Description
By: Edward Phillips Oppenheim (1866-1946)
I recently finished reading a gripping thriller by Edward Phillips Oppenheim called The Great Impersonation. The story follows the protagonist, who becomes entangled in a web of deceit and espionage as he assumes the identity of a long-lost acquaintance with a dark past.
The plot is filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. I was captivated by the intricate details of the characters and their motivations, which added depth to the narrative.
Oppenheim’s writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the world he has created. The pacing of the story is perfect, with a perfect balance of action, suspense, and intrigue.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Great Impersonation to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller with a touch of espionage and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and couldn’t put it down until I reached the very end.
Book Description:
E. Phillips Oppenheim, an English novelist created well in excess of 100 novels and 30 plus collections of short stories. Most of his tales are thrillers and espionage. The Great Impersonation was written following World War I and is considered by many to be perhaps his best novel. The story focuses on German espionage in England prior to the start of World War I. The tale centers on two characters that are almost identical in appearance. Indeed, while both attend the same school in England, they are often mistaken for one another. One character is Sir Everard Dominey, an English baronet who enjoys the “good life” but falls into disfavor when he is accused of murdering Roger Unthank. Unthank, of the same village, has an infatuation for Dominey’s wife, Rosamund, and attacks Dominey. Dominey comes before his wife bloody and ragged after the struggle with Unthank. The spectacle renders her unbalanced. This is more than Dominey can bear and he goes on a long travel and drinking binge spanning years. Dominey’s wife threatens to kill him if he ever returns. The second character is Baron Leopold von Ragastein, a German nobleman. Von Ragastein has fallen into disrespect with the Kaiser for his affair with a Hungarian princess and subsequent killing of her nobleman husband in a duel. He is banished to a minor government position in East Africa as punishment. A chance encounter between Dominey and von Ragastein in German East Africa sets the pretext for the story. Von Ragastein returns to England as Dominey, to regain his position in society, and serve Germany by influencing England to keep out of the coming conflict. There is one problem however: there are some, including Dominey’s wife, who are not convinced that Sir Everard Dominey is really who he claims to be. You will need to listen to the end to determine the truth.
