In the charnel house that was Europe in the Second World War, there were few instances of shining moral courage, let along secular sainthood....more
In the charnel house that was Europe in the Second World War, there were few instances of shining moral courage, let along secular sainthood. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and Nazi resister was the exception. This emblematic figure risked his life--and finally lost it--through his participation in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler and topple his regime. Saints and Villains gives us this exemplary life in a sweeping narrative that is bold in conception and utterly convincing in its power of imaginative reconstruction. less
A compelling book that intertwines a fictionalized version of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life with Nazi Germany's rise and fall. While I wonder how accurate Giardina's portrait of Bonhoeffer is, I remain impressed by her ability to create a character so filled with human frailty and noble passions. Reading it was like watching the movie TITANIC - you know what happens in the end.
As much as I love reading, I often feel quite jaded, and even really good books, though enjoyed, are forgotten as soon as I reach the end.
This book touched me so deeply, and stayed with me. I love that.