All That I Am

All That I Am moves between two narratives: Ruth Becker in Sydney in 2001 and Ernst Toller in New York in 1939. The story centers on their memories of pre-war Germany and their time as political exiles in London during the 1930s. Ruth and her cousin Dora become involved in left-wing activism in 1920s Germany, along with Ruth's husband Hans Wesemann and the playwright Ernst Toller. As Hitler rises to power, they flee to London where they work to alert the world about Nazi Germany's growing threat. The novel is based on real historical figures, though Funder has reconstructed aspects of their lives and relationships where historical records are incomplete. The events unfold through Ruth and Toller's perspectives as they reflect on their past experiences from different points in time. The novel explores themes of political resistance, moral courage, and the cost of standing up against totalitarianism. Through its dual timelines, it examines how memory and trauma shape our understanding of historical events and personal truth.

Readers appreciate the historical insight into anti-Nazi resistance movements and German political exiles in the 1930s. Many note the compelling portrayal of real-life figures like Dora Fabian and the detailed research behind the narrative. Readers highlight the strength of Ruth's character development and voice, with several commenting on the emotional depth of her retrospective segments. The London and Berlin settings receive praise for their authenticity. Common criticisms focus on the dual timeline structure, which some readers find confusing and disjointed. Several mention difficulty following the multiple perspectives and large cast of characters. Some reviews note that the pacing slows in the middle sections. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (380+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (290+ ratings) "The historical elements fascinate but the narrative structure requires concentration," notes one Amazon reviewer. "Brilliant research gets bogged down by complicated storytelling," writes another on Goodreads.

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Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky Written during World War II before the author's death at Auschwitz, this work captures the German occupation of France through interconnected narratives of civilians, soldiers, and refugees.

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★ The book won the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2012, Australia's most significant literary prize, making Funder the first debut novelist to win in five years ★ Anna Funder spent five years researching and writing the book, including extensive interviews with the real Ruth Becker (Ruth Blatt) in Sydney before her death ★ The character of Dora Fabian was based on a real activist who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in London in 1935, with many suspecting Nazi involvement ★ Before writing fiction, Funder worked as an international lawyer and documentary filmmaker, experiences that influenced her detailed approach to historical research ★ The book is partially inspired by Funder's earlier non-fiction work "Stasiland," which explored stories of resistance in East Germany and won the Samuel Johnson Prize in 2004