Hitler's Beneficiaries: Plunder, Racial War, and the Nazi Welfare State

Book Description

A stunning account of the economic workings of the Third Reich—and the reasons ordinary Germans supported the Nazi state

In this groundbreaking book, historian Götz Aly addresses one of modern history’s greatest conundrums: How did Hitler win the allegiance of ordinary Germans? The answer is as shocking as it is persuasive: by engaging in a campaign of theft on an almost unimaginable scale—and by channeling the proceeds into generous social programs—Hitler literally “bought” his people’s consent.

Drawing on secret files and financial records, Aly shows that while Jews and citizens of occupied lands suffered crippling taxation, mass looting, enslavement, and destruction, most Germans enjoyed an improved standard of living. Buoyed by millions of packages soldiers sent from the front, Germans also benefited from the systematic plunder of conquered territory and the transfer of Jewish possessions into their homes and pockets. Any qualms were swept away by waves of government handouts, tax breaks, and preferential legislation.

Gripping and important, Hitler’s Beneficiaries makes a radically new contribution to our understanding of Nazi aggression, the Holocaust, and the complicity of a people.

Customer Reviews:

Hitler's Satisfied Thieves: Actually, the Case for Nazi German Larceny-and-Genocide Policies can be Made Stronger.......2007-08-19

German author Gotz (Goetz) Aly describes National Socialism as a form of populist wealth-redistribution welfare-state socialism. One-third of German taxpayers paid more than two-thirds of the tax burdens of war (p. 293), and businesses were heavily taxed (pp. 60-68). Hitler favored social equality for all Germans (p. 300), and worked to correct social inequities, notably in education (p. 322).

Pointedly, National Socialism massively transferred wealth from non-Germans to Germans: "In terms of wartime revenues, internal and external, low- and middle-income Germans, who together with their families numbered some 60 million, accounted for no more than 10 percent of the total sum. More affluent Germans bore 20 percent of the burden, while foreigners, forced laborers, and Jews were compelled to cover 70 percent of the funds consumed every day by Germany during the war." (p. 292). Consequently: "On average, the vast and not particularly affluent majority of Germans enjoyed more disposable income during the war that they had before it." (p. 293). Nazism also appealed to those opposed to traditional moral conventions, and to those inclined towards anticlericalism and anti-elitism (p. 319).

Not surprisingly, once voted into power by the German people, Hitler never needed draconian methods to maintain power until the end. Nearly 90% of the German dissenters executed lost their lives after 1941 (pp. 303-304). Unlike Communism, Nazism never demanded absolute devotion (pp. 23-24). In 1937, merely 7,000 Gestapo employees sufficed to handle 60 million Germans, while, in later East Germany, 190,000 surveillance experts controlled 17 million people (p. 29).

Jews weren't the only victims of larcenous Nazi policies--far from it: "This land of milk and honey in Eastern Europe was to be conquered not for the benefit of landed Prussian Junkers and powerful industrialists but to provide ordinary people with a real-world utopia." (p. 31).

Aly breaks new ground by showing that virtually ALL sectors of German society were involved in the expropriation of conquered peoples' wealth. German soldiers not only sent a considerable amount of looted goods back home (p. 178), but were encouraged to do so (p. 311). Later-writer Heinrich Boll (Boell) wrote much about this (p. 110, etc.). Not mentioned is the fact that, in German-occupied Poland, any German could enter a Polish or Jewish shop at any time and take anything at will without paying.

Poles targeted by the Germans for deportation, imprisonment, or execution immediately lost all their properties to the Reich (p. 197, 236). The 8-12 million forced laborers in the Reich, most of whom were Eastern Europeans, toiled under inhumane conditions. They were paid a wage in order to forestall resistance back home, but then the earnings were recouped by the Germans in various creative ways (pp. 156-157).

German-occupied Poland actually had to pay Germany for being occupied (pp. 76-77) "...with the result that the local population endured acute shortages of grain, potatoes, meat, and other necessities." (p. 77), leading to famine (p. 170). (This enables the reader understand why some Poles didn't aid fugitive Jews and why Poles sometimes betrayed or killed Jews known or suspected of stealing from them). Polish guerilla resistance eventually forced the Germans to slightly reduce the harshness of their exploitation of Poland (p. 160).

The Wehrmacht invaded Russia under orders to live off the land, placing 21.2 million Soviet citizens in starvation mode (p. 178). Additionally, millions of Soviet POWs were starved to death by the Germans (p. 175). Aly touches on the eventual Nazi extermination plans against Slavs: "...the most extreme proposal envisioned forcibly relocating 50 million Slavs to Siberia. (For years, the German Research Foundation also supported the development of technocratic plans for the slaughter of millions of people. Funds for research in this area were still allocated in the Nazis' final budget for the fiscal year 1945-46)." (p. 30). Yet the term "relocation" had itself already become a euphemism for extermination.

