This book is beautifully written. The sequence of stories jumps around to before WWII, then towards the end, then later. Espionage and misunderstandings are featured throughout the book. There are issues of colonialism in the midst of German occupation of the content. Ondaatje has so many rich details, and he acknowledges lots of time spent in libraries and archives to get things just right. The book took me away from the present and placed me in a rich and fascinating space.