Summary of The Order of the Day
“The Order of the Day” is a short book – more an essay than a novel – about the annexation of Austria by Nazi-Germany in 1938. In its first part, the book describes how Germany’s top manufacturers supported the Nazi party since the 1933 German elections. In its second part, it describes the events of the “Anschluss” (the German pressure on the Austrian politicians, the atmosphere in the streets of Vienna, etc.).
Reasons to read The Order of the DayÂ
In its introduction, Eric Vuillard’s work is an indictment of the German captains of industry who backed the Nazi regime for its “pro-business” stance. The main part of the book details the events, intimidations and propaganda surrounding the “Anschluss” of Austria. In 2017, “The Order of the Day” won the Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary award.
Setting: Austria, Germany, United Kingdom
Book set in Austria (Vienna); Germany (Berlin, Berchtesgaden); and the United Kingdom (London)
Original title: L’Ordre du jour
Year of publication: 2017
Nr of pages: 144
