This book cannot be read dispassionately. The portraits are vivid and alive. I fell in love with some characters and despised others ... A city is the sum of its people and LeBor juggles numerous stories with astounding agility, constructing an engrossing narrative without ever losing his way ... The book mirrors life - adversity mingling with joy. It deserves to be read twice, first to appreciate Budapest's complicated story and then to immerse oneself in the prose.

Gerard de Groot, The Times BOOK OF THE WEEK

Excellent…a revolving cast of Zionist secret agents, Polish refugees and American diplomats populate Mr LeBor's account….[His] history is valuable not only for its thoroughness, but also its timeliness.

The Economist

Brilliant ... LeBor creates a compelling story of one of the least remembered episodes of recent European history.

Irish Times

LeBor skilfully depicts the war years in Budapest.

The Spectator

Powerful

Daily Mail

An immaculately researched book, written in a fluent and engaging style and an important addition to the library of Second World War histories.

Aspects of History