Summer glow in Berlin

Press, 27 June 1987, Page 23

Summer glow in Berlin

ne City of Fading Light By Jon Cleary. Fontana/Cofme, 1997. $Bl pp. $12.95. Cleary Is an Australian writer in the mould of the late Nevii Shute. He can take ordinary people, set them in extraordinary situations, and weave an exciting story from the result The city of his title is Berlin, in the last weeks before World War,, II began with the German invasion of Poland. Reichsminister Goebbels is supervising a new propaganda film, with an IrishAmerican leading lady whom he fancies more than somewhat

Sean Carmody, a young Australian journalist, is caught between his compulsion to report the vast events developing round him, and his growing personal desire to help and protect the young American from dangers that even Goebbels cannot prevent. But the star of the story is the great city of Berlin, basking In the warm glow of late summer, while the puppets of National Socialism strut and posture. Cleary tells a very good story. ; J