Fred Uhlman was a lawyer, writer and artist who lived between 1901-1985. Of German and Jewish heritage, he left Germany in 1933, eventually settling in England in 1936.
Fred Uhlman's novella, Reunion was gifted to me as a Christmas present when I was a young teenager. At the time, I remember being profoundly affected by the book, which is why I have never parted with it. It was timely too because the age of the boys in the book mirrored my own age and for a while, I was schooled in a similar milieu. It was a revelatory book, addressing issues as wide ranging as intimacy, friendship, parental/societal influence, politics, class, grief, anger and idealism.
Set predominantly in the pre world war two German town of Stuttgart, it is written from the perspective of the son of a doctor, Hans Schwarz. Hans attends a boys school when one day, a new pupil arrives, Konradin Graf von Hohenfels. Konradin's family is steeped in the history of the region and carries an air of cultured nobility and privilege. Hans is besotted with Konradin and dreams of befriending him - this eventuates. However, the friendship is not all it seems and it reveals itself to be a one-sided affair affected greatly by the prevailing scape-goating of the misfortunes of the German nation towards the Jewish population. Separation ensues and the protaganist leaves Germany and in the space of a chapter, Hans is an adult based in America. This is where the final chapters of the book take place towards its surprising and sobering conclusion.
Reunion is a novella of one hundred and twelve pages and while brief, it's breadth and impact far outweigh it's economy. Personally, it confronted learned ideas, whether through typecasting people and more importantly, exposing racism. The milieu of the books protagonists are the gentrified middle and upper classes. Reunion also deals with a loss of innocence that seems the more cruel through Hans' loss of a close friend via Konradin's conformity to his parents expectations. Hans' loss happens within the then unfolding Nazi parties ascent to government in 1930's Germany - it is directly attributable to the wider social upheaval occuring at the time. Reunion also looks at the relationships between Hans and his parents in a frank manner that shocked me at the time, particularly his depiction of his mother. On rereading, it's gender bias and emphasis is male centric.
The political currents of the time are mentioned, though briefly, whether the prevailing Nazis and their foes, the Communists. Perhaps more surprisingly, for my then young self, was mention of Zionists (new to me at the time - they sounded like something out of Dr Who) - a new unknown to me. Given the horrifying events unfolding in Palestine/Israel currently, their inclusion within the narrative is prescient. Their mention indicates Uhlman's political sensitivity, although, whether it happened and was couched in a fictional character, I don't know. When visited by a Zionist seeking donations for Israel, Hans relates:
"I still remember a violent discussion between my father and a Zionist who had come to collect money for Israel. My father abhorred Zionism. The whole idea seemed to him stark mad. To claim Palestine after two thousand years made no more sense than the Italians claiming Germany because it was once occupied by the Romans. It could only lead to endless bloodshed and the Jews would have to fight the whole Arab world. And anyway, what had he a Stuttgarter, to do with Jerusalem?" Reunion, Fred Uhlman. Collins and Harvill Press, 1977. London
On re-reading, Reunion remains a significantly affecting book. Arthur Koestler's forward is a reassuring endorsement. It reminds me how hatred, righteousness and dehumanising people remains and is becoming a prevailing current throughout the world, within local communities and on a wider scale. Has it ever been otherwise? Addressing and overcoming such futile attitudes and practices, begins and can end with our own self-appraisal and honesty. It deftly addresses how sometimes, lost in our suppositions, we get it terribly wrong. I hope it's still available for discovery by yourself or others.
Reunion inspired a film which was released in 1989. Produced by Jerry Schatzberg, it was co-written by Harold Pinter for the film and featured Jason Robards, Christien Anholt and Samuel West amongst the cast.
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