Rape of Honour

by Willi Heinrich

translated from the German by Sigrid Rock

Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1961, [First Edition thus], hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, minor rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, a little foxing to fore edges, price-clipped dustjacket shows a little edge and shelf wear with a little rubbing, bumping, creasing, chipping and small tears to edges and corners, age toning to edges and corners (see photographs)

“In this savage novel Willi Heinrich, author of the best-selling The Willing Flesh, turns a mercilessly revealing spotlight on Germany today, to tell of what can happen to an honourable man in a grossly amoral society.
Rape of Honour is the story of Rupert Kruedner, a former medical student who possesses a fierce sense of pride and personal integrity.  At a crisis in his life, he is forced to accept a job as chauffeur to Irmgard Widdau, the elegant wife of a rich Heidelburg industrialist – a job which pays a large salary but seems to have curious strings attached to it.  Rupert soon finds that the strings are held by Irmgard Widdau.  Jealous of Rupert’s integrity, she teases his pride, tears at his indifference to her and taunts him until he begins to respond.  What follows is an engrossing study of the gradual disintegration of a man’s honour.”