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The Song Before it is Sung
On July 20, 1944, Adolf Hitler narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. He had the main conspirators brutally strung up on meat hooks. Among the executed was Axel von Gottberg, a German Rhodes Scholar at Oxford who returned home in 1934, to the dismay of his Oxford friends, particularly Elya Mendel.
Sixty years later, Elya, now a distinguished professor, leaves behind a collection of papers and letters to a former student, Conrad Senior, and asks him to find out the truth about Axel, whom he had condemned as a Nazi sympathizer. But the more Conrad tries to uncover the truth, the more complex he finds the relationship between the two friends, especially in their involvement with two beautiful English cousins. As Conrad investigates obsessively, his own life comes apart. Weaving darkly through these complex stories is an infamous film of Axel's execution; a film which Conrad is desperate to find, for reasons he can barely understand himself.
Wonderfully written―and based on true events― The Song Before It Is Sung is a novel of profound and sensitive insight into the human condition, spanning Oxford in the 1930s, prewar Prussia, and contemporary Britain and surpassing all of Cartwright's previous works in its scope and ambition.
Sixty years later, Elya, now a distinguished professor, leaves behind a collection of papers and letters to a former student, Conrad Senior, and asks him to find out the truth about Axel, whom he had condemned as a Nazi sympathizer. But the more Conrad tries to uncover the truth, the more complex he finds the relationship between the two friends, especially in their involvement with two beautiful English cousins. As Conrad investigates obsessively, his own life comes apart. Weaving darkly through these complex stories is an infamous film of Axel's execution; a film which Conrad is desperate to find, for reasons he can barely understand himself.
Wonderfully written―and based on true events― The Song Before It Is Sung is a novel of profound and sensitive insight into the human condition, spanning Oxford in the 1930s, prewar Prussia, and contemporary Britain and surpassing all of Cartwright's previous works in its scope and ambition.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Justin Cartwright
41 books44 followersJustin Cartwright (born 1945) is a British novelist.
He was born in South Africa, where his father was the editor of the Rand Daily Mail newspaper, and was educated there, in the United States and at Trinity College, Oxford. Cartwright has worked in advertising and has directed documentaries, films and television commercials. He managed election broadcasts, first for the Liberal Party and then the SDP-Liberal Alliance during the 1979, 1983 and 1987 British general elections. For his work on election broadcasts, Cartwright was appointed an MBE.
Cartwright had a wife, Penny, and two sons.
He was born in South Africa, where his father was the editor of the Rand Daily Mail newspaper, and was educated there, in the United States and at Trinity College, Oxford. Cartwright has worked in advertising and has directed documentaries, films and television commercials. He managed election broadcasts, first for the Liberal Party and then the SDP-Liberal Alliance during the 1979, 1983 and 1987 British general elections. For his work on election broadcasts, Cartwright was appointed an MBE.
Cartwright had a wife, Penny, and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 27, 2015
I loved this novel when it was first released and, on re-reading it, have to say that I again found it an extremely moving and interesting book. The story revolves around Operation Valkyrie; the attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1944 and of the involvement of Axel von Gottberg, who was hung for his part in the plot.
Moving to the present, Conrad Senior (at 35, the same age as von Gottberg at the time of his arrest and trial) has been left the papers of the highly respected Oxford academic Elya Mendel and these include correspondence between Mendel and von Gottberg. Conrad’s wife, Francine, is less than impressed with Conrad’s scholarly attempts to re-create the relationship between the two men and of the events of von Gottberg’s life. However, despite his financial and marital worries, Conrad finds himself driven to carry on his search and follow in the footsteps of von Gottberg – including attempting to find the footage of his execution.
This is very much fiction (or perhaps ‘faction’ is a better word), although the character of Elya Mendel is loosely based upon that of Isaiah Berlin and von Gottberg upon Adam von Trott, one of the true conspirators. However, despite the historical storyline of Operation Valkyrie, the heart of this story lies in the relationship between Mendel and von Gottberg. Mendel repudiated von Gottberg’s attempts to broker peace between Germany and the Allies and, indeed, as you read on, you see that there is a fine line between, “idealism and delusion.” Mendel believes that his friend has a taste for, “high level intrigue,” but, as Conrad becomes more obsessed, you come to realise that von Gottberg is driven by his love for his country and his heroic sacrifice, as well as a wish to justify his actions to his old friend.
Part historical novel, part love story and part an investigation into an intriguing – and poignant – friendship, this is a fascinating novel. I liked the character of Conrad Senior and his struggles to justify his work to his wife. I read this for my reading group and I am sure that it will provide an interesting discussion.
Moving to the present, Conrad Senior (at 35, the same age as von Gottberg at the time of his arrest and trial) has been left the papers of the highly respected Oxford academic Elya Mendel and these include correspondence between Mendel and von Gottberg. Conrad’s wife, Francine, is less than impressed with Conrad’s scholarly attempts to re-create the relationship between the two men and of the events of von Gottberg’s life. However, despite his financial and marital worries, Conrad finds himself driven to carry on his search and follow in the footsteps of von Gottberg – including attempting to find the footage of his execution.
