The Double Traitor

In the Little, Brown & Co. 1915 edition of E. Phillips Oppenheim's "The Double Traitor," over 40 other titles are referenced among the author's publications. The book sold for $1.35. The tale reads well 97 years later with characters clearly drawn and an interesting plot with twists and turns. Our hero is Francis Norgate who is an English gentleman assigned to the diplomatic corps in Berlin. The novel takes place in the years before the outbreak of WWI. Norgate dines with the lovely Baroness von Haase as a boorish German prince interrupts and demands that Norgate leave. In typical English style, Norgate stands up for the lady who then leaves with him. This causes such a diplomatic scandal that Norgate is recalled to London and booted from the diplomatic corps. On the train home, he meets Selingman who appears to be a German crockery merchant. Norgate soon learns that Selingman is a German spy who heads a large network of intelligence in Britain. The radical British government in power has put great money into social programs and cut defense, meanwhile Germany continues to arm itself. Norgate goes to Mr. Hebblethwaite, the one cabinet minister he knows, and tries to warn him of the spy network and his worries of war. Hebblethwaite doesn't take Norgate seriously. Soon Norgate allows himself to be recruited as a German spy so that he can learn more about their operation. The plot continues forth with many pre-WWWI countries and politics cited as a backdrop. Oppenheim does a good job of telling the story and making you want to get to the next chapter, that the book flies by. Perhaps a bit dated in the way that Baroness von Hasse marries Norgate and then claims that he is her protector, it nevertheless is sweetly flavored by their sedate romance. I enjoyed this novel and would like to read more by this author who was so popular a century ago. Enjoy!

The Double Traitor is an espionage novel set in the days leading to the first World War. It presents a fascinating picture of the political mindset of the day to go along with the twists and turns of the story. It was a gentler time (at least in fiction), and the prose and characters have an elegance rarely found in more modern fiction.E Phillips Oppenheim was a prolific author, and I have enjoyed many of his novels. Another excellent book from WWI era is The Great Impersonation. Most often, Oppenheim books must be found in the dusty recesses of used book stores (or bibliofind or abebooks one the net), so it is nice to see a new printing available.