Please note, this book is currently only available in the original language, German. Martina Wildner’s “Queen of the Diving Board”, is a compelling work of historical fiction for young adults that plunges readers into the complex world of post-war Germany. The story follows the intertwined destinies of Karl and his mother, Traudl, as they navigate the shifting social and political landscapes of the 1950s. We meet Traudl as a young, ambitious diver in 1936, her Olympic dreams set against the backdrop of the rising Third Reich. The narrative then moves to 1957, where Karl, haunted by the mysterious legacy of his celebrated mother, grapples with the silence and secrets that cloud his family’s past. The story skillfully weaves together their parallel journeys of ambition, sacrifice, and the search for truth in a nation still bearing the fresh scars of war.
The novel deftly explores the turbulent currents of mid-20th century German history, from the fervent nationalism of the Nazi era to the uneasy process of Vergangenheitsbewältigung, or coming to terms with the past, in the Federal Republic. Wildner immerses readers in the specific cultural atmosphere of the time, where the glamour of athletic achievement could not erase the moral compromises made under a totalitarian regime. It provides a powerful platform for discussing how ordinary people are swept up in historical events and the enduring impact of collective guilt and memory on subsequent generations, fostering empathy and a more sophisticated global perspective.