This is very much fiction (or perhaps ‘faction’ is a better word), although the character of Elya Mendel is loosely based upon that of Isaiah Berlin and von Gottberg upon Adam von Trott, one of the true conspirators. However, despite the historical storyline of Operation Valkyrie, the heart of this story lies in the relationship between Mendel and von Gottberg. Mendel repudiated von Gottberg’s attempts to broker peace between Germany and the Allies and, indeed, as you read on, you see that there is a fine line between, “idealism and delusion.” Mendel believes that his friend has a taste for, “high level intrigue,” but, as Conrad becomes more obsessed, you come to realise that von Gottberg is driven by his love for his country and his heroic sacrifice, as well as a wish to justify his actions to his old friend.
Part historical novel, part love story and part an investigation into an intriguing – and poignant – friendship, this is a fascinating novel. I liked the character of Conrad Senior and his struggles to justify his work to his wife. I read this for my reading group and I am sure that it will provide an interesting discussion.
April 4, 2016
This is one of those WW2 novels that seeks to shed light on wartime events through a co-existing contemporary narrative. Conrad Senior is handed the task of writing down the story of his philosophy professor’s youthful friendship with a German aristocrat who takes part in the failed plot to assassinate Hitler. (It’s a fictional take on the friendship between Isaiah Berlin and Adam von Trott.) Conrad becomes obsessed with the task and his married life suffers the repercussions.
I enjoyed the sections between Mendel (Berlin) and von Gottberg (van Trott) which are written in an omniscient third person present tense. Unfortunately these don’t last long. Soon we are to see most things through the biographer’s eyes – in the form of letters, memoirs, films and encounters with relatives and witnesses. But why start with an omniscient third person narrative if you’re going to then tell the story through documents and investigative work? The one undoes the other. Add to that, I wasn’t keen on Conrad as a character. And his marital tribulations just did not have the necessary gravitas to bring into poignant relief the story he’s researching. Another problem I had was the author’s rather disorganised arrangement of his material. Too often the novel rambles and loses focus, as if he had no clear design. All in all, a disappointing read.
I enjoyed the sections between Mendel (Berlin) and von Gottberg (van Trott) which are written in an omniscient third person present tense. Unfortunately these don’t last long. Soon we are to see most things through the biographer’s eyes – in the form of letters, memoirs, films and encounters with relatives and witnesses. But why start with an omniscient third person narrative if you’re going to then tell the story through documents and investigative work? The one undoes the other. Add to that, I wasn’t keen on Conrad as a character. And his marital tribulations just did not have the necessary gravitas to bring into poignant relief the story he’s researching. Another problem I had was the author’s rather disorganised arrangement of his material. Too often the novel rambles and loses focus, as if he had no clear design. All in all, a disappointing read.
September 20, 2015
Picked by my book club this story is situated in 1944 when an attempt was made on the life of Adolf Hitler by the German resistance.
This novel was based on a true story inspired by a strained friendship through World War II of the Jewish philosopher Isaiah Berlin and the German aristocrat Adan Van Trott who took part in the failed assignation attempt.
Although the writing is at times powerful and it was interesting to get an insight in to the resistance I struggled to keep engaged in this book and found picking it up each time a challenge. Many people with a deep interest in the War no doubt would be a lot more positive but it was just not my thing!.
This novel was based on a true story inspired by a strained friendship through World War II of the Jewish philosopher Isaiah Berlin and the German aristocrat Adan Van Trott who took part in the failed assignation attempt.
Although the writing is at times powerful and it was interesting to get an insight in to the resistance I struggled to keep engaged in this book and found picking it up each time a challenge. Many people with a deep interest in the War no doubt would be a lot more positive but it was just not my thing!.
August 28, 2019
An emotional journey, not a roller coaster but rather a buggy ride. Amongst the madness of Nazi Gernany, holocaust, Britain & France and Russia there was love , friendships, promises to self above all! The integrity to sustain, to save the future generations from being grinding in history and liaisons worthy enough to prove the higher meaning of life.
The narration of story , the flow between past n present is beautiful , even confusing at times.
The most intriguing fact is though a novel, it’s loosely based on real people and events. Humans at their best and worst, that’s what wars are about!!!
The narration of story , the flow between past n present is beautiful , even confusing at times.
The most intriguing fact is though a novel, it’s loosely based on real people and events. Humans at their best and worst, that’s what wars are about!!!
June 20, 2024
A slow, powerful novel with the main theme being based around the friendship Axel and Elya and their love interests Rosamund and Elizabeth during a war time .
It's a novel that is at times upsetting , sentimental and also a work that shows the bravery at times when fear is at its worst .
It's a novel that is at times upsetting , sentimental and also a work that shows the bravery at times when fear is at its worst .