One Holocaust myth would have us believe that the destruction of Jews had been so uniquely irrational that the Germans would rather sacrifice themselves than leave Jews alive. In actuality, the deportation of the Jews from the island of Rhodes never did challenge the Wehrmacht's transport needs (p. 268), and there wasn't even talk of German retreat at the time of the Rhodes Jews' deportation (pp. 269-270). Once it did occur, the Rhodes Jews' deportation was itself governed by economic considerations (p. 273).

The case for Aly's premise that the Holocaust can't be properly understood without the larceny behind it (p. 285) can be strengthened (see: INTO THAT DARKNESS). Treblinka Kommandant Franz Stangl rejected the presumed Nazi obsession with killing all Jews, citing the creation of "honorary Aryans". Stangl asserted that the Holocaust was actually motivated by financial gain. When confronted with the obvious fact that most Jews weren't wealthy, Stangl retorted with the comment that almost every Jew had some worthy possession that could be confiscated--and that the booty added up.

How the Nazis Made All Germans Complicit in the Holocaust.......2007-07-30

Why is it that there never developed an underground resistance in Germany during WW2? According to this well researched book by Gotz Aly, it was because the Nazis spent like drunken sailors to keep the average German fat and happy during the war. The Nazis understood (from what happened in Germany during WW1) that as long as people were happy on the home front, their Armies wouldn't have to worry about their families and could concen- trate on fighting. They also mad sure that those soldiers who were not directly in battle would have ample resources with which to buy luxury goods that they could then send home.

Using all types of creative accounting, they never had to raise the tax rate that most Germans had to pay, even during the war. They were conspicuous in raising the tax rates on the wealthy and creating a war profit tax on businesses making enormous profits from the war. It's hard not to make money when your help practically works for free (force labor) and you never intend to pay for the raw materials that you purchase (steal).

So where did all this money come from? Well first of all it came via the Wehrmacht who shipped home multiple packages filled with stolen jewelry and other like items. The Wehrmacht paid it's soldiers with money extorted from the occupied nations as well as paying them in local currency that was converted at ridiculous rates. With all the extra money they had, the Wehrmacht was able to buy up anything that wasn't nailed down and strip most of the occupied nations of goods paid for with money that was inflated on the German side of the equation.

The Ministry of Finance took great pains to collect (with the help of the Wehrmacht and local collaborators) and occupation tax that was then used to pay their soldiers. In other words the occupied nations paid to be subjugated by the Nazis. They also looted the treasuries of not only the occupied nations but also those of their allies. They shipped home as much food stuffs as possible without worrying about starving the people of the occupied territories, since they were to be eventually eliminated. Goering said that, 'if some one has to starve, there's not reason that that person has to be a German'.

Lastly, not only did the Nazis (with the help of the Wehrmacht and German social agencies like the Red Cross) steal/confiscate/rob those Jews who were sent to the gas chambers; they also gave away their real estate, businesses, furniture and even clothing to the German public. You won't complain about your government if after you are bombed out, they give you a new place to live, furniture, clothing and even bed linens that might even be better than what you had before. It also costs the government nothing if these items have been stolen from people it plans to kill.

Aly estimates that overall, the money that was extorted from the occupied territories and allies, as well as the revenues collected from the liquidation of six million jews, half a million gypsies (Romi) not to mention 'other' enemies of the German people; covered almost 50 percent of the costs of the war. These costs included the manufacture and production of war material (much of it done by forced slave labor) and the salaries of the Wehrmacht and associated armed forces. Germany never saw bond drives like they had in Britain and the US because of this pool of money that they were able to extort. The saddest part of the story is that many of the financial people who helped the Nazis organize this shell game to pay for the war; ended up working for the Federal Republic after the war.

Fascist capitalism.......2007-06-22

Until recently, histories of the Third Reich have focused on Hitler and anti-Semitic ideology. The Holocaust and Hitler's military adventures have been granted an enormous number of pages. A few historians have placed some emphasis on his incompetent dabbling in military strategy. That picture is overfocussed, and misleading. Goetz Aly addresses a wider scope in this fascinating study of how the Reich was able to perservere in the face of what should have been sufficient cause for its early demise. With extensive research applied to the Reich's economic practices, he ably demonstrates what kept it functioning and accepted by the German population.

The term "Nazi" means National Socialist Workers' Party. That seeming innocuous phrase has been omitted from the consideration of its meaning, according to Aly. "National" and "Socialist" are the key terms. "National", meant just that - policies were aimed at benefitting Germany. "Socialist", of course, is a philosophy designed to benefit the most people - particularly those of the lower economic classes. Aly argues with detailed evidence that this is precisely what the Nazis achieved during the 1930s and through the war years. That it succeeded right up to the end of the Reich is testimony to the effectiveness of the Nazi economic methods. The average German began, and remained the "beneficiary" of a highly manipulated financial system.

