I really enjoyed Fur Elise. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction, but this one is different in a couple of ways. First, it tells the story of WWII from the perspective of German characters, rather than the typical Allied “good guys.” Second, it tells the story of a German POW who was held in Russia for 13 years. I had no idea that that happened, and always appreciate learning things I didn’t know through fiction. I also discovered more about what life was like in Communist East Germany after the war; again, something you don’t typically run into in popular historical fiction books.

The first part of the story captures the feeling of young love in a beautiful way, against the backdrop of Hitler and the beginnings of WW II. The second, darker, section of the book focuses on what happens when our hero, Hans, returns from his incarceration. In both instances, Dresden takes center stage, with great descriptions of the city. Through flashbacks, there are glimpses as to what life was like in Dresden during and after the bombing, as well as what it was like in the Russian POW camp. We get to know the flawed and traumatized yet ultimately human characters in a way that has stuck with me long after I finished reading.

Fur Elise is a book that is well-researched and has some of everything – it’s a love story, a war story, a tragedy, and a thriller, with some unexpected twists as well as moments of subtle humor. Ultimately, it’s a story of hope. It’s a quick read, and I found it hard to put down. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It's premised on the historical fact (which we learn in the first chapter) that the Soviet Union held on to some of their German POWs until the mid-1950s. It's sort of a take on Rip Van Winkle (which is referred to in the text), with Hans, the main character, being released from a POW camp in 1956 and effectively waking up in a world he no longer recognizes. I thought this was a clever idea for a novel.

The first section of the book takes place at the beginning of World War II. We meet Hans and Elise, a young Dresden couple attempting to begin and maintain a romance as Germany descends into genocide and total war. As this section moves along, there's a sense of impending doom, since the reader knows what's going to happen to Hans, Dresden, and Germany. This section ends when Hans leaves Dresden to fight in the war.

The second, longer section of the book takes place when Hans returns to a world he barely recognizes. Neither Hans nor Elise (nor the reader) knows what happened to the other while they were apart, and the underlying tension in this section is the result of these secrets gradually being revealed and their relationship slowly being rekindled. The book concludes with an emotional chapter set in 2005, where we learn the fate of all the characters.

I liked learning about life in East Germany during the Cold War, especially since novels with this setting are usually about spies rather than ordinary people. I also thought the descriptions of Dresden before and after its destruction were compelling. There have obviously been other novels set in Dresden during the war, but I never thought about what the city was like ten years later. A really enjoyable read.

I cannot stop thinking about this book. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the book at first, because I was afraid it was going to be the familiar “from opposite sides of the river” trope and it was hard for me to buy the fact they were together for less than a year before he became a POW. But! Oh my, Part II. I don’t want to say anything else, because of spoilers. It was heartbreaking for those that went to war and for those left behind. The author is great at analogies and metaphors - I see you Wolff is a sheep.

Surprisingly I didn’t look up the author while I was reading it, but was shocked the author was male. I’m not sure why. I’m here for it.

I’d give it 4.8 stars.

This beautiful book although seemingly well researched is almost as if it should have been listed as Young Adult. It is difficult for me to review this one as it was mainly a love story with sprinklings of history, without really delving too deeply into any of them. A lovely story, nonetheless, however I recommend “Fur Elise” for a younger group of readers.
Thank you to NetGalley to for the gift of reading this book

A touching story of a POW from WWII. When he finally comes home in 1956, he finds everything different. His memories are different. So heartbreaking. A must read.

4.5⭐️

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher from netgalley. thank you!]

thoroughly enjoyed the character development & writing style of this historical fiction novel about a returning German POW from the Soviet Union. it was interesting to read about this perspective in historical fiction. highly recommend.

This book was a 3.5 for me. The characters and storyline held a lot of appeal. It felt like it had the makings of an epic and it just fell short. There are these huge events: the bombing of Dresden, ten years in a soviet camp, and living in East Germany and I was left feeling like I didn’t really get enough depth on any of them.

Fur Elise
When I started reading this novel, I was thinking, this is not going to hold my interest. The writing was just mediocre, and I had no empathy for the main character , Hans. Then after about a third of the book, when Hans returned from a Soviet POW camp more than 10 years after the WWII ended, the narrative changed for much better. Having been brought up in communist Hungary, I was very much emphatic to what Hans had to go through after he returned to his home city Dresden, now in communist East Germany. Having my parents and brother going through WWII and its aftermath, I could understand how the devastation affected not only the main characters, but an entire generation. Towards the end of the book, I simply couldn’t put it down.
The ending was sad, but unfortunately very realistic. I strongly recommend this historical novel.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

This was a such a deep read. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, I couldn’t wait to read it. Loved the storyline.

In 1956 Hans is released from a soviet prisoner of war camp, he can't wait to get home, but once home he finds his home destroyed. good story

Thank you to NetGalley, , the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of such a wonderful Book. I have read several war stories but this book is more about the people left behind.
Two shy children are band members and they start to see each other, socially but they are very young and he soon has to join the war. When he returns after being a prisoner of war, everything has changed as the city had been heavily bombed and people have died. Elise and her mother allow Hans to sleep on their couch but as friends instead of lovers gradually they become closer and try to make a life together.. lots of hardship and pain surrounded the characters, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the writing.

Dresden, Germany was a beautiful town with no military value. When it was bombed and burned during WWII, and was controlled by the Russians, everything changed. Fur Elise, by Mark Splitstone, is the story of Hans and Elise. They grew up and fell in love in pre-war Dresden. Hans was drafted into the German army, was sent to the Russian front, and then held prisoner by the a Russians until 1956. Upon returning to Dresden, he found the city, his life, and Elise completely changed. The book is a sad one, but it gives insight into what I nice t people in Germany went through during and after the war. It does have a surprise ending. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

An superbly researched novel about the WWII bombing of Dresden

The novel describes the lives of two young people. One part plays during World War II in Dresden, Germany and the other part takes place 10-15 years later, under communist rule. Normally I make all kinds of notes as I’m reading a book I want to review, but this one totally captivates me. The research is superb. I’ve read books about the Dresden bombing before, but none are as detailed as this one. Very well done!

The descriptions are so vivid that you almost feel part of the scene. I also appreciate the information about the prisoners of war. What a nice addition. For the 1950s DDR part of the story, the author was able to create an atmosphere that has you looking over your shoulder. I love the characters and seeing how war and communism affect them forever makes one realize once again that in war and repressive regimes, there are no winners.

I hope this author will continue writing books. Any WWII lover will enjoy this novel and if you want to visit Dresden, please do. It has been restored and is very pretty.

Many thanks to Girl Friday Productions | Amalgam Books & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I was not required to leave a positive review, but loved to do so.