January 20, 2013
This was an excellent book but not an excellent read. Cartwright's prose is truly amazing, the kind of writing that makes me feel about an inch high as a writer myself. He has a way with words that at times is quite breath-taking, sometimes hysterically funny at others extremely moving. So in that sense, this book was a pleasure to read. But...
What I really struggled with was what he was actually trying to say. There are all sorts of philosophical ideas here about the nature of ideas themselves, how we think, the connections we make, the nature of loyalty, friendship, love of one's country and how all these things define us, dictate our actions, simply make us who we are. On one level, this is fascinating stuff, I could talk for ages and was particularly fascinated by the connection between landscape and nationality/identity, which I wrote my Masters thesis on. What made Otto German, how he reconciled his German-ness with what was happening in his country, would have sufficed as the underlying issue for the whole book.
But there were loads more - and in fact too much. And the narrative, the actual dual story-line really suffered as a consequence. I wasn't particularly interested in Conrad Senior's front story. It struck me as quite self-indulgent and possibly auto-biographical, and Conrad himself was quite a trivial character in the context of the back story. I found his angsting tedious and his utter lack of motion (he spent long tracts of the book in a sort of suspended animation) frustrating. And the subject matter of the back story was so fascinating, I think that made me even more impatient with Conrad, I just waned to get him out of the way.
Towards the end, when Cartwright tried to stay very true to actual events, the book began to be disturbing. He was very careful not to describe Otto's actual death in any graphic way, but he didn't need to. The tragedy and horror of the time are portrayed with subtle understatement and are all the more effective for that. I had nightmares about the film Conrad saw. I wish the book had ended there, but it went on for some time, back to boring old Conrad and his dogged determination to write the story, about which I cared even less by then, because of the contrast with what had just happened to Otto.
In my view, as a novel this was very flawed, but I am still very glad I read it and it's given me a lot to think about. I have another of Cartwright's stories in my TBR, but I think I'll try something lighter next.
What I really struggled with was what he was actually trying to say. There are all sorts of philosophical ideas here about the nature of ideas themselves, how we think, the connections we make, the nature of loyalty, friendship, love of one's country and how all these things define us, dictate our actions, simply make us who we are. On one level, this is fascinating stuff, I could talk for ages and was particularly fascinated by the connection between landscape and nationality/identity, which I wrote my Masters thesis on. What made Otto German, how he reconciled his German-ness with what was happening in his country, would have sufficed as the underlying issue for the whole book.
But there were loads more - and in fact too much. And the narrative, the actual dual story-line really suffered as a consequence. I wasn't particularly interested in Conrad Senior's front story. It struck me as quite self-indulgent and possibly auto-biographical, and Conrad himself was quite a trivial character in the context of the back story. I found his angsting tedious and his utter lack of motion (he spent long tracts of the book in a sort of suspended animation) frustrating. And the subject matter of the back story was so fascinating, I think that made me even more impatient with Conrad, I just waned to get him out of the way.
Towards the end, when Cartwright tried to stay very true to actual events, the book began to be disturbing. He was very careful not to describe Otto's actual death in any graphic way, but he didn't need to. The tragedy and horror of the time are portrayed with subtle understatement and are all the more effective for that. I had nightmares about the film Conrad saw. I wish the book had ended there, but it went on for some time, back to boring old Conrad and his dogged determination to write the story, about which I cared even less by then, because of the contrast with what had just happened to Otto.
In my view, as a novel this was very flawed, but I am still very glad I read it and it's given me a lot to think about. I have another of Cartwright's stories in my TBR, but I think I'll try something lighter next.
February 21, 2008
A brilliant book. The main character, in true Cartwright style, is an isolated man, ever hopeful that some good will come of his life, but aware of the limitations of himself and human relationships. The range of other characters are treated with the (also so truly Cartwright/mixture) of pathos and cynicism. No proclaiming.
A complex story, with lots to think about in terms of conscience, good and evil, force of history/society vs personal choice, casual encounters and enduring love. The complexities are demonstrated artfully, e.g. the subtle underlying fascim in the ostensibly anti-Nazi UK of the time.
I do love the way this man writes! Adjectives placed with accute precision, my favourite being the "resolute tweedy" of Oxford. Contrasting landscapes (Oxford, Jerusalem, Germany)drawn casually, labourless but perfectly clear, e.g. "He saw that every cobblestone and every path and every carved ceiling and every inch of lawn in Oxfrod had been willed... at Oxford he saw what hundreds of years of human tending can achieve."
"Conrad knows that you can hold at the same time different landscapes in your head - or in your fibres - for instance, the broad openness of Africa and the distilled beauty of Oxford.
More gems: "It's a strange thing, this tendency to claim for oneself the higher moral ground. It's tactical rather than real and it's increasingly common, so that eople excuse themselves on the ground of their higher feelings. They are cursed, as they gravely admit, with a more acute consciousness than other people"
"... of course he has danced before, but now he too is in on the secret: dancing is a sort of surrender to the sensual, to the clear message that music is life and life is love and sex and longing, strangely and incomprehensibly distilled."
