The Great Impersonation

Loved this story! Kept me turning the pages! Lots of twists and turns.

I don't know if this is the best Oppenheim's book as is said in one review, but the story is interesting, as most stories of impersonators are, and the final surprise makes it even very interesting.
The beginning is a bit slow, that's the only minus I see in it.
As in other Oppenheim's books, there is a shadowy espionage theme present, but this time there is also something else: in one of the final chapters you'll find a curious premonition of Hitler's Blitzkrieg and his Third Reich phantasy, with its frontiers nearly exactly drawn.
And a truthful mention of Germany's promoting the Russian revolution and an acrid irony about the freedom the revolution will bring to Russian people (the book was written three years after the revolution).

(1920) Espionage (WWI) / Mystery (Unraveling past events) /Suspense (Political)


R: * * * * *


Plot bullets

Sir Everard Dominey, an Englishman, and Baron Leopold Von Ragastein, a German are old school acquaintances.
They are more that that. The resemblance of the two is remarkable.
Dominey shows up in Africa at the plantation of Baron Von Ragastein, who has been placed there for espionage work for Germany, in case of, or in preparation for war.
Von Ragastein devises a plan to take advantage of an opportunity to switch places with Sir Edward and do some secret work in England, as Sir Edward.
The masquerade will not be easy, as he must deal with Sir Edward's past. And must be prepared to encounter and best these situations:

o Sir Edward left England to flee a possible murder indictment.

o The event mentally effected his wife Rosamund to the point that she may want his life.

o The mother of the man he was supposed to have killed. THis woman is his wife's personal attendant and confidant.

o Rumors of a ghost of the man he was supposed to have killed.

o Von Ragastein's old lover, who is determined to cause trouble.

Under these conditions, and thosed imposed by the war, can any one man keep up, 'The Great Impersonation'.

After reading perhaps eighteen of Oppenheim's novels, including a few I've skimmed through, I conclude he's vastly over-rated despite managing to publish a ton of books.

Impersonation is considered his best (or at least most famous) yet it doesn't come up to snuff. Not a bad writing style, and impersonation stories generally are intriguing when well done (Prisoner of Zenda

Considered one of the Greatest works of Oppenheim.

A great novel. Keeps you wind up till the end.

I finished it in just one reading. It has got everything from mystery, love, politics, espionage, betrayal to superb twists.

A must read.

A great read. It also has a charming love story. A complete novel in many senses.