As the Allies sweep through the Austrian Alps in the closing days of WW2, a group of American soldiers encounters a hotel strewn with corpses. One of these is Hugh Selwyn Mauberley, a noted writer later known for his friendship with figures such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and others suspected or known to have fascist leanings. Mauberley has written his life’s story across the walls of the hotel, and it is a story of corruption and faded glamour, not to mention murder—the murder of Sir Harry Oakes.

I read this after reading Murdered Midas, Charlotte Gray’s biography of Harry Oakes, and this combination was interesting. The last couple of parts of the book, the ones with Harry Oakes in them, were more interesting to me for that reason. The rest of the book was pretty good, but it was hard going in places. I could of course attribute that to pandemic brain, so if you like the idea of this book, by all means check it out. ( )

Having recently completed a biography of Sir Harry Oakes, I decided to re-read this novel by Timothy Findlay in which Oakes plays a role.

Timothy Findlay is one of my favourite authors, and I've read everything he's written. This is a historical novel, looking at a WW2 plot to install the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as monarchy of a new world order. Lots of intrigue, and in Mr. Findlay's hand, a moving story about ambition, love and loyalty. ( )

Timothy Findley is the best. ( )

Wow! This was one terrific book. I have a new admiration for Findley's writing and I'm glad I've got Headhunter on the TBR pile.

In this book, Findley has an imaginary person (Hugh Selwyn Mauberley, a person named in a poem by Ezra Pound) tell a story about real people during World War II. The real people include: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Ezra Pound, German Foreign Minister van Ribbentrop, German Deputy Leader Rudolf Hess, Canadian millionaire Harry Oakes and the famous pilot, Charles Lindbergh. The premise is that a cabal of people from both sides of the war are planning a new order to rule the Western Hemisphere (at least) after the war. They want the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to be their King and Queen. Mauberley, a friend of the Duchess for 20 years, is delegated to get the Duchess on side and keep her there. We know this plot was not successful because at the book starts with Mauberley fleeing to an Austrian hotel towards the end of the war. He writes his story on the hotel walls with a silver pencil. When the Americans get to the hotel, Mauberley and everyone else has been killed although Mauberley still clasps his silver pencil. As you read his story, the details are so realistic that you can't help but wonder if there is some truth to it.

All of the characters, even minor ones, are exquisitely well-drawn. The Duchess is as bitchy as they come but you also can't help but feel sorry for her. Mauberley appears at first to be a dilettante, living on the edge of high society, but as the story progresses he is immersed in the cloak and dagger scheme.

It's a fascinating read and I would recommend it to anyone. ( )

the interplay between egotism and fascism is very well described by this Canadian Novelist. The ambiguous role played by Edward VIII is given the sinister twist and the chilling result is played out by principals and followers alike. ( )