A complex story, with lots to think about in terms of conscience, good and evil, force of history/society vs personal choice, casual encounters and enduring love. The complexities are demonstrated artfully, e.g. the subtle underlying fascim in the ostensibly anti-Nazi UK of the time.
I do love the way this man writes! Adjectives placed with accute precision, my favourite being the "resolute tweedy" of Oxford. Contrasting landscapes (Oxford, Jerusalem, Germany)drawn casually, labourless but perfectly clear, e.g. "He saw that every cobblestone and every path and every carved ceiling and every inch of lawn in Oxfrod had been willed... at Oxford he saw what hundreds of years of human tending can achieve."
"Conrad knows that you can hold at the same time different landscapes in your head - or in your fibres - for instance, the broad openness of Africa and the distilled beauty of Oxford.
More gems: "It's a strange thing, this tendency to claim for oneself the higher moral ground. It's tactical rather than real and it's increasingly common, so that eople excuse themselves on the ground of their higher feelings. They are cursed, as they gravely admit, with a more acute consciousness than other people"
"... of course he has danced before, but now he too is in on the secret: dancing is a sort of surrender to the sensual, to the clear message that music is life and life is love and sex and longing, strangely and incomprehensibly distilled."
August 6, 2011
Ordinarily this wouldn’t have been my cup of tea, but I did decide, after reading the excellent ‘The Promise of Happiness’ that I wanted to read more by this author. This one was a bit different though -the early stages were so tough it was like trying to push a piano uphill. It was about eighty pages before things straightened out.
The story centres around a failed plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944 and is based on real events. A lot of effort goes into the analysis of the friendship between one of the conspirators and a Jewish scholar living in London at the time. A lot of the deep stuff passed me by I’m afraid, but as the momentum of the story picks up towards the end it is quite gripping and worth sticking with. The depth of the author’s research is reflected in the authentic feel of the sections that take place inside Nazi Germany, and in terms of reflecting the attitudes of Germans towards Hitler and his treatment of the Jews it was illuminating and thought provoking.
The relatively low star rating I have given this book relates to my personal experience of it, and my inability to grasp some of the points it was undoubtedly making. It cannot be denied that this is a stupendously intelligent piece of work, and on literary value alone should probably rank much higher.
The story centres around a failed plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944 and is based on real events. A lot of effort goes into the analysis of the friendship between one of the conspirators and a Jewish scholar living in London at the time. A lot of the deep stuff passed me by I’m afraid, but as the momentum of the story picks up towards the end it is quite gripping and worth sticking with. The depth of the author’s research is reflected in the authentic feel of the sections that take place inside Nazi Germany, and in terms of reflecting the attitudes of Germans towards Hitler and his treatment of the Jews it was illuminating and thought provoking.
The relatively low star rating I have given this book relates to my personal experience of it, and my inability to grasp some of the points it was undoubtedly making. It cannot be denied that this is a stupendously intelligent piece of work, and on literary value alone should probably rank much higher.
December 16, 2008
This novel was based on the true life cases of Adam Van Trott and Isaiah Berlin and the events of 1944 when a serious attempt was made on the life of Adolf Hitler by members of the German "upper class". This is a profoundly disturbing look at that time period (fictionalized, of course) and how a friendship was irrevocably changed by these events. As so often happens with books focused on war, I couldn't say that I enjoyed this novel but it was a novel to make you think. Highly recommended for those of you who enjoy historical fiction set during WWII.
Read
January 14, 2010Good, though hard to get into in the beginning. Suffer through the first 80 pages and you'll really enjoy it by the end.
May 21, 2019
“Where is the song before it is sung? “Nowhere” is the answer. One creates a song by singing it, by composing it. So, too, life is created by those who live it step by step.”
The character of Axel von Gottburg is based on Adam von Trott, who was hanged for his part in the plot to rid the world of Adolf Hitler on 20th July 1944. Axel lives his life, step by step, according to his belief that it is his destiny to fight for his homeland and save it and its people from the horrors being unleashed by the mad dictator. Unfortunately Axel is not really a character it is easy to feel sympathy for. Handsome, intelligent and aristocratic, women love him and he is chronically unfaithful. His closest friend, Elya Mendel, doubts his authenticity. The most moving revelation of the story is that Axel was, until the end, trying to prove himself to his friend.
Axel’s story is unraveled by Conrad Senior, whose obsession is fueled by the fact that he knew Elya and was entrusted by him with every letter written to him by Axel and copies of every one of his replies. Conrad has his own personal problems to deal with, in a not very satisfactory subplot.
Unfortunately most of the characters are quite unpleasant. Axel is a chronic womanizer, Elya betrays his friend, Conrad is weak and vacillating.
It is a tragic story and you know from the outset it cannot end well, but the language and the telling of it propel you forward.
