Transcription

by Kate Atkinson

It was such a hopeful time of year and yet Denmark had just surrendered and the Germans had taken Oslo and set up a government under Quisling. Poland, Norway, Denmark—Hitler was collecting countries like stamps. How long before he had the full set?

Juliet could still remember when Hitler had seemed like a harmless clown. No one was amused now. (“The clowns are the dangerous ones,” Perry said.)

(“Do not equate nationalism with patriotism,” Perry warned Juliet. “Nationalism is the first step on the road to Fascism.”)

“Human nature favors the tribal. Tribalism engenders violence. It was ever thus and so it will ever be.”

People always said they wanted the truth, but really they were perfectly content with a facsimile.