The Traitor's Emblem
Encyclopedia
The Traitor's Emblem is a 2011 bestselling thriller novel by Juan Gómez-Jurado
originally published in Spain
. It has become an instant bestseller
throughout Europe with more a million copies sold to date, topping the bestsellers list for weeks, and is being translated into 45 languages. The plot is set in Munich
, during the Interwar period
. Led by a German orphan looking for the truth after his father death and a Jewish-American photographer, it is inspired by a true story related to the Holocaust and the rise of Nazism
. Several historical personalities appear on the novel as secondary characters. The Traitor's Emblem won won the prestigious Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja
, being Juan Gómez-Jurado the youngest author in History in receiving this award.
Munich
, 1919. After his family falls into disgrace, 15-year-old Paul Reiner and his mother work as servants in the mansion of Baron von Schroeder, whose wife is Paul’s mother’s own sister. Unhappy and full of despair, Paul dreams of the heroic father he never knew. His mother speaks very little of him, and the von Schroeders revile his memory. To make matters worse, Paul’s cousin Jürgen hounds him at every turn, making his life almost unbearable. But one night, Paul accidentally learns that his father didn't die in the First World War, as he had always been told. He was killed by someone very close to him, and for unclear reasons. This discovery turns Paul's world upside down and from that moment, Paul sacrifices everything to discover the truth behind his father's death. His quest for the truth brings him into contact with Alys Tannenbaum, a Jewish-American photographer, with whom he feels an immediate connection. But Germany during the early 20th century is fraught with danger and racism, and Paul and Alys’s love is constantly tested.
There is also a number of secondary real life characters, e.g. Adolf Hitler
, Reinhard Heydrich
, Adolf Eichmann
and many others. The novel also depicts the early days of Dachau concentration camp.
In Juan Gómez-Jurado’s own words: “Juan Carlos González told me the story of how the patrol boat on which his father had served had saved four mysterious Germans from drowning in the Straits of Gibraltar, and how one of them paid him back with a gold emblem before vanishing in the night. He never knew who they were or where they came from."
González actually showed him the emblem. Intrigued, Gómez-Jurado began a journey of research that took him across four countries and led him to discover that it was a Masonic emblem worth $1 million that Hitler had made to reward a high-level Nazi who infiltrated the Freemasons. Gomez-Jurado believed that "the story behind this mysterious emblem was so astounding that it deserved to be a central point in my next novel".
praised the book as a "Riveting, redeeming love story [...] with a villain so evil he makes Hitler look like a pretty nice fellow"
The Traitor's Emblem won won the prestigious Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja
. Financially, it is one of the most valuable literary prizes in the world, with the winner receiving more than $500,000 dollars. Gómez-Jurado is the youngest author in receiving this award. Said the president of the jury, “When we the members of the jury met to vote the winner of the award, there were no surprises. We unanimously acclaimed The Traitor's Emblem. The real surprise came when we broke the sealed envelope that kept the name of the author, and we discovered that such a complex, brilliant and dark story was written by a 30-year-old man.”
Juan Gómez-Jurado
Juan Gómez-Jurado is an award-winning Spanish journalist and bestselling author. Currently, he is a columnist in "La Voz de Galicia," and "ABC", distributed in Spain, and he participates in several radio and TV programs...
originally published in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It has become an instant bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
throughout Europe with more a million copies sold to date, topping the bestsellers list for weeks, and is being translated into 45 languages. The plot is set in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, during the Interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
. Led by a German orphan looking for the truth after his father death and a Jewish-American photographer, it is inspired by a true story related to the Holocaust and the rise of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. Several historical personalities appear on the novel as secondary characters. The Traitor's Emblem won won the prestigious Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja
Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja
The Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja is a Spanish literary prize, awarded since 2001 by the publisher Plaza & Janés to an original unpublished novel written in Spanish...
, being Juan Gómez-Jurado the youngest author in History in receiving this award.
