Dirk Reinhardt and Rachel Ward

Dirk Reinhardt, born in 1963, studied German and history before becoming a freelance journalist and starting to write books for children and young adults.

In this episode, he talks with Nikki Gamble about the background to his novel the Edelweiss Pirates and his reasons for writing it. The novel's translator Rachel Ward assists with interpretation.

About Edelweiss Pirates

When sixteen-year-old Daniel befriends Josef Gerlach, he has a feeling the old man is keeping something from him, and sure enough, when Josef gives him his teenage diary to read Daniel discovers a shocking story of rebellion and struggle. It tells how Gerlach left the Hitler Youth at the age of 14 and instead joined a gang called the Edelweiss Pirates. Their uniform: long hair and cool clothes. Their motto: freedom! At first, the Edelweiss Pirates are only interested in hanging out and having a good time, but as the situation in Nazi Germany gets worse, they start to plan dangerous missions against Hitler’s regime.

The deeper Daniel dives into this past world, the more closely he feels connected to Gerlach, until he realises what the Edelweiss Pirates have to do with him and his own story.

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In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. It is produced by Alison Hughes.

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