ABOUT
THE BOOK

The return of Bertolt Brecht to East Berlin in 1948 after years in exile is a cause of considerable excitement, not least for the theatrical world, and he is encouraged to find an outlet for his creative genius by establishing the Berliner Ensemble. But equally watchful of his every action are the secret police, anxious to learn exactly how far his Communist sympathies extend. Recruiting Maria Eich, Brecht’s young lover, into their service, they unleash an influence over the playwright that will shape even his work.