The character of Axel von Gottburg is based on Adam von Trott, who was hanged for his part in the plot to rid the world of Adolf Hitler on 20th July 1944. Axel lives his life, step by step, according to his belief that it is his destiny to fight for his homeland and save it and its people from the horrors being unleashed by the mad dictator. Unfortunately Axel is not really a character it is easy to feel sympathy for. Handsome, intelligent and aristocratic, women love him and he is chronically unfaithful. His closest friend, Elya Mendel, doubts his authenticity. The most moving revelation of the story is that Axel was, until the end, trying to prove himself to his friend.
Axel’s story is unraveled by Conrad Senior, whose obsession is fueled by the fact that he knew Elya and was entrusted by him with every letter written to him by Axel and copies of every one of his replies. Conrad has his own personal problems to deal with, in a not very satisfactory subplot.
Unfortunately most of the characters are quite unpleasant. Axel is a chronic womanizer, Elya betrays his friend, Conrad is weak and vacillating.
It is a tragic story and you know from the outset it cannot end well, but the language and the telling of it propel you forward.
June 23, 2019
This is a story that tells how a researcher is requested to put together the events behind and find the filming of the executions of the plotters who unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Hitler. During the process of compiling letters and delving into the past, the author is intrigued by friendships formed at Oxford before the war and how the rise of Nazism affects their trust in each others principles and actions, whilst at the same time he struggles with relationships and events in his own life. This is well written in a style that reveals the nature of the main characters and how what was happening in Europe at the time of the Nazi's rise and horrific policies made them question each others beliefs and integrity.
October 27, 2019
Based on a true friendship in the 1930s which falters in WWII, with the added fictional element of a researcher at the end of the 20th century trying to discover the truth between the rift and the characters' involvement in the plot to overthrow Hitler. Excellent.
November 15, 2019
Ultimately, a moving book set in the early 2000s about a writer bequeathed the papers and letters of a jewish Oxford Don. The writer who gets drawn into his deep pre-war friendship with a German student and the impact of the war on that friendship.
April 2, 2021
A beautifully written book, and I admire good writing above all other things. Based on the true story of Hitler's attempted assassination (unfortunately not successful), the novel does a good job of describing philosophical conflicts along with the world in Berlin and Oxford in the forties.
December 26, 2020
Interesting historical background (Germany, the second world war, resistance) - but it all feels strangely contrived.
March 24, 2020
A really good read. Got me interested in the entire genre of historical spy novels (Kerr and Furst).
January 8, 2017
This is not a book I would have considered unless it had come highly recommended. However I found it very interesting but could not call it enjoyable because of the subject matter. It is not a happy read, being about the bomb plot to attempt to kill Hitler, but is so beautifully written it has motivated me to find out more about the real history and people behind the plot.
July 29, 2012
In July 1944 an assassination attempt was made on Hitler by members of a variety of different groups within the German resistance. The failure resulted in some thousands being arrested and tortured, with apparently almost 5000 of them executed. Amongst those executed was one of the ring leaders, a high ranking Foreign Office diplomat and lawyer, Count Alex von Trott. Von Trott, only 35 when he died, loved Germany very much, hated the Nazis and the Germany they were hell-bent on creating, and saw it has his destiny to do all he could to get the Allies ie England and America, to help restore Germany to its pre WWI glory. His pleas fell on deaf ears. While a young man he was a Rhodes scholar to Oxford where he met Isiah Berlin, a brilliant young Russo-Jewish academic. These two unlikely characters became very good friends, the friendship becoming strained as the aspirations of Germany became more apparent. Von Trott seemed uhable to convince Berlin and others that he was not a Nazi, that he did not support the direction Germany seemed to be headed and, crucially, a comment he made about treatment of Jews in Germany was misunderstood.
In this novel, Justin Cartwright explores both the nature of friendship and the frailty of the human condition by fictionalising the lives of von Trott, Berlin and this awful time in our recent history. He is really looking at the idea of how much we are in control of our destiny or whether the events going on around us are a greater determinant of the final outcome. For example von Trott had the opportunity to leave Germany in the early days, but saw his destiny in Germany rather than elsewhere. Von Trott becomes von Gottberg and Berlin becomes Elya Mendel. The story is told through 35 year old Conrad Senior, who was a student of Mendel's when he was at Oxford. When Mendel died he bequeathed all his writings, correspondence, notes etc to Conrad with the instructions that Conrad write about the friendship between the two men, and Mendel's perception that he was perhaps to blame for von Gottberg's eventual execution.
Conrad has his own troubles. His marriage is in tatters - his ever practical, results-oriented doctor wife can no longer cope with the airy fairy seemingly going nowhere existence of her husband. She is pregnant but it may not be his baby, he is having a most peculiar affair with an equally directionless young woman, no money, no career. His research into von Gottberg's death takes over his life, which forms the crux of the novel.
