About the book:
A fast-paced story based on real events. A story about a Nazi spy ring in New York during World War II Published with tremendous critical impact in several countries, The Radio Operator tells the story of a German immigrant who becomes involved in a Nazi spy network active in New York. York during the early stages of World War II. Based on the correspondence of two of her ancestors, Ulla Lenze gives us not only a melancholic portrait of Josef Klein and his family, but also a magnificent reconstruction of the social and political climate in the United States, Germany and Argentina during the course of the war. and the postwar. At the end of the 1930s, Europe is embroiled in the conflict and, although America is far away, New York has become a battlefield: racist and anti-Semitic groups sow hatred in the streets while German immigrants celebrate power. of Hitler. Oblivious to the problems plaguing his adopted city, Josef Klein enjoys the multicultural neighborhood of Harlem. Radio is his passion to the point that his technical skills attract the interest of some influential guys, secretly allied with the Nazis, who offer him a job as a shortwave operator. By the time Josef begins to understand what he is really doing, it is too late: discovered by the American authorities and deported after the end of the conflict, fate leads him to Germany and then to South America, where he lives in the hope of returning to the United States to start from scratch. From the streets of Harlem to Buenos Aires, Ulla Lenze explores in The Radio Operator the multiple identities of a hero who, depending on the continent and the moment, is called Joe, Josef or José. A brilliant and overwhelming story that combines family archives and a spy novel, and addresses from a unique perspective the themes of guilt, nostalgia for the past and the identity of those who do not quite belong anywhere.
*Original content provided by the publisher
Reviews:
«The contemporary nature of The Radio Operator is astonishing. […] “It sends signals from the past to the present as if they were in Morse code.” Neue Zürcher Zeitung «An entire stretch of world history unfolds before our eyes. “The author puts the virtuoso art of the novelist at the service of historical truth.” Story «A luminous mix of family saga and espionage thriller. […] Ulla Lenze tells the story in a tight and incisive way, and her sentences radiate poetry. Der Tagesspiegel “It reads as if it were a suspense novel, but it is much more: a historical fiction about guilt, intrigue, nation and identity.” Blick «Instead of judging her protagonist, Ulla Lenze lets readers share her struggle. […] Unforgettable”. Die Zeit “A book beautifully written and narrated with wit.” WDR Germany “A personal journey with solid historical foundations.” Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung “Captivating and very well built.” Tip Berlin “A wonderful period piece, based on real events and with a unique perspective.” New York Journal of Books “Lenze’s elegant prose and her many accurate observations keep the story moving quickly.” Historical Novel Society
Source: https://algunoslibrosbuenos.com/el-operador-de-radio
