Book Review: ‘Once the Deed Is Done’ by Rachel Seiffert

Book Title: Once the Deed Is Done
Author: Rachel Seiffert
Publisher: Virgo
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 0349014167
Date Published: Feb. 16, 2023

Book Review

“Once the Deed Is Done” by Rachel Seiffert, set in Northern Germany during the final stages of World War II, follows the experiences of a young boy named Benno and Ruth Novak, a Red Cross officer tasked with managing a refugee camp for displaced persons (DPs). As soldiers and forced labourers flee across the countryside, the war’s end ushers in new challenges with English troops and aid workers arriving amidst increasing tension and secrets within the town.

Ruth faces the overwhelming task of providing care for malnourished former factory workers and assisting other displaced individuals in locating their missing loved ones. Amidst her efforts, whispers about a “winter transport” of labourers highlight the dangers of the period. The narrative reveals the struggles of the townspeople grappling with loss, the return of veterans, and the remnants of Nazi ideology.

Author Seiffert’s writing captures the chaos of post-war displacement through various perspectives, including those of Polish and Ukrainian labourers, illustrating their fears of returning to unfamiliar or devastated homelands. Themes of complicity, loss, and survival resonate throughout, drawing parallels to contemporary issues of displacement. The multi-faceted storytelling sheds light on the often-overlooked plight of displaced persons during this tumultuous time, prompting reflections on human resilience amid historical trauma.

Longlisted for the 2026 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, the book serves as a poignant exploration of the complexities arising from the war’s aftermath, emphasising the tragic impact of the conflict on both locals and displaced individuals, ultimately encapsulated in the phrase, “Everyone has their lost.”

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