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The Review - BOOKS - JEWISH BOOK WEEK
Published: 21 February 2008

Marcel Berlins

Casting a fictional eye on history

Lawyer Marcel Berlins considers how plots are rooted in true and momentous events of the past

CAN you imagine Sigmund Freud being called on to help unravel the mystery behind a violent death?
Or the true story finally being revealed of an unsolved political assassination that changed the course of German history?
Both are templates for two books which use historical figures and events as the basis for novels: and both writers are joining Kentish Town-based lawyer turned Guardian columnist Marcel Berlins to discuss their works at the festival.
Jed Rubenfeld’s book The Interpretation of Murder features Sigmund Freud as a Hercule Poirot character delving into a violent crime and using his psychoanalytical powers to solve it. Rubenfeld’s story was inspired by a trip taken by Freud. He had visited America just once, in 1909, and was well received. However, he seemed to not enjoy his stay and developed a dislike of the USA. And to odd to the mixture of real events and fiction, other historical characters crop up, including Carl Jung and a number of American politicians.
Jonathan Rabb’s story, Rosa, presents a solution to an enduring mystery. Rosa Luxemburg and her comrade Karl Liebnecht were left-wing leaders in Berlin: both were killed in January 1919. Karl’s body was found the day after he disappeared, while Rosa’s was only found months later. Rabb has created a theory as to what happened to Rosa– and uses the backdrop of a city in violent, revolutionary turmoil to tell the story of the investigation into her disappearance.
Mr Berlins chairs the discussion and believes that drawing on historical events gives the authors a brilliant starting point – but also offers a unique challenge.
He said: “Using a historical event is a tricky premise. What do you want to do? Write a biography or a mystery story? There are people who are very knowledgeable about Sigmund Freud and may say: well, this is ?all very well, but he would never have said this, that and the other.
“I imagine if you make him too real it might interrupt with the story, but then if you don’t perhaps people who know a lot about Sigmund Freud will find it hard to accept it?
“There is a whole conversation between Freud and Jung and it is terrific. But I am sure there will be a letter from a Freudian pointing out a mistake.”
And the same problems face Rabb as he writes about Rosa.
Mr Berlins said: “He has researched it wonderfully but you have to remember he is putting forward a fictional interpretation of what happened. Has he solved a mystery? He admits the theory is one of many possibilities. Regardless, it is a very interesting book.”

DAN CARRIER

• Marcel Berlins chairs the discussion on the Interpretation of History at 2pm on Sunday March 2

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