Winnie and Wolf

Author: A.N. Wilson
Random House Publishing, £17.99

The Jekyll and Hyde Traits of Adolf Hitle

THIS WORK of fiction details the exceptional relationship between Adolf Hitler and the music and family of the German operatic composer, Wagner.

In a bold step Wilson’s work attempts to breathe elements of humanity into a figure so universally considered to have possessed none. Wilson characterizes H--- (his name never spoken) as ‘Wolf’, the Wagnerian obsessive and doting ‘uncle’ to the grandchildren of the great composer. He also acts as the closest confidant and possible lover of Wagner’s daughter in-law, the English orphan of unmatched personality, Winnie. This image of Adolf Hitler stands in polar opposition to history and societies’ preferred view of the figure.

Winnie and Wolf (in its reminiscent and often non-chronological manner) charts the evolution of the figure who would become the leader of Nazi Germany. Not only this, but through the philosophical, and emotionally enveloped story of another Wagner lover, we also see the impossibility of keeping Wolf and Adolf separate. Wilson shows the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the man, and with slow and subtle movements, allows one to conquer the other to create a figure that manifests in a crucible of destruction.

It is significant, and reminiscent of Wilson’s work, that the focus of this review has been on the character of Wolf. The story is told through the words of an unnamed figure, writing a number of decades beyond the destruction that was to engulf Germany, and is concerned for much of the tale with his obsession with Winnie. However throughout his winding tale, Wolf is ever present and readers will find themselves craving more information on this character. This is part of Wilson’s grand scheme of drawing the reader into a world where Hitler is not the monster that hindsight tells us of, but rather the shinning future of Germany. Both the unknown author and Winnie serve as metaphors for the German people desperate for salvation from the darkness that had descended on Germany following the First World War, and Wolf was that hope. Winnie represents German emotion in its purest sense at the rise of Hitler. Her feelings are always for the power that this man represented in bringing Germany out of what were her darkest days.

There is one continually pervasive element of this story; Wagner, his life, productions and ideologies. Whilst this provides a perfect setting for Wilson to form his story of Wolf, it is also an incredibly detailed and passionate defence of Wagner, and other figures whose works were subverted into the Nazi propaganda machine to reinforce their ideology. Wilson’s knowledge of the works of Wagner is exceptional, and through his detailed understanding of the spectacular nature of the Operas’ performance, imagery and history, the author presents a stunningly influential argument.

This work is an extraordinary one; Wilson’s words draw the reader deep into a world that is so often absent from the knowledge one has of this period. Only after reading this can the reader judge the innocence of some of the greatest characters in history.

Rating: 9/10