Magnificently researched book with the historic context bringing the events to life as they happened. The identification of potential culprits presented some closure on the horrid events which occurred during the war in Europe. It also serves as a reminder of the atrocities that can arise when there are grievances between individuals or autocracies, but the flip side is that investigators did as much as humanly possible to identify the murderer. The writer should be commended for his diligence in unearthing the complex information, much of which dates from events which occurred over 80 years ago.

The Einstein Vendetta by Thomas Harding is a harrowing yet deeply compelling exploration of a forgotten atrocity from World War Two. In the summer of 1944, as the German army retreats from Italy, soldiers descend upon Villa Il Focardo, home to Robert Einstein—cousin of the famed physicist Albert Einstein. Within hours, three members of his family are murdered, leaving behind questions that have haunted survivors for decades.

Harding masterfully reconstructs the events surrounding this horrific crime, delving into the questions of who ordered it, who carried it out, and why justice was never served. His writing is both evocative and restrained, allowing the weight of the tragedy to speak for itself without sensationalism. Through meticulous research, he brings to life the people involved, their fears, and the brutal realities of war-torn Italy.

Before reading this, I knew little about Einstein’s family or the situation in Italy during the latter part of the war. Harding’s gripping narrative not only sheds light on this forgotten history but also offers a sobering reflection on the limits of justice. While the perpetrators escaped accountability, this book ensures that the voices of the victims are heard, echoing through time.

A powerful and eye-opening read, The Einstein Vendetta is both a historical investigation and a poignant act of remembrance.

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A fascinating dive into a little known horror from World War 2.

1944. The German's are being pushed out of Italy by the Allies. The cousin of world famous scientist Albert Einstein is living quietly with his wife and two children. In the course of a day, three will be murdered by German soldiers.

But why? who?

These are the questions the writer sets out to solve. Skilfully, he paints a picture of that time, and the people living within it. He is able to capture the feelings and events of those terrible days with not only evocative emotion but also tact. There is no dramatic gore and horror for the sake of it - the story is horrific enough, and it shows.

I knew nothing about Einstein's family before reading this, and very little of late WW2 Italy, so it was an eye-opening read that kept me turning page after page.

The mystery of who, the various suspects that were uncovered as time went on was enthralling. Justice has not been done to the family - after so long, justice perhaps can never be done. But this book goes a long way towards giving these long forgotten victims their voice, their anguish but also their love echoing through the years.

Perhaps that, in some small way, is justice.

Most of the world is aware in the brilliant physicist Albert Einstein however, how many know of his first cousin Roberto, who took his own life in July 1945 after his wife and daughters were murdered by German soldiers a year previously. The very complex history of the Einstein family, their achievements, persecution and the final tragedy of Roberto and his immediate family are told in this detailed chronology of their lives.
The account is the result of painstaking research that started in the immediate aftermath of the murders and continued in subsequent decades and the author spent years collating the disparate information into this very readable book. It can best be described as a non-fiction tragedy set in wartime Italy because of the ‘vendetta’ set off by Hitlers’ hatred of Albert Einstein, who was unreachable as he was living in the USA since 1933. Consequently, Albert’s immediate family was targeted.
An enthralling book that casts fresh eyes on an old story with many new facts to absorb.

Great story but sad in many ways.
Hopefully we all can learn from the past.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

Robert Einstein was one of Albert Einstein's cousins. He was residing in Italy, which was home to him and his family for many years, when something terrible happened.
This memoir is Harding's exploration of the accounting of what happened/what might have happened to Robert Einstein and his family.
It is a result of his personal interest, connection and extensive research to do justice to this family.
Harding's writing is engaging and the unresolved crime, with its brutality, haunts you after reading the book.
I hope the crime is resolved one day.