The Passenger
The Passenger
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021
Book Brief
Beta266
Novel • Fiction
Germany • 1930s
2021
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Passenger by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz follows a German Jewish businessman, Otto Silbermann, in 1938 as he frantically travels across Germany to escape Nazi persecution. Grappling with the rapid disintegration of his world, Otto confronts mounting danger and uncertainty as he navigates the increasingly hostile environment and reflects on his identity and future.
Unnerving
Dark
Mysterious
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
12,525 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz's The Passenger is lauded for its gripping narrative and timely exploration of 1930s Germany through a Jewish lens. Critics praise the tension and empathy within the protagonist's plight. Some note the prose can feel disjointed due to its hurried composition, yet it captures urgency effectively. It's a poignant, if occasionally uneven, rediscovered classic.
Who Should Read The Passenger?
Readers who appreciate historical narratives with intense emotional depth, such as those found in Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, would enjoy Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz’s The Passenger. This novel appeals to those interested in gripping stories set during tumultuous times.
12,525 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
266
Novel • Fiction
Germany • 1930s
2021
Adult
18+ years
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