We return to review historical novel, this time by the publisher Lumen, where the book by Rosella Postorino has reached the language of Cervantes: «La catadora». A novel that deals with the life of Margot Wölk – although in the book she receives the name of Rosa Sauer-, one of the nine in charge of testing the food that the Nazi leader ate whose eating experiences are highlighted in this work.
The book has been awarded several times: Pozzale Luigi Ruso Prize, Rapallo and Giovanni Comisso, all of them from the writer’s place of origin: Italy.
Data sheet:
- Title: The taster
- Authors: Rosella Postorino
- Genre: Contemporary History
- Number of pages: 346
- ISBN: 9788426406552
- Year: 2018
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- first pages
What we think in Archives of History
The first thing we see is a very minimalist cover that fits perfectly with the overall look of the book. Crowned by the name of the author and with the title in large. A plate with an apple and cutlery serve as the image for the cover in a display of absolute visual descriptiveness while the eagle and the initials of Adolf Hitler are inscribed in the lower part.
The taster is exactly about that, you don’t even need to read the synopsis since the cover itself is explaining what the work is about. Rosa Sauer will have to face during the hardships of World War II and to be the tester of the Führer, while he faces the critical stages of the conflict in 1943. In this way, all readers fond of historical novels will be able to enjoy a wonderful work that narrates the ins and outs of the Third Reich in such a cinematographic, that its rights have been sold in order to make a cinematographic production. The book reads itself, and will entertain history buffs who have no pretensions other than to pass the time.
Now the work has some shortcomings, especially in the way things are told. Use a first person that doesn’t quite explode, just like the character you’re dealing with. Rosa’s personality could be much more exploited than she really is. She may be one of the great drawbacks of the work, which is still highly recommended.
Do we recommend it?
It is an enjoyable book, which is read practically by itself and which we are sure will be very popular among readers who are fans of Contemporary History due to the wonderful framework it creates thanks to the documentation used by the author to undertake the work. We certainly recommend it.