Hatred & Integrity: Two Short Tales of Historical Fiction

By Rich DiSilvio

Hatred & Integrity presents two gripping character portraits, pitting Hitler’s hatred in the first tale against the integrity of Roosevelt and Churchill in the second.

The tales are not necessarily full stories, but rather vignettes of key scenes in the lives of each, whereby focusing on their psychological bearings that blossomed from seeds planted in their youth or by circumstances. As real life characters of history engage in actual events their fictional dialogue is infused with excerpts of actual quotes for authenticity, while the topics range from art and music to politics, religion, science, and warfare.

The lives of Hitler, Roosevelt, and Churchill spring to life, offering readers an entertaining yet informative glimpse at three icons that had monumental influences on Western civilization, as hatred and integrity butt heads in a World War to battle for supremacy. Although we know the outcome, the process, motivations, and actions remain intriguing and critical specimens for perpetual study and careful analysis, as hateful warriors never cease to arise from the pit of anger to challenge the righteous.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rich DiSilvio
• Release date: Jul 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310925597

Rich DiSilvio

Rich DiSilvio is the author of fiction and non-fiction, and has written numerous articles for magazines on the topics of history, art, music, politics, the military, architecture and more, as well as several books."My Nazi Nemesis" is an action-packed thriller with suspenseful twists."A Blazing Gilded Age" is a family saga of historical fiction."Liszt's Dante Symphony" is an historical mystery/thriller."The Winds of Time" a non-fictional study of the titans who shaped Western civilization."Hatred & Integrity" two short studies of historical fiction.Young Adult Titles: "Meet My Famous Friends" and "Danny and the DreamWeaver," written under the pseudonym Mark Poe.Rich's work in the entertainment industry includes developing creative assets for films and documentaries, such as James Cameron's The Lost Tomb of Jesus, Operation Valkyrie, The War Zone series, Return to Kirkuk, Killing Hitler, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, Monty Python: Almost the Truth, and many others.For more info, please visit: http://www.richdisilvio.com

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HATRED & INTEGRITY

Two Short Tales of Historical Fiction

By RICH DiSILVIO

© 2009 – Revised for this edition © 2016 Rich DiSilvio

Published by DV Books, an imprint of Digital Vista, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Cover art by © Rich DiSilvio.

Cover photos of FDR and Churchill statues by the author, Hitler photo public domain.

Author’s Website: www.richdisilvio.com

CONTENTS

HITLER: The Making of a Monster

FRANKLIN & WINSTON: Saviors of Civilization

The Author

Other Books by Rich DiSilvio

Special Note to the Reader

HITLER: The Making of a Monster

Dark ominous clouds loomed over the cobbled streets of Vienna as an unusually cold and damp April wind howled. Down a grimy brick alleyway in the ghetto district stood the Stumpergasse. Peering out of a cracked and dilapidated window of Flat 29 was the recently-turned orphan, Adolf Hitler. The year was 1908.

As a raw downdraft whipped through the alley, it forced its way through one of the cracked windowpanes, sending a rippling wave across Adolf’s face. Gustl, my friend, here it is my birthday, once again, and I’m still trapped inside this wretched domicile. His jaw stiffened as he spat, This is not what my life should be! I’m no mongrel dog, I deserve better than this.

Adolf closed his eyes and grit his teeth, while his hands tightened into fists. Opening his eyes, he continued, This bug-infested rat hole doesn’t even offer me a glimmer of the real world, Gustl, if there even is one out there. No, no, all I get to look at is this sooty rear wall of a hideous building.

He glanced back at Gustl, then back out the window; pressing his index finger against the cool glass. Look at that! It looks like a brick box. Tell me, how is it architects like that secure work, while we starve? It’s not fair. They should force those hacks to live in these odious tombs themselves. He glanced around their cramped and meagerly furnished flat. Then with an unexpected surge, he slapped the windowsill. It’s infuriating! I feel as though I’m locked in a penitentiary!

August Kubizek, nicknamed Gustl, who had previously worked at his father's upholstery shop, but now attended the Conservatory of Music to be a musician, looked up from his rented grand piano and smiled. He was well accustomed to his friend’s monologues and sudden outbursts of anger. "Come, come, Dolfie. You sound as though you’ve been eternally bricked inside Poe’s ghastly Cask of Amontillado." Adolf squinted, not familiar with the American poet, as Kubizek continued, "You’re only nineteen years old today, not ninety! You have plenty of time to do something with your life, especially once you get accepted into the art academy. But it would help if you got a job."

Adolf just grunted and pressed his forehead against the soiled window. The cool glass further numbed his brain, as dank smells of paraffin, which permeated the room, rose up into his nostrils. The rancid smell caused his esophagus to shudder as he released a series of small gags. Quickly, he covered his mouth and held his breath. Staring with revulsion at the filthy brick and mortar obstruction before his eyes, he gasped for air, then discharged a hefty cough. As his two piercing blue eyes rolled up, they inadvertently connected with the top of the grimy brick wall, then with the undulating sky above. His eyes widened. Gustl! I can actually see a small patch of blue sky! Perhaps divine providence will present me with a good omen after all. Yet as he pressed his face against the window to gain a better view, the restless clouds devoured