Cold War: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift

Helena P. Schrader's Cold War is the second installment in the Bridge to Tomorrow series, a historical novel that explores the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949. This gripping tale continues the story introduced in Cold Peace, following a diverse cast of characters facing the challenges of rebuilding their lives in post-war Berlin. The novel is meticulously researched, deftly melding historical events with fictional characters to create a rich, immersive narrative. The story takes place against the backdrop of the Berlin Airlift, where Western powers are working to supply the city amidst a Soviet blockade. The characters' experiences are shaped by this historical event, which serves as a backdrop for their struggles and relationships.

This harrowing story of the 1948-1949 Soviet siege of Berlin features sophisticated and genuinely flawed characters, from heroic pilots who risk their lives to supply the city with food and fuel to ordinary Berliners, including city councilor Jakob Liebherr and Women's Auxiliary Air Force Cpl. Galyna Borisenko, a Soviet-born Ukrainian who has become a British citizen. The story is filled with vivid descriptions of the airlift's challenges, from attacks from Russian MiGs to bad weather, as well as the struggles of the civilians, including starving children and families torn apart by the blockade. Schrader creates a conflict and captures the human condition in a way that inspires pathos in readers, examining difficult topics —like the psychological trauma experienced by those who have lived through the horrors of war — with cleverness and clarity.

The narrative's central theme is the challenge of rebuilding after the devastation of war. The author has a unique gift to humanize the characters, even those who may seem familiar. Robert Priestman, a Battle of Britain veteran, is a particularly compelling character. He is driven by his duty to save 17,000 civilians from Stalin's grip, a duty he considers “the moral equivalent of going down fighting…” While this is a historical narrative, it delivers resonant themes and offers a setting that is as transporting as it is detailed, a finely drawn portrait of everyday life in Berlin and the bigger implications of the airlift. Cold War is a thrilling new entry into the series that will capture the interests of fans of well-researched and compelling historical narratives. It delights from the descriptive prose and the complex characters to the vividly drawn setting. Helena P. Schrader delivers from every angle.