A Princess in Berlin
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Arthur R.G. Solmssen |
A Princess in Berlin is a historical novel authored by Arthur R.G. Solmssen and published in 1980.
Plot
In 1922, Peter Ellis, a young American artist studying in Paris, faces financial withdrawal from his affluent Philadelphia family who want him to enter the medical field. Having endured shell shock from his ambulance service during World War I, Ellis resists following a traditional professional path. He reconnects with Christoph Keith, a former pilot turned banker, and relocates to Berlin, drawn by the city's affordable living costs during the Weimar Republic's hyperinflation period for those possessing stable currency. In Berlin, Ellis becomes acquainted with the Waldstein family—a fictional German Jewish banking dynasty inspired by Georg Solmssen—and develops a romantic attachment to Lili, their youngest daughter.
While pursuing art lessons under Fritz Falke (a character modeled on George Grosz), Ellis encounters prominent personalities of interwar Germany such as Walther Rathenau, Max Liebermann, Bertolt Brecht, Hans von Seeckt, and Hermann Göring. He witnesses the economic instability tied to reparations negotiations and treaties like Versailles and Rapallo, alongside violent confrontations between Communist and Nationalist factions.
Ellis becomes involved in political machinations, aiding in thwarting an assassination attempt on Rathenau by abducting Kaspar Keith. This act leads to suspicions of Ellis being an American spy. He accumulates wealth through currency speculation with Waldstein & Co. during the Ruhr occupation. Following Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch, Kaspar—now affiliated with the SS—shoots Ellis after murdering Christoph and his wife. As Germany's economy stabilizes with the introduction of the Rentenmark, Ellis recovers but discovers his investments have lost value and faces expulsion amid scandal. Increasing anti-Semitism prevents him from obtaining permission to wed Lili, compelling him to return to America alone.
Reception
A Princess in Berlin received the Athenaeum Literary Award in 1980. Writing for The New York Times, Christopher Lehmann-Haupt praised the novel for uncovering lesser-known historical aspects but noted its depiction of Weimar culture was somewhat idealized. Another Times reviewer, Todd Walton, appreciated the promising start but criticized the narrative for losing pace due to an overemphasis on historical exposition at the expense of emotional engagement. Conversely, Kirkus Reviews awarded the book a starred review, commending Solmssen’s adept use of fragmented dialogue combined with rich political and economic detail to portray a society in upheaval vividly. Donna Bird from Green Man Review described it as "a very enjoyable read," while Ethan Mordden singled out a particular scene as "stunning," comparing it to a Threepenny Opera set among the aristocracy.
External links
- A Princess in Berlin at Acamedia