U visokom društvu

"In High Society" is the third installment of the grandiose historical saga "The Magnificent Century" by the celebrated Swedish writer Jan Guillou. The novel is set in the turbulent 1930s and covers the period from Adolf Hitler's rise to power to the very beginning of World War II, following the further fate of the wealthy and influential Lauritzen family. The story centers on the eldest brother Lauritz, who lives in high society in Sweden and Berlin, remaining blind to the increasingly dangerous political turmoil in Germany due to his own fascination with German culture and class privileges. His children, growing up in high society, take completely opposite positions: daughter Johanna joins the anti-fascist resistance movement in Norway, while son Harald becomes fascinated by Nazi ideology and joins the SS. Through these stark family polarizations, Guillou masterfully depicts how ideological fanaticism and the impending catastrophe of war destroy the strongest family ties, and how members of the upper class grapple with moral dilemmas in a time of total collapse of humanity. Written in extraordinary detail, with a deep understanding of historical context, political economy, and social relations, "In High Society" is a thrilling and instructive chronicle of Europe's twilight era and an impressive achievement of contemporary historical fiction.