** Didn’t Meet My Expectations

Based on the description of the book’s plot and extensive research claimed to be conducted by the authors I was sure Wolf would be a big I’d enjoy. Unfortunately, this book fell well short of my expectations for the following reasons:

-The primary fictional character, Friedrich Richard, presented as Hitler’s closest friend and confidant from the time they met in a hospital in 1918 through 1934, didn’t ring true for me;

-For the most part, the authors’ character development were one-dimensional and their
dialogue skills were stilted;

-I have some doubts about their historical accuracy regarding Hitler’s sexual prowess as a “ladies man” since this seems to contradict much of what has been published about Hitler in this area by other noted well noted and respected historians, who I tend to believe more than the authors of Wolf; and

-Lastly, to the abrupt manner in which the authors conclude Wolf. And while I know the authors have published a sequel to Wolf, I won’t be reading it since I, like everyone else, know Hitler’s ultimate fate..

#Wolf #Net Galley

This book chronicles "Wolf's" life for 15 years beginning at the end of WWI. Wolf is better known to us as Adolph Hitler. This is a completely researched chronicle of little known facts and untold story about how this seemingly inconsequential man became the world's most despised mass murderer of all times.
This was a very detailed eye opening account of Hitler's life leading up to his over take of power in Germany. I learned a huge amount, things I never would have thought about Hitler and how he rose to the power he did. It is fascinating and very disturbing, how easily he took over and how he was blindly followed by so many.
This is a must read to anyone wanting to learn the background leading up to WWII.
Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

Considering the subject matter in Wolf and one of it's main characters, to say I enjoyed reading it doesn't seem like a good thing. But this author has written an extremely well done book and a remarkable job telling this part of history, keeping the reader engaged, considering it deals with Hitler.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Excellent book on Norman history and how particularly it affected the English at this time. I like the Viking hero and how he matured into the man he became.I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good historical read.I look forward to the continuing saga in the follow on book.

Authors Herbert J. Stern and Alan A. Winter https://alanwinter.com published Wolf in 2020. In addition to Wolf, Stern has published one other novel while Winter has published five.

I categorize this book as ‘R’ due to scenes of violence and mature situations. The primary character is Friedrich Richard. The book is a work of historical fiction, but it incorporates many facts from the period. The story begins in 1918 as WWI is ending. WWI German veteran Richard is in the hospital. It is there where he first meets another veteran calling himself Wolf. A man who is otherwise known as Adolf Hitler. It is there that they become life-long friends.

While Richard is not a true believer in the Nazis, he does become a close confidant to Hitler. He sees from the inside how the Nazis rise to power. Richard is present at many significant events and meets the principles within the party. He is also familiar with the young women who Hitler becomes close to.

The novel spans the period 1918 to 1934. Richard tells in the first person what he sees, hears, and experiences. Some of his observations are what the authors speculated to have happened. Much of it is historical fact.

I enjoyed the 12+ hours I spent reading this 552-page novel of WWII era historical fiction. I particularly enjoyed this novel because I recently finished reading Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and Hitler: Germany’s Generals and the Rise of the Nazis. That book covers roughly the same period from a strictly historical perspective. Many of the events covered in Hindenburg appear in this novel. I am glad that I read Hindenburg first. The cover art is very plain. I think something better could have been chosen. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

This is one of the books that should not have been written and it definitely should not have been published. The last thing we need is a book that humanizes Hitler. This was disgusting shame on everybody involved in the making of this.

Wolf, by Herbert J Stern and Alan A Winter, is a fascinating story that takes the reader into the heart of the 3rd Reich. Although this is historical fiction, most of the events and people are authentic. I learned so much that I hadn't realized before such as Hitler's stay in a Mental Hospital. I found the main character, Friedrich Richard to be realistic as well as nuanced. The beginning half was a bit slow but by the time that I got to the middle of the book, I couldn't put it down.
World War I is near the end and Friedrich is an amnesia patient in the mental hospital, Pasewalk. Soon after his arrival he gets a new roommate who refers to himself as Wolf. He's just come from the front because he's suffering from hysterical blindness. Wolf is incapable of taking care of himself and depends on Friedrich to help him. Soon they develop an unbreakable bond.
As Wolf becomes more and more powerful, Friedrich is our witness to the different people, locations and events happening during a time frame of 15 years. Friedrich witnesses Hitler's evolution into the narcissistic dictator of Germany.