It was a complex system. Aly begins by explaining how the Nazi leaders were a group of youthful, dynamic characters. They represented change, particularly in a restructering of the class system. The deprived were to be granted first priority in social benefits. While the 1930s witnessed a slow improvement, the onset of war allowed sweeping economic and social change. This was accomplished primarily by shifting the burden of war costs to the occupied nations. France was the testing ground for many new fiscal techniques designed to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in Germany, while bleeding the local populace of essential goods by imposing "occupation costs". One technique was simply to issue a military scrip to buy local goods. Soldiers were able to ship home foodstuffs and other goods not readily obtainable in Germany. The method worked less well in Russia where the "scorched-earth" policy reduced available foodstuffs and other goods. By the time the Wehrmacht entered the Balkans, however, it had numerous finacial tactics available to apply there.

Throughout the Reich's conquered territories, it was the Jews who bore the greatest of these burdens. A number of new laws allowed financial institutions and tax collectors to fill their coffers. Heavily taxed, then dispossessed of belongings, savings, homes and, of course ultimately their lives, the Jews "contributed" to the Reich's ongoing success in several ways. Their homes and belongings were taken and sold, often to the refugees from Allied bombing campaigns. Resettlement in real homes and apartments, sometimes fully furnished, instead of being sent to refugee camps, maintained German morale. The technique provided the gloss of "successful" government policies. Instead of being swayed by charismatic leadership or effective propaganda, Aly argues successfully that personal comfort bound the populace to an adventuresome regime. As he describes it, the Holocaust will never be properly understood until it is seen "as a campaign of murderous larceny". This book makes a major contribution to that understanding. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Organized Theft from Occupied Lands and the Jews.......2007-03-29

Mr. Aly presents new and somewhat surprising view of the Nazi years and the effort that Hitler et al went through to keep the home crowds happy. His thesis is that Hitler provided 'guns and butter' through the systematic looting of the property of others including the jews and subsequently the occupied lands. He describes and documents that such looting was not just the looting of fine art from museums and factory equipment to the huge German companies but mundane, everyday items like hams and chairs. As Goring said in a speech on October 4, 1942, 'if someone has to go hungry, let it be someone other than a German.'

The book does not explain Hitler's support before 1933, and the book does not spend much time on happenings after February 2, 1943 (Stalingrad) and April 8, 1943 (Tunesia), nor of course on the last year of the war when the British and American bomber forces were finally getting it together.

The Nazi Robbers.......2007-03-16

Nobody will be surprised to learn that the Nazis robbed the Jews and other nations in Europe. But some of the detail will be new even to those who are well read in the voluminous literature on the Nazi period, and for that we must be grateful to the author. But it must also be said that he relied on the published work of others for some of the most interesting detail even in this narrow area.

Where the author is original is in his reading of the data of Nazi robbery. He argues that the German people benefited from the Nazi thievery, and, he says, for that reason (among others) they gave their enthusiastic support to the regime. He is careful not to dismiss other factors altogether, such as anti-Semitism, but he stresses the importance of the economic benefit to the population.

There are a number of problems with this thesis.

First, the evidence for happiness with economic conditions during the Hitler regime is totally anecdotal. The author has talked with members of his own family and other acquaintances, but there is no assurance that such haphazard interviewing has resulted in a representative picture. The same goes for his unsystematic reading of published memoirs by famous writers.

Is it simply common sense to assume that people are happy when they reap economic benefits? Not in the absence of other considerations. The German people, after all, underwent great hardship under the Nazi regime, especially in wartime. Aly does not mention that, from the point of view of material comfort, they had as many reasons to be unhappy with the Nazis as to be happy. Their taxes were low during the war, says Aly, because the Nazis robbed the Jews and the occupied countries to pay for the war. And low taxes make people happy. Even if your cities get bombed and your sons and husbands die on the battlefield? If, as Aly suggests, it is material benefits that motivate people above all else, the Germans might have been expected to oppose Hitler.

In my view, writers who have assigned greater weight to non-material motivating factors, such as the Nazi theology of anti-Semitism, have given more satisfactory answers to the puzzle of the Germans' wartime approbation of Hitler.

The Germans' happiness with the Nazis, moreover, began long before Jewish properties were expropriated. Why were the Nazis so popular in 1933, 1934, 1935 - before the program of looting was put into effect? On this point, Aly is totally ahistorical. His thesis is one of cause and effect - Nazi robberies having the effect of Nazi popularity. But what if the effect began before the putative cause?

To this reader at least, Aly's thesis lacks logic.

