Fatherland (novel)

Fatherland

Cover of the first UK edition
Author	Robert Harris
Language	English
Genre	Thriller, alternate history
Publisher	Hutchinson
Publication date	7 May 1992
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	372 (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	0-09-174827-5 (first edition, hardback)
OCLC	26548520

Fatherland is a 1992 alternative history detective novel by English writer and journalist Robert Harris. Set in a universe in which Nazi Germany won World War II, the story's protagonist is an officer of the Kripo, the criminal police, who is investigating the murder of a Nazi government official who participated at the Wannsee Conference. A plot is thus discovered to eliminate all of those who attended the conference, to help improve German relations with the United States.

The novel subverts some of the conventions of the detective novel. It begins with a murder and diligent police detective investigating and eventually solving it. However, since the murderer is highly placed in the Nazi regime, solving the mystery does not result in the detective pursuing and arresting the murderer. The contrary occurs: the murderer pursuing and arresting the detective.

The novel was an immediate best-seller in the UK and has sold over three million copies and been translated into 25 languages.