As always anything to do with the Nazis is pretty horrifying, and little is left to the imagination. Despite the complexity of the book with its fact vs. fiction, present events vs those of almost 70 seventy years ago, it is quite compelling reading. Although to be honest, the story of Mendel and von Gottberg has enough going for it without the added complication of the hopeless Conrad. The author seems to enjoy writing about men who are a bit lost and directionless, see 'The Promise of Happiness'!
In this novel, Justin Cartwright explores both the nature of friendship and the frailty of the human condition by fictionalising the lives of von Trott, Berlin and this awful time in our recent history. He is really looking at the idea of how much we are in control of our destiny or whether the events going on around us are a greater determinant of the final outcome. For example von Trott had the opportunity to leave Germany in the early days, but saw his destiny in Germany rather than elsewhere. Von Trott becomes von Gottberg and Berlin becomes Elya Mendel. The story is told through 35 year old Conrad Senior, who was a student of Mendel's when he was at Oxford. When Mendel died he bequeathed all his writings, correspondence, notes etc to Conrad with the instructions that Conrad write about the friendship between the two men, and Mendel's perception that he was perhaps to blame for von Gottberg's eventual execution.
Conrad has his own troubles. His marriage is in tatters - his ever practical, results-oriented doctor wife can no longer cope with the airy fairy seemingly going nowhere existence of her husband. She is pregnant but it may not be his baby, he is having a most peculiar affair with an equally directionless young woman, no money, no career. His research into von Gottberg's death takes over his life, which forms the crux of the novel.
As always anything to do with the Nazis is pretty horrifying, and little is left to the imagination. Despite the complexity of the book with its fact vs. fiction, present events vs those of almost 70 seventy years ago, it is quite compelling reading. Although to be honest, the story of Mendel and von Gottberg has enough going for it without the added complication of the hopeless Conrad. The author seems to enjoy writing about men who are a bit lost and directionless, see 'The Promise of Happiness'!
June 3, 2016
This is the story of a friendship between a German aristocrat, Axel von Gottberg, and a Jewish academic, Elya Mendel. They were close friends when young men and even shared a love interest (although Axel was by far the most successful with women).
Axel is a German patriot and shares the aims of National Socialism. He writes a letter to a British newspaper saying that he has seen no discrimination against Jews. He lobbies for the return of German territory stolen by the Versailles treaty, including much that was not German, but part of Austria-Hungary. He is not a supporter of Hitler however, and eventually joins Claus von Stauffenberg's plot to overthrow him and is executed. I had not come across the suggestion that appeasement was the way to stop Hitler before, it is an unusual viewpoint. His opposition to Hitler starts early, although the actual plot was not triggered until late in the war, when Germany was losing and Hitler would not admit it, and was probably more about an honourable peace settlement than stopping Hitler's advance.
Elya is at Oxford University during the war and becomes a respected academic specialising in the history of ideas. His friendship with Axel cools after the letter and he later warns another friend to be cautious of him. At the end of his life he leaves his papers, letters between him and Axel and two women they knew, to a former student. He obviously regrets the loss of a friend, but does he have a reason to blame himself? Did he misunderstand Axel's motives or did he understand them better than Axel did himself? Which of the two has let an idea become an illusion?
Conrad is the third protagonist in the book, Elya's former student who become obsessed with Axel and his end. I did not find his character as strong or as interesting as the other two. With more hindsight than the other two, he seems to be the least clear-sighted of the three.
Axel is a German patriot and shares the aims of National Socialism. He writes a letter to a British newspaper saying that he has seen no discrimination against Jews. He lobbies for the return of German territory stolen by the Versailles treaty, including much that was not German, but part of Austria-Hungary. He is not a supporter of Hitler however, and eventually joins Claus von Stauffenberg's plot to overthrow him and is executed. I had not come across the suggestion that appeasement was the way to stop Hitler before, it is an unusual viewpoint. His opposition to Hitler starts early, although the actual plot was not triggered until late in the war, when Germany was losing and Hitler would not admit it, and was probably more about an honourable peace settlement than stopping Hitler's advance.
Elya is at Oxford University during the war and becomes a respected academic specialising in the history of ideas. His friendship with Axel cools after the letter and he later warns another friend to be cautious of him. At the end of his life he leaves his papers, letters between him and Axel and two women they knew, to a former student. He obviously regrets the loss of a friend, but does he have a reason to blame himself? Did he misunderstand Axel's motives or did he understand them better than Axel did himself? Which of the two has let an idea become an illusion?
Conrad is the third protagonist in the book, Elya's former student who become obsessed with Axel and his end. I did not find his character as strong or as interesting as the other two. With more hindsight than the other two, he seems to be the least clear-sighted of the three.
April 23, 2010
Justin Cartwright's The Song Before It Is Sung is a fictionalized retelling of the relationship between the great political philosopher and Oxford professor Sir Isaiah Berlin and the German diplomat Adam von Trott zu Solz, who was executed for his part in the July 1944 plot to overthrow Hitler spearheaded by Claus von Stauffenberg.
