Hart’s War by John Katzenbach
I don’t think John Katzenbach has written a bad book. Certainly, his novels that I’ve read so far have all been first class. My most recent discovery, Hart’s War, is no exception.
First published in 1999, Hart’s War is set in a German prisoner-of-war camp for Allied airmen during the Second World War.
The arrival of a black lieutenant, Lincoln Scott, causes racial tension, especially among the Southern officers. When one of these officers is murdered, Scott is charged with the crime and the Germans readily agree to a court martial proceeding.
Aspiring lawyer Tommy Hart is assigned to defend Scott, and against all the odds he achieves an acquittal.
The drama leading up to the trial’s outcome is beautifully told in clear, concise narrative. There are several sub-plots telling of conflict between the Allied officers, between the prisoners and the Germans, and among the Germans themselves.
Hart sheds light on the hardship and boredom of POW life, drawing inspiration from the experiences of his own father.
Not knowing much of this history myself, it seems to be frankly told with no attempt to exaggerate or glorify. Descriptions of how the Russian prisoners were treated, outside of the Geneva Convention, were horrific.
I won’t give away more of the plot, or the conclusion back in America, except to say the ending was the most moving that I’ve read for a long time. Not many books bring a tear to my eyes, but this one did.
I'm a 41-year-old father of four working as a newspaper editor at Mount Gambier in South Australia.