Average customer rating:

NIce try, but not enough attention to detail
For the Professional
Very Technical
Why sets stand up

Structural Design for the Stage
Alys Holden , and Ben Sammler
Manufacturer: Focal Press
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ASIN: 024080354X

Book Description

This book provides the theater technician with a foundation in structural design allowing an intuitive understanding of why sets "stand up". It introduces the basics of statics and the study of the strength of materials as they apply to typical scenery, with a minimum of theory and many examples. The material is presented such that only a basic knowledge of algebra, geometry and trigonometry is required. This useful text is also invaluable to professionals as a permanent handbook complete with carefully selected reference tables, which are applicable to most theatrical situations.

Traditionally, theatrical design and carpentry are rooted in a craft-based tradition that places a high value on empirically tested techniques; in other words, if it was done that way for a show and nothing fell down, then that's the way it will be done.

Many scenic construction examples with a "how-to" approach
Material organized around one hour lessons with additional problems following each lesson and answers to the even numbered ones in an appendix
Three appendices with reference and design values for common shapes and sizes of lumber, plywood and steel used in theatrical applications

Customer Reviews:

NIce try, but not enough attention to detail.......2007-03-08

This book does a nice job of attempting to simplify engineering theories and practices for theatrical Technical Directors. Unfortunately, in an attempt to make it palatable, the authors often get very convoluted in their explanations. We have also found that the solution appendix has several wrong answers in it.

I would definately wait for a second edition. Rumor has it though that a second edition is not in the foreseeable future.

For the Professional.......2000-07-29

If you are a technical director looking to improve your knowledge base and are committed to protecting the people who rely on your decisions, this book is invaluable. If you have ever looked at the Timber Construction Manual, you know that building safe structures is a very complicated process. This book is built on the fundamental principles that allow professionals to build structures like the Sears Tower and the Empire State Building. It coalesces those ideas and applies them to scenery construction. It allows TD's to learn how to make informed decisions regarding the scenery they build. It is not for the faint-hearted. There is math involved. And it can be easy to get lost in the calculations. But, if you stick to it, the benefits are far reaching; from knowing that you have done your job well, to instilling confidence in those people who put their lives into your hands. Any serious TD must understand the principles that this book imparts. You owe it to yourself and the people with which you work. This book is the first to take difficult principals and make them accessible to everyone, not just those with engineerings degrees.

Very Technical.......2000-07-21

Although it may be perfect for some people, this book was not what I was looking for. It promises to keep it simple--wow, I'd hate to see what's considered complicated. It's very heavy on the math and physics. If you are an engineer or a math-minded TD you might find this book fascinating. If you are looking for how-to stuff, you'll be disappointed. It contains almost no illustrations or plans and is mostly physics formulas. I'm looking for instructions and plans on how to build lighter, stronger, better sets--in other words, the findings of TD's working with theses formulas, not the math itself. If you want to design your own new stuff and get yourself into a Yale Tech Brief, this book is for you, but if you're hoping this book will be another Tech Brief Collection, you'll be disappointed.

Why sets stand up.......2000-03-13

Structural Design for The Stage is every teacher's dream come true. You can work with it in your classes just the way it is. Everything is organized around a normal one-hour lesson. Unfortunately the book is not metric, which makes it hard to use in Europe.

Best Newspaper Writing 2006-2007: American Society of Newspaper Editors Award Winners and Finalists (Best Newspaper Writing)

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Best Newspaper Writing 2006-2007: American Society of Newspaper Editors Award Winners and Finalists (Best Newspaper Writing)

Manufacturer: CQ Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0872892964

Book Description

The Poynter Institute once again brings you the year's best newswriting and community service photojournalism, showcasing the winners and finalists of the American Society of Newspaper Editors annual competition. The perfect reader for aspiring journalists, Best Newspaper Writing, 2006-2007 Edition, offers a wide array of exemplary writing and photojournalism, providing quality models students can analyze and emulate.

Book Description

Abbess Helewise is struggling to keep the Abbey going through a brutal winter, and in the midst of this hardship, her son returns after 20 years in desperate need of help. Then a man is found strangled, and the next day her son flees. Helewise and Josse d’Acquin must now investigate the past—to a time before Helewise took the veil. Were her handsome husband and her enigmatic father-in-law all that they seemed? And can she prevent another terrible murder—or will the sins of the fathers be laid upon her innocent son?

Customer Reviews:

her best yet.......2007-04-30

What a treat to see how the abbess got where she is! I still think she takes herself way too seriously, but at least now I understand why she's so conflicted. Unlike the books about Josse's romantic interest, which bored me to pieces, this one keeps you fascinated.

Author losing her focus........2006-11-12

As a lover of medieval mystries, I have enjoyed Alys Clare's previous novels, but am somewhat disappointed in this one. In it, she seems to be veering toward the "torn bodice" romance genre, concentrating less on the medieval aspects of the time and the development of a good mystery. Let's hope that the next book in the series has more resemblance to the writing of Ellis Peters and less to Barbara Cartland.

