The Order of the Day

The Order of the Day examines two pivotal moments in the lead-up to World War II: a 1933 meeting between German industrialists and Nazi officials, and the 1938 annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. This Prix Goncourt-winning work blends historical fact with narrative technique to reconstruct key behind-the-scenes events. The book focuses on the actions and decisions of powerful figures in business and politics whose choices had monumental consequences. Part historical analysis and part literary narrative, Vuillard's work showcases the small details, forgotten moments, and seemingly minor meetings that culminated in world-changing events. The Order of the Day serves as a stark reminder about how political catastrophes often result from a series of mundane bureaucratic steps and quiet compromises by ordinary people in positions of influence.

Readers highlight the book's unique blend of historical facts and literary narrative, with many noting how it reveals lesser-known details about Nazi Germany's rise. Several reviews mention the accessible length and clear writing style. Positive reviews focus on: - Makes history feel immediate and relevant - Strong prose translation from French - Effective use of small moments to illustrate larger historical patterns - Concise storytelling that maintains impact Common criticisms: - Unclear transitions between scenes - Difficult to follow without prior WWII knowledge - Some readers found the writing style pretentious - Questions about which parts are fact vs. literary license Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (5,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (480+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Shows how corporate greed and political cowardice enabled fascism through seemingly minor compromises" - Goodreads reviewer Several book club discussions note it works well for group reading due to its multiple interpretation points.

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★ The book won France's most prestigious literary award, the Prix Goncourt, in 2017, selling over 400,000 copies within months of its win ★ The 25 German industrialists featured in the book's secret meeting collectively controlled assets worth about $600 billion in today's money, demonstrating the immense economic power behind Nazi support ★ Author Éric Vuillard is also a celebrated filmmaker, having directed the award-winning "L'homme qui marche" (The Man Who Walks) in 2007 ★ The book's original French title "L'Ordre du jour" is a play on words, referring both to the agenda of meetings and the "order of the day" - military parlance for daily commands ★ The events described in the book occurred exactly 80 years before its publication in 2017, creating a powerful temporal connection between past and present