*"The Reader"* is a novel by German author **Bernhard Schlink**, who is known for blending literature, philosophy, and law in his works. Born in 1944, Schlink is not only a writer but also a judge and university professor, distinguished for his deep exploration of moral and historical dilemmas.
The novel follows the story of Michael Berg, a fifteen-year-old boy who enters into a passionate and mysterious relationship with an older woman named Hanna. When she suddenly disappears, he encounters her years later as a law student—this time in a courtroom, where she is on trial for war crimes. As the trial unfolds, Michael struggles with an ethical dilemma as he uncovers a secret that may be more shameful than the charges against her.
The novel delves into themes of collective guilt, generational conflict in post-war Germany, and the lingering effects of the past on the present, all woven into a narrative that combines love, pain, and history.
