William Trotter's critically acclaimed fictional debut explores the deep forests of Finland with Nazi intelligence officer Erich Ziegler, a gifted orchestra conductor swept up in the maelstrom of war. Laden with the magic of Norse legends, the savage power of the northern forests, and the horrors of the Finnish and Eastern fronts, this tale burns with the fuel of timeless music and an ancient civilization. Called upon to investigate the loyalties of the highly cultured Finns and keep them allied to the Nazi cause, Ziegler ...
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William Trotter's critically acclaimed fictional debut explores the deep forests of Finland with Nazi intelligence officer Erich Ziegler, a gifted orchestra conductor swept up in the maelstrom of war. Laden with the magic of Norse legends, the savage power of the northern forests, and the horrors of the Finnish and Eastern fronts, this tale burns with the fuel of timeless music and an ancient civilization. Called upon to investigate the loyalties of the highly cultured Finns and keep them allied to the Nazi cause, Ziegler meets the famed composer Jean Sibelius. Obsessed by the genius of Sibelius's mysterious Eighth Symphony and bewitched by a beautiful servant named Kylliki, one act of defiance against his superiors lands Ziegler in the middle of the fire and ice of the Russian front. When he returns from the apocalypse of total war to the home of his revered composer and beloved forest maiden, he has been transformed into the ruthless soldier he once professed to despise. Exhibiting his outstanding knowledge of military battles, and his peerless mastery of place and the cadences of music, Trotter has written a timeless novel for historical fiction fans, military buffs, music lovers, and those fascinated by Norse mythology.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Very Good condition. Very Good dust jacket. With remainder mark. Book 2. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
This is an excellent novel on Finland's war with the Soviet Union during WWII. Tiny Finland's stuggle for survival against the Soviets from the Winter War of 1939, the Continuation War, and the Finns co-beligerency with Germany during WWII is just not known - forgotten actually - outside of military or historical circles. Mr. Trotter has vast background on the subject from his acclaimed historical work "A Frozen Hell" on the Winter War in Finland. Winter Fire is well written and reasearched. Mr. Trotter's prose is very vivid, lucid, and full of imagery. There is a little bit of everything in this book; history, music, war, love, and norse mythology. It is set during the climax of the 20th century - WWII - which makes it all the more appealing to the reader. I myself love this book and have read it twice this year. I am waiting for the screenplay to be written and for a movie to be made. I hope someone has the foresight for such and then maybe William R. Trotter will get the recognition he deserves as a writer.
piafinn
Feb 24, 2008
Of Warfare and Symphonies
An unlikely mixing of military adventure, classical music and paganism. This work of fiction, written by the man who wrote 'A Frozen Hell,' about the Finnish-Russian Winter War, shows his in-depth research and his love for the Finns. I loved the military aspect, especially his descriptions of the training of the ski-clad commandos, who are the genesis of the sport of biathlon. I also learned how the Finns ended up fighting against both Russians and Germans, and still remaining an independent nation at the end of it all. I also learned about the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius, who I hadn't realized was alive until 1957. There was very descriptive prose regarding symphonies and conducting orchestras, which, like wine-tasting, is a little over my head, but I learned a few things in spite of myself. The disappointing aspect of the book was its' surreal paganism. Finns love nature, it's true, but that doesn't mean we worship it.