Sir Josse Has Mixed Loyalties.......2006-08-23

Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period and her will they won't they situation with Helewise and Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young and old, male or female.

Richard the Lionheart is still hostage after the crusades, but his people are struggling to cope with the crippling amount they have had to pay to secure his ransom. Even before the problems with Richard's ransom not all of his subjects were enamoured of the King, who is hardly ever in the country he rules. No wonder his brother John is gathering to him a number of loyal followers.

The Abbess Helewise has the difficult task of keeping her abbey going through the cold and brutal winter, as she tries to fend off starvation of her nuns and the local villagers. Then out of the blue Helewise's son returns to her, a son she has not seen for nearly 20 years. He claims that his wife is suffering mental illness and his son is a mute. He desperately needs help.

But then a man is found strangled and hanging from a tree close by the abbey. Next day her son and his family flee and Sir Josse must investigate and delve into Helewise's past life before she took the veil. Were her husband and father in law all that they seemed?

Can the Abbess prevent even more murder, or will the blame be laid at the door of her innocent son?

The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

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A light and quick read ...
Everything is Not as it Seems
12th Century Mystery a Great Read!

The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries)
Alys Clare
Manufacturer: Hodder Headline
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ASIN: 0340793287

Book Description

The serenity of Hawkenlye Abbey has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. Recently orphaned, Alba has left her convent in Ely to take her grieving sisters from the scene of their sorrow. Abbess Helewise is not convinced of her selflessness—Sister Alba is a mean-spirited and turbulent presence. Her anxieties grow when her friend Josse d’Acquin is brought to Hawkenlye, half-dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered, and one of the sisters goes missing. In order to discover the truth behind Alba’s flight to Hawkenlye, Helewise sets off for Ely, where she uncovers a clever and chilling network of lies.

Customer Reviews:

A light and quick read ..........2007-07-26

The fourth book in the Hawkenlye mystery series is a short quick read. It's set in medieval times (circa 1190) in an Abbey in East Anglia. The plot is a simple one with a predictable outcome.

Three sisters arrive at the Abbey with no place to go. Both parents are dead. One exhibits strange and violent behavior. Soon, a pilgrim to a nearby holy attraction dies mysteriously.

When the Abbess investigates, she uncovers another violent death. The outcome is predictable. There's a very minor romance sub-plot that adds a bit of spice to an otherwise mediocre story.

If you like Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series or Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series, you will probably like this book. But if you prefer brain-teasing puzzles or a book rich with accurate history, then this book probably is not for you.

Everything is Not as it Seems.......2006-08-28

Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period and her will they won't they situation with Helewise and Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young and old, male or female. Alys Clare lives in Kent where the Hawkenlye mysteries are set.

The peace and quiet of the Abbey at Hawkenlye has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. They have been recently orphaned and Alba the eldest has had to give up her post at a convent in Ely to get her sisters as far away as possible from the scene of their grief.

However Helewise, the Abbess at Hawkenlye is not sure that the gesture is solely for the benefit of the young girls, after all Alba is known by all to be a mean-minded young woman. Helewise's anxiety is increased when her friend Sir Josse is brought to the Abbey half dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered and one of the sisters goes missing. Helewise sets off the Ely to discover the real reason for Alba leaving the convent there . . .

12th Century Mystery a Great Read!.......2003-05-13

This Hawkenlye mystery (fourth in the series) is a must for those who enjoyed Ellis Peters's books. However, it stands on its own, with a fresh approach to medieval crime novels. The author provides an engrossing tale, finely drawn characters in Abbess Helewise and her friend, Josse d'Acquin, and a realistic sense of the time period.

Whiter Than the Lily (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

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An Entertaining medieval Mystery

Whiter Than the Lily (Hawkenlye Mysteries)
Alys Clare
Manufacturer: Hodder Headline
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ASIN: 034083112X

Book Description

The young, beautiful Galena and her husband, the much older Ambrose are trying for a child but to no avail. When Josse d'Acquin tells her of the healing waters of Hawkenlye, she is overjoyed and sets off with her escort. But she arrives alone, and a few days after her husband joins her she dies in agony on the infirmary floor. On examination it appears she was poisoned and that she was pregnant after all. Josse and Helewise are determined to solve the riddle of her death—even if it leads them into danger as well.

Customer Reviews:

An Entertaining medieval Mystery.......2005-03-19

Sir Josse has been invited to visit his neighbour Brice's manor and while he is there Brice says that he would like Josse to meet some friends of his. Not wishing to appear impolite Sir Josse agrees to travel with him to his friends.

When they arrive Sir Josse finds that there is an ulterior motive to their visit. The elderly knight he has been brought to see has a young and beautiful wife of seventeen or eighteen who is devoted to her husband and although they have been trying since their marriage they have been unable to conceive a child. The knight Sir Ambrose has been told of Josse's involvement with Hawkenlye Abbey and the success they have had with healing the sick in mind and body.

