Mrs. Wallenberg

Mrs. Wallenberg by J. Michael Dolan is set against the backdrop of World War II and the Holocaust, immersing readers in a profoundly human tale of love, bravery, and sacrifice. In 1944, amidst the harrowing events of the Nazi extermination of Budapest's Jews, the Swedish government sends diplomat Raoul Wallenberg on a crucial mission to curtail the bloodshed. Remarkably, he manages to rescue nearly 100,000 Jewish lives destined for Auschwitz while also sparking a passionate romance with the spirited Dutch interpreter, Berber Smit. With Berber recounting these pivotal experiences—hers and Raoul's—five decades later, she delivers an unfiltered narrative steeped in raw emotion. Berber Smit is a young Dutch woman working at the Swedish Legation in Budapest during the tumultuous years of 1943-1944. The book intertwines historical events with a profound romantic narrative, leveraging its well-crafted characters to explore themes of compassion in an era of unthinkable horror.  

Characterization in Mrs. Wallenberg is masterfully executed. Berber is depicted as intelligent and linguistically gifted, yet struggling with her identity and the horrors surrounding her. Her transformation throughout the novel illustrates her journey from a naive young woman to a courageous figure willing to confront the atrocities of the Holocaust. Raoul Wallenberg emerges as a heroic and multifaceted character, portrayed with depth as a man not just burdened by his mission but also with a rich emotional landscape. The supporting characters, including Berber's father and various diplomats, enrich the narrative and illuminate the stakes. Readers will find it interesting to follow Berber as she navigates life in Budapest, where she becomes immersed in rescuing Jewish families from impending deportation. As she develops a romantic relationship with Wallenberg, the urgency of their mission heightens, foregrounding the harrowing realities faced by the Jewish community. The tension escalates significantly as the deadline for deportations approaches, encapsulating both the personal and collective stakes of their undertaking.  

The characters contend not only with external conflicts against oppressive forces like the Nazis and the Arrow Cross but also with internal struggles, including Berber's journey of self-discovery and her moral dilemmas in the face of genocide. J. Michael Dolan is a gifted author who delivers a deft exploration of the conflict between personal desire and the higher calling of saving lives, exemplified through Berber's evolving feelings toward both Wallenberg and the plight of the Jewish community. The historical setting is cleverly executed, and readers get a fully drawn portrait of the struggles of Jews during the Holocaust. Budapest, rife with tension and danger, becomes a character in its own right—a city cloaked in fear yet teeming with the hope of those who resist. Rich with sophisticated characters, stunningly drawn, and full of captivating historical drama, Mrs. Wallenberg is the perfect literary creation for fans of historical fiction, especially WWII literature.