Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes - Paperback

A highly humorous and well-thought out exposition of how Hitler would act should he come back in 2011 and find Germany as it is today. The author clearly knows a lot more about Hitler than what he would probably want to admit to, and there is much in this book that would only be apparent to someone who had made a study of the German leader's life. On the other hand, I suppose this would be expected when taking on a task of this sort.The plot, as bizarre as it is, works. Hitler comes back, and finds himself all alone in a Germany that has moved on. Overcoming his initial bafflement at the (for him) sudden change, he quickly adapts and exploits the media's misunderstanding of his appearance as that of an excellent mimic or comedian, and after being offered his own TV show, masters the internet and YouTube. His following spreads, as people find his sharp dissection of modern German politics and parties -- including the right wing ones -- highly incisive, and accurate.He survives sustained media smears, and ... well, you read the book's ending for yourself, and it might not be what you would think it to be. Just one hint, without spoiling the plot: the book doesn't really end the story.....

I have the book in the original German language and thoroughly enjoyed it. I could actually "hear" him rant. I then bought the English translation as a gift for a friend, who studied history and he really loved it. (I actually bought an English version for myself to compare)There is a lot of factual historical information in this book. The satirical aspect makes it fun to read and in the English translation, everything that is of deep-routed German cultural nature and not widely known to other nationalities is explained. The translator really has achieved what I wouldn't have though was possible and that is to translate this book at all, without it losing any of the bite the German original is so famous for in Germany. A bit "Well done!" to the translator Jamie Bulloch and, of course, to the author Timur Vermes.This book is well-written, extremely well translated, it's educational, historically correct and fun.

It's great to read something which is not really up my street but then to find it's wonderful. This book is truly interesting, thought-provoking, highly amusing, seriously worrying and cleverly worked out, making it compelling reading. Best book I've read in ages and it was recently Book of the Week on Radio 4.I love Hitler's turns of phrase: ranting about some idiot politician who delivers "cretinous platitudes", and again about an Editor he describes as "a walking chimney with a tub of lard in his hair", also his various (childish) put-downs of people who criticise him by dismissing them as nitwits, sissies, maggots, to name but a few. All very funny.Quite a clean living man, this Adolf: no alcohol, no meat , no smoking so quite scary how it all develops.I have already recommended it to several other people.

I saw the film before I read the book and in certain ways I think the film is better. The book is of course brilliant but the film - because it is shot from a third-person point of view while the book is written in the first person - has IMO an extra dimension.There is humour and satire and even pathos in the book but far less of them than in the film. I only felt uncomfortable at one point during the film while I felt uncomfortable about the book several times.It is excellently written with a highly original idea and a plausible alternative account of how things might have gone if Hitler had 'come back.'But for me the occasional lapses in tone and the slightly (at times) rapid brushstrokes made me feel that some opportunities had been missed.I certainly recommend the book but I recommend the film even more highly.

An enjoyable read; Hitler wakes up and joins todays world in twenty first century Germany. Everyone thinks he's a very good Hitler impersonator and we follow not without a little incredulity. There are faults and pitfalls of such a time slip are deftly avoided. He has not aged, and the internet social media parallels with the real impact of Hitler in the 30s are exploited fully. Sequel? That would be possible but challenging to write convincingly.