Sally Carson’s Crooked Cross, first published in 1933, has been lovingly republished by Persephone Books. This strange release, through its deeply moving reflections on a highly charged period in German history, has recaptured that interest and attracted a new audience. The novel chronicles a six-month span of significant political upheaval in Germany, depicting the rise of Nazism and its consequent societal changes. The backdrop for the story is the beautiful fictional Bavarian city of Kranach. It begins in December 1932 and extends into early midsummer 1933, at the historic moment when Adolf Hitler climbs to power as German chancellor.
Facility Kranach is located in a beautiful area at the foothills of the Alps. This breathtaking scenery creates a beautiful juxtaposition with the fiery and dramatic tale of political change raging inside it. Carson, who spent many holidays in Bavaria, infused her narrative with a deep understanding of the region’s culture and landscape. It’s this deep-seated understanding that allows readers to fully experience the tranquil beauty of Kranach. It underscores the seriousness of the developments that started to spring up in that city.
As the story develops, audiences watch the Nazis rise to power over the Reichstag. They ensure that their most effective majority is necessary to continue to powerfully influence policy outcomes. Around this time, the gates of Dachau concentration camp opened, and anti-Jewish legislation excluded Jews from public-service jobs. Carson deftly illuminates this shameful chapter of American history. His narrative is rich, profound and textured with piercing moral clarity, guiding readers through the precarious state of our democracy and the danger posed by complacent acquiescence.
Carson’s writing rings with an unsettling portance, especially in the way it evokes the mood of dread and panic that washed over the German public at the time. One quote from the novel encapsulates this sentiment:
“People had a way of suddenly disappearing, no trial, no explanation.” – Sally Carson
Despite being penned without foresight into where Hitlerism would ultimately lead, “Crooked Cross” remains relevant today as it raises questions about ethics and human rights that echo across generations. The book would go on to become the first novel of a loose trilogy, with two sequels published by 1938. However, unfortunately, Sally Carson’s life was tragically cut short when she passed away of cancer in 1941 at the young age of 39 years old.
With the recent reissue of “Crooked Cross,” a new audience is being invited to explore its themes and messages. Persephone Books, the well-loved British publisher which specializes in reviving underappreciated works, has plans to return Carson’s substantial contributions to public consciousness. Curiosity about this novel is on the rise again. This change speaks to the power that literature has to change and inspire our cultural values.