The Einstein Vendetta: Hitler, Mussolini, and a True Story of Murder [Hardcover]

A true crime investigation into the murder of the relatives of Albert Einstein, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Florence during WWII.

Florence, August 1944. Fifteen miles southeast of the city, a unit of German soldiers arrive at Il Focardo, the home of Robert Einstein, first cousin of the famous scientist Albert Einstein. Nearby, Robert is hiding out in the Tuscan countryside, while his wife and daughters remain in the villa. Twelve hours later, Nina, Luce, and Anna-Maria are brutally murdered.

InThe Einstein Vendetta, Thomas Harding recounts the story of an unthinkable crime, one that unspools to reveal Italy’s brutal wartime history—its fall to fascism, antisemitism, and bitter partisanship—and a family’s search for justice. Vividly told, Harding threads history and detective story to build an unquiet, haunting testimony.Thomas Hardingis a bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 16 languages. He has written for theSunday Times, theWashington Post, andThe Guardian, among other publications. He is the bestselling author ofHanns and Rudolf, which won the JQ-Wingate Prize for Non-Fiction;The House by the Lake, which was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award;Blood on the Page, which won the Crime Writers' Association Golden Dagger Award for Non-Fiction; and most recently,White Debt. Harding’s previous books have beenSunday Timesbestsellers, prize-winning publications and praised by authors including John le Carré, Ben Macintyre, and Max Hastings."Harding skillfully and suspensefully recounts the events, their aftermath and the struggles of other earnest investigators over the decades to bring the perpetrators to justice."Washington Post"Devastating and cinematic, it’s a grim and gripping whodunit."Publishers Weekly"Thomas Harding lóŽ