story (I know I keep saying it, but it's true), you really MUST read it for yourself. You won't regret it.
I would like to thank #MelanieMetzenthin, #DeborahRachelLangton, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #AFightInSilence in exchange for an honest review.
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