The Glass Pearls

By Emeric Pressburger,

Book cover of The Glass Pearls

Book description

For fans of The Passenger, this thrilling tale of an ex-Nazi surgeon hiding in plain sight in 1960s London by the celebrated filmmaker is a lost noir gem, introduced by Anthony Quinn and narrated on audio by Mark Gatiss.

'Stunning: incredibly good, tense and compelling and morally complex.' Ian Rankin…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Glass Pearls as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Pressburger is better known as half of the film duo Powell and Pressburger, but The Glass Pearls shows he missed a career when he went into film. 

Karl Braun, the protagonist of this book, is an escaped Nazi living in London some years after the end of World War II. He attempts to have a life, but lives in constant fear of being found and rounded up (yes, the book is aware of this irony). 

The “quiet cruelty” comes from the fact that, like it or not, Pressburger’s wonderful ability at portraying Braun’s interior and his fear make the reader…

From Emilia's list on subtle cruelty.

Want books like The Glass Pearls?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Glass Pearls.

Browse books like The Glass Pearls

Book cover of A Dark-Adapted Eye
Book cover of A Helping Hand
Book cover of Before the Fact

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in war criminals, London, and presidential biography?

War Criminals 14 books
London 862 books