After speaking with Sir Josse, Ambrose agrees to allow his wife Galiena to go on ahead to the Abbey with her maid and groom and he will follow in a couple of days. His hope is that the nuns can help his wife with their inability to have a child.

However when Galiena arrives at the Abbey she is alone and her demeanour is totally different to the happy and devoted wife the nuns had expected. A tragic death sets Sir Josse on the path of danger and intrigue. The Abbess Helewise becomes embroiled in the same dangers that face Josse and the perils reach out to the Abbey itself . . .

A Dark Night Hidden (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

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Alys Clare consistently Writes Good Books

A Dark Night Hidden (Hawkenlye Mysteries)
Alys Clare
Manufacturer: Hodder Headline
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0340793325

Book Description

Josse D’Acquin and the Abbess Helewise are appalled by the fanatical new priest, Father Micah, but are even more horrified when his body turns up by the side of the road. And when it appears that a band of evangelical heretics, whom Micah condemned to the stake, might be behind his death, the Abbess is torn between her compassion for their suffering and her duty to the church. When Josse realizes that his desire to save the heretics cannot be condoned by Helewise, he is forced to act against her wishes, risking the greatest friendship he has. For the Abbess, her friendship with Josse is deepening the longer he stays at the abbey, as is her awareness of his attractions as a man.

Customer Reviews:

Alys Clare consistently Writes Good Books.......2005-03-04

Alys Clare's Hawkenleye series revolve around her two main characters Sir Josse d'Acquin and Helewise, abbess of the Hawkenleye Abbey.

Sir Josse is spending Yuletide with relatives he has not seen for many a long year when news reaches England that the Lionheart has been captured by his enemies and a ransom most be raised to free him from their clutches.

Sir Josse believes that Queen Eleanor is bound at some stage to call at Hawkenleye Abbey which is one of her favourite religious houses and decides to call there on the way back to his own manor and seek out the Abbess, who herself is a friend of Josse. Perhaps he will be able to get some first hand information about what is to be done to free King Richard.

The Abbess Helewise is however having problems of her own as a sadistic new priest has arrived to administer to the spritual needs of the Abbey.

Josse and Helewise are soon embroiled in more than one murder by people who are no friends of the church in general and Hawkenleye Abbey in particular.

Sir Josse and Helewise are given an excellent and friendly relationship by the author, with undertones that something more than friendship is never far away.

This series of books are excellent.

The Tavern in the Morning (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

A Good Medieval Murder Mystery
Unreallized potential
Something Different!!
Forget old Edith, Clare is the new Queen
an absolutely brilliant read

The Tavern in the Morning (Hawkenlye Mysteries)
Alys Clare
Manufacturer: Hodder Headline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0340739363

Book Description

A man from London has taken over the tavern on the main London to Hastings highway to the south of Tonbridge. He is not what he appears, and his arrival ushers in a sequence of apparently unrelated but disturbing events, whose escalating violence culminates in murder.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Medieval Murder Mystery.......2006-08-28

Alys Clare has written many other novels under a different name. She is able to breathe new life into the medieval period. A period of history that many novelists take as their background subject. Alys Clare lives in Kent. This is the area in which the books are set.

This is the third book in the series of medieval novels by Alys Clare. The books are set around the Abbey of Hawkenlye and the lead characters are Sir Josse d'Aquin and Helewise the Abbess of Hawkenlye. The two have a friendship which has blossomed in the first two books and in an age when celibacy was not a prerequisite of the religious orders there is always the chance that this may take a different turn. However these are by no means love stories and I would not want to put anyone off reading these books by suggesting that they are. They are murder mysteries well written and well researched.

In this particular book Sir Josse is hunting a poisoner who has been using wolf's bane to kill his victims at the local hostelry in Tonbridge. To say anymore would be to spoil the plot for the reader.

Unreallized potential.......2003-12-05

Medieval monks and nuns as detectives was certainly not one of the most obvious subgenres, and perhaps even this somewhat rarified category needs to divided. I am a great fan of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael and Margaret Frazer's Sister Frevisse. This series does not have the spirituality, and I would argue, the strong civil and moral force of those two. I also find this a little too graphic for my taste in describing death scenes. I presume the reader knows what he/she is looking for.

I originally had great hopes for this series since I initially liked the two main characters. Having finished the first three titles, I think that the plotting is a bit weak and I don't find Helwise to be convincing as a medieval abbess. In the most egregious case, she goes off in the middle of the night with a man she's not related to. I admit that I'm no history expert, but it is my understanding that in a well-run medieval religious orders, the monks and nuns were pretty carefully chaperoned. We are given to understand that Helwise is a very competent woman, we share her thoughts as she worries about her flock's conduct and I find it very difficult to believe that such a woman would do this, and even more difficult to believe that it raises no eyebrows. In addition to her sense of propriety, one would think that she would be very careful not to risk embarassing her beloved patroness, the redoubtable Eleanor of Aquitaine, who made the controversial decision to put a woman in charge of Hawkenlye Abbey.

