Tower of Babel is the first in a projected series of three books, entitled The Berlin Sequence. The series is a gay love story set against the backdrop of Berlin in the 1930s. The story is told through the eyes of three young men, the first from a poor German family, the second from a Jewish merchant family and the third from a famous German automobile family. Each young man is coming of age and trying to find his way in the world of the Third Reich:

The first part of Tower of Babel, set in 1935, introduces the main characters. Lukas, a poor German boy, meets an orthodox Jewish boy, Jacob, at his Papa’s bookshop. Lukas is looking for a record for his mother Gertrude, who sings at a cabaret known to be frequented by Berlin’s demi-monde. Lukas and Jacob become fast friends and decide to compete in rowing at Berlin’s Olympic Games.

At rowing practice, Lukas becomes infatuated with a handsome and mysterious young man named Evan, the son of a rich and famous automobile magnate. Evan convinces Lukas to participate in a book burning organized by the Hitler Youth. The triangle drives a wedge between the Lukas and Jacob.

In the second part of the book, Lukas and Evan compete together in the 1936 Olympic Games, which are opened by Adolf Hitler. They also begin a torrid love affair, when Evan introduces Lukas to ‘the pleasures of homophil love’.

The third part of the book, set in 1937, diverges into two plotlines, the first telling the story of Lukas and Evan’s close-combat experiences while training with the SA (aka the Brownshirts).

The second plotline tells of Jacob turning away from Yahweh and focusing on his science studies in high school, these being more practical in the ‘Brave new world that Germany is building. Soon, German researchers will have split the atom.’

Throughout 1937 the characters’ stories are overshadowed by the existential threat from Hitler’s growing expansionist plans.

Finally, the book culminates in November 1938 with the devastating aftermath of the Kristallnacht riot.

Because we are living through a pandemic and in the grip of a serious war in Eastern Europe, I believe there is a renewed interest not only for stories with gay themes, but stories that deal with existential threats or dystopian themes, for example:

1. At Swim, Two Boys by Jaime O’Neill

2. Fatherland and Munich by Robert Harris

3. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

4. Hitler’s Stolen Children by Ingrid von Oelhafen and Tim Tate

5. The Berlin Girl by Mandy Robotham

6. The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Tower of Babel has been fully drafted and I have started work on the sequel. Readers can help by following my book, sharing it, nominating it, and even better, pre-ordering a copy.

Thank you!