"Hornet Flight," by Ken Follett

“Hornet Flight,” by Ken Follett, (New York: Penguin Putnam Inc.; 2002), 420 pages.

The Second World War is the backdrop to many works of fiction. Some books take us to the center of the action at the front lines, while others take us the machinations of high command. “Hornet Flight” takes us to occupied Denmark at the beginning of the Nazi occupation, and provides the reader a mixture of frontline action and central command politics. The exact time in which this story is based is significant because during this time Danish citizens decided whether their loyalties were with their Nazi occupiers, or with their desire for freedom and the emerging Danish resistance movement. The dichotomy, or moral and ethical choice between good and evil drives this story, and sets up the narrative's major theme, namely the struggle between men on whether to live their lives on the side of good, or to live their lives on the side of evil.

Follett places these issues firmly in the minds of his characters as they are confronted with a growing realization that their Nazi occupiers are capable of immense cruelty, terror and wickedness. In the center of this morality fight are two extended Danish families, one is the family of a church pastor, another their long-time family rival. The pastor’s family become sympathetic to the fledgling Danish resistance, and through a series of actions of helping out friends and family, makes themselves enemies of the Nazi occupiers. Their rival family, especially one member with a strong grudge against them, is sympathetic to the Nazi's and seeks their favors, ingratiates himself with them and becomes their lackey. His persecution of suspected spies and suspected resistance members brings him into conflict with his old family rivals, whom he mercilessly hunts down, especially when he suspects them of having discovered a secret Nazi weapon. The pastor's family becomes instrumental in obtaining intelligence information and photos that must be sent to London by a certain date to ensure the greater success of the allied aerial bombing of Germany.

Follett is a masterful storyteller who tells big stories through the lives of individuals. Although this is fiction, Follett tells the important part played by resistance fighters and spies in helping secure information vital to the long-term success of the allied bombing effort. With this skill in entwining the lives of everyday people with actual events, Follett tells a fabulous story that both entertains the reader and provides hours of enjoyment. Don't think this is a war novel - its not. The war is a backdrop, but the real story is the drama of everyday life including betrayal, love, violence, loyalty, dedication to duty, dedication to family, and the issues we face everyday, particularly, what to do in life when given a choice between the easy and ignoble path, or the difficult and right path in life. If these are the things that interest you in novels, then this is a book that you will enjoy.