The Assault by Harry Mulisch is a gripping novel set during the Nazi occupation of Holland, focusing on the life of young Anton Steenwijk. The story begins with the assassination of a Dutch Nazi collaborator in front of Anton's house, leading to tragic events that shape Anton's life. Through various episodes spanning 36 years, the novel explores themes of guilt, innocence, and ethical choices under pressure. Mulisch's writing style intricately weaves together the past and present, revealing the complex truth behind a single violent incident and its lasting impact on Anton's life.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include themes of violence, family death, war trauma, and discussions of innocence versus guilt.
From The Publisher:
It is the winter of 1945, the last dark days of World War II in occupied Holland. A Nazi collaborator, infamous for his cruelty, is assassinated as he rides home on his bicycle. The Germans retaliate by burning down the home of an innocent family; only twelve-year-old Anton survives.
Based on actual events, The Assault traces the complex repercussions of this horrific incident on Anton's life. Determined to forget, he opts for a carefully normal existence: a prudent marriage, a successful career, and colorless passivity. But the past keeps breaking through, in relentless memories and in chance encounters with others who were involved in the assassination and its aftermath, until Anton finally learns what really happened that night in 1945-and why.
Ratings (1)
Liked It (1) |
Reader Stats (3):
Read It (1) | |
Want To Read (2) |
What can you read after
The Assault?
About the Author:
Born in 1927 to a Jewish mother whose family died in the concentration camps and an Austrian father who was jailed after the war for collaborating with the Nazis, HARRY MULISCH is one of Holland's most acclaimed writers. He is the author…
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
