The Death of the Adversary: A Novel

Name: The Death of the Adversary: A Novel
Price: 10.78 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.8 (42 reviews)
Author: Keilson, Hans

by Keilson, Hans

Historical Fiction Literary Fiction

3.8 (42)

181 pages~3 hr readPublished by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

$10.78At peak price

Last checked: Apr 18, 2026

Price history: $0.50 – $10.78

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Perfect for you if...

You're drawn to psychological studies of complicity and fascination, especially how ordinary people witness extraordinary evil without stopping it.
You appreciate sparse, unsettling prose that builds dread through observation rather than action.
You want a slim, literary novel that packs more weight than its 181 pages suggest, written from an actual survivor's perspective.

Maybe not for you if...

You prefer plot-driven thrillers with clear heroes, villains, and resolutions.
You need explicit historical detail or straightforward narrative to follow what's happening.
You're looking for catharsis or hope at the end of a wartime story.

About this book

Written while Hans Keilson was in hiding during World War II, this novel presents a self-portrait of a young man who becomes helplessly fascinated by an unnamed "adversary" as he watches this figure rise to power in 1930s Germany. The narrative explores horror on two levels: through its depiction of Hitler's gathering menace and through the protagonist's desperate attempt to find logic in circumstances where none exists. The work functions as a psychological fable, offering a portrait of a specific historical moment and the psychological experience of witnessing it unfold.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$0.50 – $10.78

Price has dropped 18 times over the last 20 months. Goes on sale roughly every 33 days. Typically stays discounted for 15 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #1,009K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

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Currently 3.8★ from 42 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has remained stable at 3.8 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

Based on past patterns, a price drop could happen soon. It typically goes on sale every 33 days and the last drop was 68 days ago. Typical discount: 95% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.