Items related to The Fire Agent: A Novel
Synopsis
New York Times Editors' Choice * A LitHub most anticipated book of 2026
“Paced like a thriller, written like a dream.”—The Boston Globe
“The Fire Agent has it all. This is one of those books that feels like a “book club” novel, but reads like an adventure movie.”—Men's Journal
“A spy novel, a war story, a love story—brilliant historical fiction that is hardly fictional at all.”—Graham Yost, executive producer of The Americans and Slow Horses
An unforgettable, sweeping novel of espionage, love, and war that reframes our understanding of the first half of the twentieth 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.
From Frankfurt to Milan to Tokyo, Ernst moves through a world of intrigue and passion. He battles Japan’s Yakuza while entertaining its royalty and hosts Europe’s most brilliant performers. He falls deeply in love . . . with two women. He witnesses the rise of fascism in both Japan and Germany. And when the forces of fascism in Japan meet the horrors of Hitler’s Germany, this German Jew faces an impossible choice: destroy the country he loves most or become complicit in unimaginable evil.
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 nineteenth-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.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
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 has collaborated with Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Sheryl Crow, Hans Zimmer, and Baz Luhrmann, among others. Baerwald spent a formative part of his childhood in Tokyo, grew up in Los Angeles, and currently lives in New York’s Hudson Valley. This is his first novel.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for The Fire Agent: A Novel
Stock Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. New York Times Editors' Choice * A LitHub most anticipated book of 2026?Paced like a thriller, written like a dream.??The Boston Globe?The Fire Agent has it all. This is one of those books that feels like a ?book club? novel, but reads like an adventure movie.??Men's Journal?A spy novel, a war story, a love story?brilliant historical fiction that is hardly fictional at all.??Graham Yost, executive producer of The Americans and Slow HorsesAn unforgettable, sweeping novel of espionage, love, and war that reframes our understanding of the first half of the twentieth 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.From Frankfurt to Milan to Tokyo, Ernst moves through a world of intrigue and passion. He battles Japan?s Yakuza while entertaining its royalty and hosts Europe?s most brilliant performers. He falls deeply in love . . . with two women. He witnesses the rise of fascism in both Japan and Germany. And when the forces of fascism in Japan meet the horrors of Hitler?s Germany, this German Jew faces an impossible choice: destroy the country he loves most or become complicit in unimaginable evil.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 nineteenth-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. Seller Inventory # 00109266234
Stock Image
The Fire Agent
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G1966302002I3N00
Stock Image
The Fire Agent
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G1966302002I4N10
Seller Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Seller: -OnTimeBooks-, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. A copy that has been read, remains in good condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine and cover show signs of wear. Pages can include notes and highlighting and show signs of wear, and the copy can include "From the library of" labels or previous owner inscriptions. 100% GUARANTEE! Shipped with delivery confirmation, if you're not satisfied with purchase please return item! Ships via media mail. Seller Inventory # OTV.1966302002.G
Stock Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_486425176
Stock Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Seller: HPB-Emerald, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_486467297
Seller Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Seller: Goodwill Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. Hardcover Book. Includes dustjacket. Seller Inventory # LACV.1966302002.G
Stock Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Published by
Spiegel & Grau (edition ), 2026
ISBN 10: 1966302002
ISBN 13: 9781966302001
Used
Hardcover
Seller: BooksRun, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. With dust jacket. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting. Seller Inventory # 1966302002-8-1-29
Stock Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Seller: HPB-Diamond, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_483620560
Stock Image
The Fire Agent: A Novel
Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. New York Times Editors' Choice * A LitHub most anticipated book of 2026?Paced like a thriller, written like a dream.??The Boston Globe?The Fire Agent has it all. This is one of those books that feels like a ?book club? novel, but reads like an adventure movie.??Men's Journal?A spy novel, a war story, a love story?brilliant historical fiction that is hardly fictional at all.??Graham Yost, executive producer of The Americans and Slow HorsesAn unforgettable, sweeping novel of espionage, love, and war that reframes our understanding of the first half of the twentieth 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.From Frankfurt to Milan to Tokyo, Ernst moves through a world of intrigue and passion. He battles Japan?s Yakuza while entertaining its royalty and hosts Europe?s most brilliant performers. He falls deeply in love . . . with two women. He witnesses the rise of fascism in both Japan and Germany. And when the forces of fascism in Japan meet the horrors of Hitler?s Germany, this German Jew faces an impossible choice: destroy the country he loves most or become complicit in unimaginable evil.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 nineteenth-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. Seller Inventory # CIN1966302002VG