In this version, Berlin becomes Elya Mendel and Adam von Trott zu Solz is called Axel von Gottberg, who is given a (as far as I know, entirely fictional!) English mistress in addition to his long-suffering German wife. Mendel, who was sceptical about the officers' plot, has felt guilty about his own potential role in Gottberg's death, and when he himself dies, he leaves his papers to Conrad Senior because of his "human qualities" (which may possibly mean Senior's striking physical resemblance to Gottberg.) Senior himself doesn't really know what he's supposed to do with the papers or why Mendel chose him to tell the story, but he spends the novel searching for a missing film of Gottberg's execution (and long the way, his own marriage breaks up and other, rather uninteresting, things happen to him.
Although parts of The Song Before It is Sung were very moving and well-written enough that I want to find out more about Mr. Cartwright's writing, the story of Conrad Senior in no way approached the power of Axel von Gottberg's journey. And because of this, I spent all the pages dealing with Senior's tedious love-life wishing we could back to whatever was going on with Axel, even though it was clear from the beginning that Axel wouldn't have a happy ending. I wish Cartwright had eliminated Senior entirely and written more about Mendl, actually, but perhaps he didn't want to tread on anyone's toes with a too-close portrait of Sir Isaiah Berlin.
In this version, Berlin becomes Elya Mendel and Adam von Trott zu Solz is called Axel von Gottberg, who is given a (as far as I know, entirely fictional!) English mistress in addition to his long-suffering German wife. Mendel, who was sceptical about the officers' plot, has felt guilty about his own potential role in Gottberg's death, and when he himself dies, he leaves his papers to Conrad Senior because of his "human qualities" (which may possibly mean Senior's striking physical resemblance to Gottberg.) Senior himself doesn't really know what he's supposed to do with the papers or why Mendel chose him to tell the story, but he spends the novel searching for a missing film of Gottberg's execution (and long the way, his own marriage breaks up and other, rather uninteresting, things happen to him.
Although parts of The Song Before It is Sung were very moving and well-written enough that I want to find out more about Mr. Cartwright's writing, the story of Conrad Senior in no way approached the power of Axel von Gottberg's journey. And because of this, I spent all the pages dealing with Senior's tedious love-life wishing we could back to whatever was going on with Axel, even though it was clear from the beginning that Axel wouldn't have a happy ending. I wish Cartwright had eliminated Senior entirely and written more about Mendl, actually, but perhaps he didn't want to tread on anyone's toes with a too-close portrait of Sir Isaiah Berlin.
October 7, 2012
For a few years I have been trying to gain a better understanding of the Nazi movement by reading some of the slew of contemporary novels riffing off this subject matter. Justin Cartwright's THE SONG BEFORE IT IS SUNG is certainly not the best, or most memorable, of those that I have read but it definitely packs a punch.
It rambles and meanders between the thoughts of a contemporary scholar who is obsessed by the correspondance between two friends who parted ways over the political future of Germany and the "real time" account of those two characters during the 1930's and 1940s.
The drama in the book evolves from the varying attempts to interpret the characters' motivation and the pervasive, insinuating sense of forboding. The reader, of course, has the benefit (or curse) of historical knowledge but that doesn't alter the tension or drama we feel as the hints of the impending holocaust approach. This book didn't offer me any particularly fresh insight into the socio-political situation in Germany or Great Britain during the Hitler era, but it did give me yet one more reminder of the tension and strife that people who love their country felt during that period.
The novel was based on the relationship of two Oxford friends whose relationship disintegrated over these issues. One survived; one was hanged as a traitor; and the question of who was the betrayer was the centerpoint of the book. This book is definitely filled with areas of gray: unsettling to say the least.
It rambles and meanders between the thoughts of a contemporary scholar who is obsessed by the correspondance between two friends who parted ways over the political future of Germany and the "real time" account of those two characters during the 1930's and 1940s.
The drama in the book evolves from the varying attempts to interpret the characters' motivation and the pervasive, insinuating sense of forboding. The reader, of course, has the benefit (or curse) of historical knowledge but that doesn't alter the tension or drama we feel as the hints of the impending holocaust approach. This book didn't offer me any particularly fresh insight into the socio-political situation in Germany or Great Britain during the Hitler era, but it did give me yet one more reminder of the tension and strife that people who love their country felt during that period.
The novel was based on the relationship of two Oxford friends whose relationship disintegrated over these issues. One survived; one was hanged as a traitor; and the question of who was the betrayer was the centerpoint of the book. This book is definitely filled with areas of gray: unsettling to say the least.
