Taken At Midnight [Paperback]

In your quest for respectability I think we can say you have been talking out of both corners of your mouth. One corner talks to your rich backers, the other to your street-fighters.

1931. Hans Litten is one of the most celebrated lawyers in Berlin, famed for his brilliant mind and the rhetorical flair with which he defends those fighting back against the rapidly growing Nazi movement. So, when he calls Herr Hitler as star witness in the trial of a band of murderous SA men, the politician feels the full force of Litten's intellect, wit and courage.

It arouses in Hitler a feeling he can't abide or forget. Two years later, on the night of the Reichstag fire, Litten is arrested. He is held without trial, beaten, tortured, and threatened as 'an enemy of human society'. As Litten disappears into the Nazi system, his indomitable mother, Irmgard, confronts his captors and, at enormous personal risk, fights to secure his release.

This riveting drama by the writer ofThe Man Who Crossed Hitlerexplores Irmgard's struggle, her son's resistance, and the heroic battle of the weak against the powerful, truth against lies and mothers against murderers.

Taken At Midnightreceived its world premiere on 26 September 2014 at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester. This edition features an introduction by the author.

Mark Hayhursthas largely written and directed for TV and film. His credits include37 Days(BBC2),Hans Litten vs Adolf Hitler: To Stop A Tyrant(BBC2),Terror! Robespierre and the French Revolution(BBC2),London's Burning(Juniper Communications for Channel 4),The Man Who Crossed Hitler(BBC2),The Difficult Birth of the NHS(BBC2), andThe Somme(Darlow-Smithson for Channel 4).