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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, haunting and unforgettable, The Budgerigar by Anita Philpott is about a friendship between Hilde, the daughter of a Nazi police officer, and Morrie, who is Jewish.
The Budgerigar
The Budgerigar is a fictionalised story inspired by when author Anita Philpott met a woman who grew up in Germany in the run up to WWII. The story of The Budgerigar covers a twelve year period, following the friendship between young Hilde and Morrie, starting in a time of normality, before WWII, then being quickly caught up in the horrors of Nazism, and concluding in 1951.
When Morrie moved in next door to Hilde in 1936, they became best friends at just five years old. But this is Nazi Germany, and the law decrees they cannot remain friends because he is Jewish, and she is the daughter of a Nazi policeman.
For a short time music and culture opens up a new world for Hilde, but it cannot last. Her loving grandparents take in the children and gift them a pet budgerigar.
In Leipzig intimidation and unrest becomes rife and their families are scattered. War breaks out and Morrie and Hilde must part. They do not know where the other one is or if they will ever meet up again. Will any of the family members return home or will they all become victims of the horrors of war? The love of music and the little budgerigar offers us hope for the future.
This giant of a story will touch the hearts and linger with all those that pick up a copy, its poignancy is further elevated when learning that the novel’s cover image is a childhood photograph of the German woman (and her pet budgerigar) who inspired Anita Philpott’s tale.
Anita Philpott
A few years ago I met a lady who had grown up in Germany at the time. She told me how difficult it was growing up then. She also told me she had a little budgerigar that she considered her friend. I asked her if I could use the picture, she had given me of her and the bird. She agreed but she died shortly afterwords. The story is not her story, but she had triggered an interest in the place and time which I then spent a long time researching. The story is completely fictional but inspired by this lady.
Because the novel has young children speaking in its early chapters, I decided to write it as a piece of young adult/historical fiction and maintain appropriate language. However, the very nature of the story, its time and its place has required that adult themes – murder, suicide, homosexuality, rape, starvation and mental illness – are featured. And whilst I’ve spared the reader graphic details on any of these subjects, I hope that these aspects of the story can explored with a young person, when appropriate.
-Anita Philpott
Anita Philpott has many passions in her life. She reads, writes, sculpts, and cooks when she isn’t involved with her expanding and remarkable family or when she is not working as a therapist. She is always up for a challenge.
She has written short stories and poetry all her life and published ‘Helter Skelter’, a book of poetry in 2015. She has dogs and chickens and is the current custodian of an old cottage in a charming Essex village where she lives with her husband.
Find more from Anita Philpott now:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3zqLtrm
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3zeVpEF
Audible: https://amzn.to/4cAbHpK
Apple Audiobook: https://apple.co/4czpg9a
It is also available to purchase from Waterstones and Barnes & Noble
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