The plotting could use a little work too. In Ashes of Elements, a man has been found dead at the edge of the forest. Everyone speculates that he has been up to something or found something in the forest that lead to his death. So our brainless characters decided to investigate AT NIGHT. Wouldn't they be more likely to find evidence in the daylight? This isn't the age of portable halogen spotlights. I realize that this is really because the author wants to have certain scenes in the book, but it's not good writing if that's the only motivation for the characters' actions.

The two main characters are also pretty cavalier about the law, having appointed themselves not only investigators but judge and jury as well. They rail at the Wicked Sheriff for his lack of concern for justice and then cover up several murders in the course of these books, sometimes under circumstances that seem to me to show very bad judgement, especially at the end of The Tavern in the Morning. I am appalled by some of the things that supposedly nice characters regard as grounds for murder. By the end, I was thinking of Dorothy Cannell's short-story spoofing Regencies, "The Family Jewels", in which the heroine reflects that while she is sensible of the honor that her fiance has done her in murdering his rival for her hand, she is just a tad nervous about his future conduct as a husband.

These are a decent read, but I don't think I'll spend my precious reading time on future volumes.

Something Different!!.......2002-08-21

Tavern In The Morning was my first read of a medieval mystery and I truly enjoyed it. Well plotted, moves right along and is direct and to the point. Really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Ms. Clare.

Forget old Edith, Clare is the new Queen.......2002-06-20

Throw away those Ellis Peters books. Yes, they are excellent. But these are far far better!

The Tavern in the Morning is such a refreshing read. The material is fresh, the plot is original, with several threads, and i love the way Alys Clare makes her mysteries different from the generally accepted form that mysteries should be. there are no great surprises here, just an excellent historical crime novel, with some more excellent characters, and a great setting.

She really knows her stuff, and even if the detail isn't correct (i have no way of knowing. even if it isn't, i dont care) it does have the tang of authentic detail which makes you suspect that yes, she has hit the nail on the head with her research and knowledge of the era.

The two leads (Abbess Helewise and Josse D'aquin) are two brilliant characters. They are incredibly likeable, interesting to read about, and their talents compliment each other well. They care about each other a lot, and the warmth of their friendship comes out in the writing.

There are great developments in Josse's love-life, but, unfortunately, the woman involved is haunted by mystery and death...

The climax is exciting and tense. This is another very good novel by Alys Clare, a wonderful writer. She is certainly the best writer of historical novels i have yet come across. ("The Chatter of the Maidens", her next Hawkenlye mystery, is even better!!!)

an absolutely brilliant read.......2002-06-13

This medieval mystery series set during the reign of an absent Richard I (the English king that was too busy glory seeking in the Middle East to really care about what was going on in the lands under his rule), is steadily becoming a firm favourite. And is a wonderful example of how a lively writing style, together with an ability to breath life into scenes and characters, is enough to keep any avid mystery addict reverted to his/her seat. You don't always need a cunning plot that is full of twists and turns, and that is full of red herring suspects to keep readers happy. An ability to tell a story, and tell it well, is all that is needed. As with previous mysteries in this Hawkenlye series, the mystery here is a rather straight forward one. And as with the other books in this series I was hooked -- I simply couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.

Once, Goody Anne was known for the bodily comforts that she provided. Now however Anne is known as the owner of a Tonridge tavern that provides tasty ale and good food. One harsh February market day however, Anne's good reputation takes a nose dive when one of her guests dies of food poisoning. At the instigation of his quiet cook, Josse d' Acquin (a frequent customer and admirer of Anne's cooking) sets off to investigate. The first thing that strikes him is that, if indeed the unfortunate guest had died of food poisoning, the dead man seems to have been the only one to have suffered the effects of the bad food. And after digging deeper, and uncovering some bits of evidence, Josse realises that the food the man had eaten been deliberately poisoned. Why would anyone want to poison a poor farmer? Determined to get to the bottom of things, Josse (with the help of Abbess Helewise of Hawkenlye Abbey) begins his investigation into this intriguing murder. And it isn't very long before he stumbles onto another perplexing mystery, and another brutal murder...

"The Tavern in the Morning" proved to be an enthralling read even if it didn't possess one of those complex storylines that keeps you guessing to the very end. This entire series deserves awards of excellence. And if I were sitting on one of those many mystery novel award boards, I'd be nominating every single one of the Hawkenlye novels for excellence. Alys Clare is an absolute wizard at setting up a scene and in bringing characters to life. Truly a brilliant read.

