🔗 Share this article An Prophetic 1933 Book Discovers a Surprising Second Life – Presenting Teachings for Our Times Recently, I inquired to an American acquaintance – as one does these days – concerning where he envisions "it" heading, by which I meant the political landscape. He took a breath. "From my perspective, the US is in a very similar position to the German nation in that period," he stated. "We need to question, could what followed have been avoided? That's the point we are at. It's possible to claim fascism couldn't emerge in the US. Yet in my view the jury's out." Unearthing a Forgotten Novel This perspective appeared strikingly relevant in my view as I had just finished reading a remarkable novel exactly about Germany in 1933-4. Lost for years, Sally Carson's Bavaria-set Crooked Cross saw republication recently by Persephone Books. After its release, it became an unexpected success, a jaw-dropper circulated widely. The Narrative Progresses Crooked Cross opens in late 1932 finishing during the summer 1933. It takes place in the miniature, created Alpine community of Kranach, a picture-postcard place nestled in the mountains of the mountain chain. Its focus is the Kluger clan – a simple, respectable family with caring parents and three grown-up children. The scene is warm and delightful and full of promise: the tree with decorations, the carefully wrapped gifts, the carols, the festive meal. The entire scene is beautifully adorned, "even" – it's chilling to read – "the photograph of the leader which stood upon the piano." The Writer through Her Contribution The author created two follow-up books to Crooked Cross. The entire trilogy came out in the late 1930s. Subsequently, in 1941, not yet 40, she succumbed of cancer. The work was well reviewed upon publication, but didn't cause major impact and gradually disappeared from literary memory. One remarkable aspect of this novel is its immediacy. It was composed as things unfolded, and printed rapidly. The half-year timeframe it describes represented a time of momentous political change. Historical Context The Nazi leader took control The Nazis gained an effective majority The first camp opened Jewish people were excluded from civil service roles At the start, the characters exchange greetings using the traditional Grüss Gott; toward the conclusion, Herr Kluger is heil Hitler-ing fellow townspeople as the town bells have been altered to ring using the melody of the party's official song. Current Importance Studying this work, armed with the hindsight the writer didn't have, feels incredible, at times painful. In our current era, each element she depicts is rushing towards a predetermined ending: the coming conflict, the Holocaust. What is so impressive regarding the author remains, even though she couldn't know how things would conclude, the book possesses a firm ethical foundation. There is no equivocation. The actions taken across the nation to Jews, to leftists, is plainly horrific, following the author's viewpoint. Continuing Relevance The author demonstrates the way radicalism, when it gains power, provides these young men with purpose, work, a story, optimism and specific positions. Additionally, it offers them with a set of people – different groups and communities – to despise, to hold responsible, to punish and soon enough, to beat and to kill. The similarities with today are impossible to overlook. If only everyone had Carson's insight and her moral clarity.