Young Adolf (Bainbridge Beryl)

About this book

In this hilarious and ingenious novel set in 1912 Young Adolf Hitler age twenty-three comes to Liverpool penniless traveling with false papers and perpetually stalked by imaginary enemies. His half-brother Alois who works as a hotel waiter and a salesman has convinced him to assist in building a commercial empire based on the newly invented safety razor. Adolf moves in with Alois his Irish wife and their infant son and promptly inconveniences them: He is difficult depressed lies for days on the sofa bungles the simplest jobs and has not yet found himself. In episodes of disarming comedy at every turn young Adolf becomes involved in ludicrous and embarrassing situations so much so that he would never for the rest of his life mention his laughably awkward visit to England. Taking on one of historys odder incidents with her considerable imagination and wicked sense of humor Beryl Bainbridge makes Adolf Hitler as absurd a figure in words as Charlie Chaplin made him on film.