Dutch / Belgium
Grensgangers
(Border crossers)
Sax, Aline
(text)
Leuven: Davidsfonds, [2015]. – 392 p.
ISBN 978-90-5908-659-3
German Democratic Republic | History 1961-1989 | Berlin Wall | Historical fiction
Reading age: 15+
White Ravens issue: 2016
All the novels of Aline Sax are historical novels, capturing a wide range of themes and periods. They have been nominated for and have won several literary prizes. This very interesting novel about the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall interweaves three family members’ stories in East Berlin. In the first story, taking place in 1961, the wall is built, and Julian attempts to escape to the Western part of the divided city. In the second part, we meet Julian’s younger niece Marthe and her brother Florian in 1997 trying to change the regime, which leads to dangerous situations with the Stasi, the East-German intelligence service. In the last story, we meet Sybille in 1989 when the iron curtain is opened in Hungary. While Sybille’s friends try to cross the border to Western Europe, Sybille returns to East Berlin to take care of her grandmother. Like in her other books, Aline Sax has done a lot of research and brings her characters to life. “Grensgangers” is a compelling novel about a part of modern history we should never forget.