An unforgettable, sweeping novel of espionage, love, and war that reframes our understanding of the first half of the 20th century.

Born into an aristocratic German Jewish family, Ernst Baerwald is a gifted linguist, talented musician, and fearless idealist. When he’s recruited in 1900 to become a spy — his cover working for a company that would become the notorious chemical conglomerate IG Farben — his life becomes an extraordinary adventure spanning two continents, two world wars, and impossible choices that will haunt him forever.

Based on the life of author David Baerwald’s grandfather, The Fire Agent is historical fiction that reads like a thriller. It carries us from 19th-century German idealism to the onset of chemical warfare; from Japan’s organized crime syndicates to FDR’s spy networks; from the Nanking Massacre to the dawn of the Cold War. At its center is the unforgettable character of Ernst — a man who has the courage to fight for what’s right, even when the cost is everything. The Fire Agent resonates deeply with our own time, providing a lens through which we come to see, and question, ourselves.

David Baerwald is an award-winning singer-songwriter, composer, and recording artist best known for his critically acclaimed hit album with David Ricketts, Boomtown. He will be in conversation with Steve Clemons, editor-at-large of the National Interest. 

This event is free with first-come, first-serve seating.

Hosted by Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Learn more here.