Saints and Villains

IN THE CHARNEL HOUSE THAT WAS EUROPE IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THERE WERE FEW INSTANCES OF SHINING MORAL COURAGE, LET ALONE SECULAR SAINTHOOD. DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, THE GERMAN THEOLOGIAN AND NAZI RESISTER, WAS THE EXCEPTION. THIS EMBLEMATIC FIGURE RISKED HIS LIFE -- AND FINALLY LOST IT -- THROUGH HIS PARTICIPATION IN A FAILED PLOT TO ASSASSINATE HITLER AND TOPPLE HIS REGIME. SAINTS AND VILLAINS GIVES US THIS EXEMPLARY LIFE IN A SWEEPING NARRATIVE THAT IS BOLD IN CONCEPTION AND UTTERLY CONVINCING IN ITS POWER OF IMAGINATIVE RECONSTRUCTION.