Plot summary
The Straits of Gibraltar, 1940. In the heart of a storm at sea, Spanish captain González rescues a group of German castaways. When the torrent subsides, the leader of the survivors gratefully offers the captain a strange-looking emblem made of gold and diamonds, in exchange for safe passage to the coast of Portugal instead of Spain. Decades later, in 2009, the son of captain González receives a substantial offer for the emblem. He does not sell it, but the would-be buyer reveals an astounding story behind that mysterious object: it holds the key to Paul Reiner’s lifelong quest...Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, 1919. After his family falls into disgrace, 15-year-old Paul Reiner and his mother work as servants in the mansion of Baron von Schroeder, whose wife is Paul’s mother’s own sister. Unhappy and full of despair, Paul dreams of the heroic father he never knew. His mother speaks very little of him, and the von Schroeders revile his memory. To make matters worse, Paul’s cousin Jürgen hounds him at every turn, making his life almost unbearable. But one night, Paul accidentally learns that his father didn't die in the First World War, as he had always been told. He was killed by someone very close to him, and for unclear reasons. This discovery turns Paul's world upside down and from that moment, Paul sacrifices everything to discover the truth behind his father's death. His quest for the truth brings him into contact with Alys Tannenbaum, a Jewish-American photographer, with whom he feels an immediate connection. But Germany during the early 20th century is fraught with danger and racism, and Paul and Alys’s love is constantly tested.
Characters in The Traitor's Emblem
- Paul Reiner — The leading character, an orphan looking for the identity of his father's murderer.
- Alys Tanenbaum— A Jewish-American photographer.
- Jurgen Von Schroeder — Paul's cousin, an S.S. Officer.
There is also a number of secondary real life characters, e.g. Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, Reinhard Heydrich
Reinhard Heydrich
Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich , also known as The Hangman, was a high-ranking German Nazi official.He was SS-Obergruppenführer and General der Polizei, chief of the Reich Main Security Office and Stellvertretender Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia...
, Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Otto Eichmann was a German Nazi and SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust...
and many others. The novel also depicts the early days of Dachau concentration camp.
The real-life story behind the novel
The Traitor's Emblem it is inspired by a real-life story that Gómez-Jurado heard first-hand from a bookseller named Juan Carlos González. Gómez-Jurado told González the rough plot of a novel he was researching at the time, but González told Gómez-Jurado “Do you want me to tell you a story that really deserves to be turned into a novel?”. The novelist accepted.In Juan Gómez-Jurado’s own words: “Juan Carlos González told me the story of how the patrol boat on which his father had served had saved four mysterious Germans from drowning in the Straits of Gibraltar, and how one of them paid him back with a gold emblem before vanishing in the night. He never knew who they were or where they came from."
González actually showed him the emblem. Intrigued, Gómez-Jurado began a journey of research that took him across four countries and led him to discover that it was a Masonic emblem worth $1 million that Hitler had made to reward a high-level Nazi who infiltrated the Freemasons. Gomez-Jurado believed that "the story behind this mysterious emblem was so astounding that it deserved to be a central point in my next novel".
Critical reception and Awards
In the USA, Kirkus ReviewsKirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus . Kirkus serves the book and literary trade sector, including libraries, publishers, literary and film agents, film and TV producers and booksellers. Kirkus Reviews is published on the first and 15th of each month...
praised the book as a "Riveting, redeeming love story [...] with a villain so evil he makes Hitler look like a pretty nice fellow"
The Traitor's Emblem won won the prestigious Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja
Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja
The Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja is a Spanish literary prize, awarded since 2001 by the publisher Plaza & Janés to an original unpublished novel written in Spanish...
. Financially, it is one of the most valuable literary prizes in the world, with the winner receiving more than $500,000 dollars. Gómez-Jurado is the youngest author in receiving this award. Said the president of the jury, “When we the members of the jury met to vote the winner of the award, there were no surprises. We unanimously acclaimed The Traitor's Emblem. The real surprise came when we broke the sealed envelope that kept the name of the author, and we discovered that such a complex, brilliant and dark story was written by a 30-year-old man.”