Average customer rating:

A Novelist with New ideas

Quite frankly, wonderful

The Faithful Dead (Hawkenlye Mysteries)
Alys Clare
Manufacturer: Hodder Headline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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A Dark Night Hidden (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

Whiter Than the Lily (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

The Tavern in the Morning (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

Girl in a Red Tunic (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

ASIN: 0340793309

Book Description

An elderly pilgrim dies in Hawkenlye Vale. It is nothing suspicious, for he was gravely ill when he arrived. Meanwhile, Josse d’Acquin has a visit from Prince John, seeking news of a stranger, Galbertius Sidonius. Hurrying to Hawkenlye Abbey to enlist the help of Abbess Helewise, Josse finds she has a problem of her own—a decomposing body has been discovered, naked and killed by an expert hand. When Josse’s brother, Yves, arrives, the three are hurled into a mystery with roots that reach back further than the Second Crusade.

Customer Reviews:

A Novelist with New ideas.......2006-08-23

Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period and her will they won't they situation with Helewise and Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young and old, male or female. Alys Clare lives in Kent where the Hawkenlye mysteries are set.

An old man, a pilgrim dies in Hawkenlye Vale. There is nothing suspicious about the death, or so it is thought. The man was gravely ill when he arrived. At home at his manor Sir Josse d'Aquin is perturbed when he sees a group of horsemen riding towards him. By their bright and expensive clothes he knows that they are wealthy and important men, but he is surprised to see Prince John in their midst. John is a man he has met before, but until now was in no particular hurry to meet again.

The Prince who is accompanied by his seer, is seeking news of a stranger, one Galbertius Sidonius. As soon as the party of men have left Josse heads for Hawkenlye Abbey to ask for assistance from Helewise, the Abbess, but finds when he gets there that the Abbess has her own problems. A naked decomposing body has been found. The body has been killed by an expert. This is victim of a drunk fight or village quarrel.

Josse and Helewise are drawn deep into a mystery that stretches back much further than the Second Crusade and there is a dark, macabre figure watching their every move.

Quite frankly, wonderful.......2003-05-17

When Josse d'Acquin receives a visit from Prince John and a group of his courtiers looking for a mysterious stranger named Galbertius Sidonius, he becomes suspicious. Why would the Prince go out of his way and come to Sir Josse's out-of-the-way manor, instead of visiting the nearby Hawkenlye Abbey, through which it is much more likely a mysterious visitor such as Sidonius would pass? Josse decides to visit the abbey to get his friend the Abbess Helewise's advice. Although, upon arriving he finds that she has troubles enough of her own: a decomposing body has been found in Hawkenlye Vale, and the death the man met was clearly not a natural one.

Before much investigation can be carried out, Josse receives another visitor: his brother Yves, who has crossed the Channel from Acquin in Northern France to seek Josse out. A mysterious visitor has been asking after their father Geffroi, dead for several summers. Josse, Yves and the Abbess are soon thrust into a mystery whose roots lay back as far as the Second Crusade, and that has to do with a strange jewel called The Eye of Jerusalem...

This is the fifth novel in Alys Clare's brilliant historical series set in and around the Weald of Kent. As in all her novels, the plot she presents if wholly original and completely refreshing. And, of course, thoroughly enjoyable. The writing is nothing short of first-class, and the further development of her characters and their relationships is excellent once again. Both the main protagonists are fully developed and wholly interesting personalities. (It is especially interesting in this book to learn more about Josse's family and its past.) My only criticism of THE FAITHFUL DEAD, and it is true of all five, is that they are not long enough!

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully exciting book for children.......2004-03-15

I first saw the book A GAGGLE OF GEESE about 20 years in a science museum where I worked. I remember being particularly interested in the opportunity to learn the collective names of animals.

When I ordered it recently, I had forgotten it was a children's book; I only remembered it as a source book. Imagine my surprise and delight to see this beautifully illustrated, cleverly worded children's book. I wish I had had this for my own children when they were little; it should be reissued! The book came to me in excellent condition, very carefully packaged by the bookseller, arriving only a few days after I ordered it.

But, I was a little disappointed that the group animal names were limited to 26, I believe; I had expected a much larger number of them. However, now that I have it, I shall cherish A Gaggle of Geese as a children's book to share with young friends. And then I plan to search further for an adult book on group names of a wider range of animals, if such a book exists.

Absolutely stunning.......2004-03-09

The novelty of learning all the animal group terms, is outstripped by the gorgeous, striking illustrations. This book is truly a pleasure both to read to our small daughter, who loves pointing out the details in the illustrations, and as a work of art. It would make a lovely coffee table book. Ms Browne, and Barefoot books in general, make brightly colored, beautifully and sometimes adventurously illustrated books. I only regret that this book is so difficult to find!

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