How to be a literary detective, with Philippe Sands

In conversation with Pamela Druckerman and Simon Kuper

Bestselling author Philippe Sands describes his search for the truth about SS officer Otto von Wächter, who presided over a territory where hundreds of thousands of Jews and Poles were killed, including members of Philippe’s own family. After the war ended in May 1945, von Wächter was indicted for ‘mass murder’. Then he disappeared. Philippe’s new book, The Ratline, is about von Wächter.

Philippe Sands is one of the UK’s most prominent human rights barristers. He has been involved in many of the most important human rights cases of recent years, including Pinochet, Congo, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Iraq and Guantanamo, frequently appearing before the International Criminal Court and the World Court in The Hague. He is a Professor of Law at UCL and President of English PEN. His Sunday Times bestseller East West Street won the Baillie Gifford Prize and the Prix Montaigne.

Pamela Druckerman is the author of five books, including the forthcoming rhyming picture book for children Paris by Phone.

Simon Kuper is a columnist for the Financial Times.