Children and Fire by Ursula Hegi

Children and Fire by Ursula Hegi

Despite the fact that Ursula Hegi's Stones from the River enthralled critics and readers alike more than fifteen years ago, it continues to be popular, is on academic reading lists, and is adopted by book groups.

Hegi's Children and Fire is also set in Burgdorf, Germany, and chronicles the narrative of a single day that will forever change the lives of the inhabitants. At the heart of this fascinating work is the question of how one gifted and joyous, passionate and innovative teacher can be deceived by propaganda during Hitler's early months of power and persuade her ten-year-old kids to join the Hitler-Jug.

How can a lady we admire take a path we don't approve of? So much has changed for Thekla Jansen, the teacher, and the people of Burgdorf in the year since the parliament building burned down.Thekla's lover, Emil Hesping, believes the Nazis staged the fire to implicate the communists, but Thekla believes what she hears on the radio, and she's willing to give up some of her liberties to keep her teaching job.

Thekla's mother, who works as a housekeeper for a Jewish family; her employers, Michel and Ilse Abramowitz; Thekla's mentally sick father; Trudi Montag and her father, Leo Montag; Fr ulein Siderova, dying midwife; and the children who adore their young teacherAs Ursula Hegi writes along that edge where

Children and Fire is a stunningly depicted and emotionally tense novel that cements Ursula Hegi's reputation as one of the most remarkable writers of her time.