January 9, 2009
The Song Before it is Sung is a historical fiction, based in the early part of this century, London. The story revolves around Conrad Senior, an Oxford alumnus who has not done much with his life post-graduation. While at Oxford he became quite close with his philosophy professor, whose death leaves Conrad with his life's ultimate task. His professor, Elya Mendel left Conrad boxes and boxes of papers and letters between a group of his friends in the time before the second World War, one of them being Count Axel Von Gottberg, a anti-Hitler German who was hanged in association with the failed Valkyrie mission. The papers and letters transport Conrad into another time, another life. The reasons are unclear as to why his professor left him in charge of reconstructing this friendship gone wrong, but as Conrad does put the pieces together true tragedy, friendship, and heroism take shape. As Conrad plunges into this other world, his own world begins to crumble as his wife leaves him, his health begins to plummet, and he gets wrapped up with an alcoholic drug user named Emily.
As I am wont to do, I didn't want this book to end. I've found my favorite book genre. Historical Fiction. I will say it's hard to separate what was made up and what was real history. Cartwright is a highly readable author with a gift of storytelling. I plan on reading more of his stuff soon.
As I am wont to do, I didn't want this book to end. I've found my favorite book genre. Historical Fiction. I will say it's hard to separate what was made up and what was real history. Cartwright is a highly readable author with a gift of storytelling. I plan on reading more of his stuff soon.
September 25, 2010
The Song Before It Is Sung, written to reveal the story of Axel von Gottberg, is woven around Conrad Senior's life and his findings on the historic events related to Axel and his friend (who is also the professor of Conrad) Elya Mendel. Throughout the book the struggles of Conrad's own life are compared and contrasted against that of Axel's. While Conrad finds how Axel was trying to save Germany from dictatorship and keep up the friendship with Elya for the greater good, his marriage suffers and ultimately divorce seems inevitable. At times, one feels like Conrad would fail to finish his project and Axel will succeed in his plot. To the contrary, Conrad finds a new life with his own wife and Axel fails and faces death penalty for conspiring against Hitler, at the end.
December 19, 2014
So I did and I didn't like this book. What I was really struck by was how beautifully written it was, there was some truly lovely passages that made me smile...simply because it was well-done. That aside, there were some trying and not necessarily boring, but not 'fun' parts to read. The beginning to the book is interesting enough, and grabbed me, but it seemed to take a lot longer than I wanted to invest in to finally get to 'the good part'. There was a lot of narrative switching, and it was hard to keep the story-lines (since there were like, 5 of them) straight. And overall, the protagonist Conrad, kind of got irritating after a few chapters.
So I don't know. It's well-written, but not engaging enough at times. But an interesting story nonetheless, and I'm glad I read it.
So I don't know. It's well-written, but not engaging enough at times. But an interesting story nonetheless, and I'm glad I read it.
January 11, 2009
A fascinating story of a friendship that started at Cambridge between a German student and a Jewish student that is torn apart just before WWII. The German student becomes part of the plot to kill Hitler which makes for very good reading. There are actually two stories here. The other is about the person who is doing the research to write the story between the two friends. Unfortunately one story far outshines the other which weakens the book. There are many things to recommend the writer however. The writing is often wonderful and at times even humorous in a story that is very serious. The character development is also excellent.
September 25, 2012
I decided to stick with this book and I am glad that I did. I found that I did care, that I learned where it was going and that it became gripping and made me think.
After a stuttering start I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. Hard to say what it was about other than an historical friendship with shattering consequences. A life from history that refused to be hidden by time until fully understood and learned from.
I recommend this book.
My original comments, part way into the book were:
Hm, not sure about this one. Where is it going? Do I care? Should I plough on or abandon? Not something I do lightly.
After a stuttering start I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. Hard to say what it was about other than an historical friendship with shattering consequences. A life from history that refused to be hidden by time until fully understood and learned from.
I recommend this book.
My original comments, part way into the book were:
Hm, not sure about this one. Where is it going? Do I care? Should I plough on or abandon? Not something I do lightly.
October 8, 2012
This was the first book of Cartwright's I have read and I will certainly read more of his work. Reading the rest of the reviews of this book, I think I am probably the only person who liked the part of the narrative set in the present day, but I do agree that the historical part was stronger. It's a philosophical novel, a clash of two ways of thought - Oxford secularism versus German idealism - which I think Cartwright portrayed convincingly. The author persuaded me of the value of skepticism and the danger of those who would place ideas before people. (But then, I was already prone to that way of thinking to start with.)
September 20, 2010
I started this book and put it down after 30 or so pages. I was thinking I didnt want to read another book about Nazi Germany. Before turning it back into the library i opened it up again and saw something I wanted to highlight. I ended up going back to the beginning and "really" reading it. Great writing! It's the most highlighted book I've read in a long time. The very first page when the story teller is flying and thinking random thoughts. I dont think I could have listed that many thoughts in a year!
December 28, 2012
If you are fascinated by the insanity of Nazi Germany and enjoy well written fiction based on historical incidents read this book. I was completely captivated by the relationship between the English Jewish and German intellectuals and their stories set between Oxford, Berlin. I also like the South African connection and found the way Cartwright wove the tale between the present and past very skillful. I recommend this book highly and will definitely be reading more of Cartwright's novels in the future.
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