The Undertaking

Set during World War II amid the trenches of the eastern front and the turmoil of Berlin under the Third Reich, The Undertaking intertwines the lives of two German strangers entering into a proxy marriage of convenience, self-interest, and of ideology. Peter Faber is a soldier desperate to escape the madness of war if only by a three-week honeymoon leave. His new wife is Katharine Spinell, a resourceful young woman from Berlin who anticipates the likelihood of a widow’s pension should Peter die in battle. When they finally meet there is an attraction as unexpected as it is intense. But as Peter returns to Stalingrad, and as Katherine ruthlessly works her way into Nazi high society, the tides of war change. So do Peter and Katharine’s fates and fortunes, in this “bold, honest novel about Nazi greed and moral blankness... and the small people who are inseparably part of a great ravagement” (The Guardian). A “deeply impressive... devastating but quite stunning” novel about doomed love and ambition in Nazi Germany (Minneapolis Star-Tribune). "In a desperate bid to escape the trenches of the Eastern front, Peter Faber, an ordinary German soldier, marries Katharina Spinell, a woman he has never met, in a marriage of convenience that promises 'honeymoon' leave for him and a pension for her should he die in the war. With ten days' leave secured, Peter visits his new wife in Berlin, and both are surprised by the passion that develops between them. When Peter returns to the horror of the front, it is only the dream of Katharina that sustains him as he approaches Stalingrad. Back in Berlin, Katharina, goaded on by her desperate and delusional parents, ruthlessly works her way into Nazi high society, wedding herself, her young husband, and her unborn child to the regime. But when the tide of war turns and Berlin falls, Peter and Katharina find their simple dream of family cast in tragic light and increasingly hard to hold on to. Reminiscent of Bernard Schlink's The Reader, this is an unforgettable novel of marriage, ambition, and the brutality of war, which heralds the arrival of a breathtaking new voice in international fiction"--Provided by the publisher. In A Desperate Bid To Escape The Trenches Of The Eastern Front, Peter Faber, An Ordinary German Soldier, Marries Katharina Spinell, A Woman He Has Never Met, In A Marriage Of Convenience That Promises 'honeymoon' Leave For Him And A Pension For Her Should He Die In The War. With Ten Days' Leave Secured, Peter Visits His New Wife In Berlin, And Both Are Surprised By The Passion That Develops Between Them. When Peter Returns To The Horror Of The Front, It Is Only The Dream Of Katharina That Sustains Him As He Approaches Stalingrad. Back In Berlin, Katharina, Goaded On By Her Desperate And Delusional Parents, Ruthlessly Works Her Way Into Nazi High Society, Wedding Herself, Her Young Husband, And Her Unborn Child To The Regime. But When The Tide Of War Turns And Berlin Falls, Peter And Katharina Find Their Simple Dream Of Family Cast In Tragic Light And Increasingly Hard To Hold On To--provided By The Publisher. Audrey Magee. Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2014, this is an immensely powerful novel about an ordinary German couple trying to build a life amidst the trauma of World War II.