My Family the Enemy
This book considers a very well explored subject, namely the Great War, but from an entirely novel standpoint. It delves into the story of Fred Müller and his family and their harsh treatment as German immigrants living in England, during the period of 1914–1918, exploring how these events impacted their lives.
The story harks back to the beginning of 1914 and the slow inexorable descent towards war in August 1914 with events affecting the Müller family. Young Fred is a normal school boy with normal friends, experiencing the familiar conditions for the time such as harsh teachers. However, the outbreak of war and the devasting loss of his father, who is incarcerated as an ‘illegal alien,’ makes life very difficult for Fred and his mother.
Experiences of prejudice and ignorance set against the fear and anger engendered by the terrible losses endured on the Western Front, cause young Fred to become a victim of a different sort, in a new type of dreadful war. He experiences first-hand the bombing of London, rationing and visits to his father in the temporary prison at Alexandra Palace. But despite the hardships and suffering inflicted on Fred, during the escalating and terrible events of the war, as losses of young soldiers on every side are killed and maimed every hour, the story is ultimately one of hope, understanding and friendship.
A meticulously researched work of period fiction, this book successfully describes the tumultuous historical events of the period which are skilfully woven throughout the story.
