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A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis

Name: A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis
Price: 9.90 USD
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Rating: 4.3 (951 reviews)

4.3 of 5 Stars: Survival - A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis

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Book Synopsis: A PEOPLE BOOK OF THE WEEK WINNER OF THE JQ–WINGATE LITERARY PRIZE

“A haunting tribute to survivors and those lost forever—and a reminder, in our own troubled era, never to forget.” —People

An “exceptional” (The Wall Street Journal) and “poignant” (The New York Times) book in the tradition of rediscovered works like Suite Française and The Nazi Officer’s Wife, the powerful memoir of a fearless Jewish bookseller on a harrowing fight for survival across Nazi-occupied Europe.

In 1921, Françoise Frenkel—a Jewish woman from Poland—fulfills a dream. She opens La Maison du Livre, Berlin’s first French bookshop, attracting artists and diplomats, celebrities and poets. The shop becomes a haven for intellectual exchange as Nazi ideology begins to poison the culturally rich city.

In 1935, the scene continues to darken. First come the new bureaucratic hurdles, followed by frequent police visits and book confiscations.

Françoise’s dream finally shatters on Kristallnacht in November 1938, as hundreds of Jewish shops and businesses are destroyed. La Maison du Livre is miraculously spared, but fear of persecution eventually forces Françoise on a desperate, lonely flight to Paris. When the city is bombed, she seeks refuge across southern France, witnessing countless horrors: children torn from their parents, mothers throwing themselves under buses. Secreted away from one safe house to the next, Françoise survives at the heroic hands of strangers risking their lives to protect her.

Published quietly in 1945, then rediscovered nearly sixty years later in an attic, A Bookshop in Berlin is a remarkable story of survival and resilience, of human cruelty and human spirit. In the tradition of Suite Française and The Nazi Officer’s Wife, this book is the tale of a fearless woman whose lust for life and literature refuses to leave her, even in her darkest hours.

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Looking for a gripping read that will transport you to a different era? Look no further than "A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis". Winner of the JQ-WINGATE LITERARY PRIZE and hailed as an "exceptional" and "poignant" work by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, this powerful memoir is a haunting tribute to survivors and a reminder to never forget the atrocities of the past.

Immerse yourself in the captivating story of Françoise Frenkel, a fearless Jewish bookseller, as she embarks on a fight for survival across Nazi-occupied Europe. In 1921, Frenkel fulfills her dream of opening La Maison du Livre, Berlin's first French bookshop, a cultural hub for artists, diplomats, and intellectuals. But as Nazi ideology poisons the city, the once vibrant atmosphere turns dark.

Experience the heart-wrenching journey of Françoise Frenkel, as she navigates through bureaucratic hurdles, police visits, and book confiscations. The gripping narrative takes a devastating turn on Kristallnacht in 1938, when Jewish shops and businesses are destroyed. Miraculously, La Maison du Livre is spared, but Frenkel's fear of persecution drives her to embark on a desperate flight to Paris.

Prepare to be captivated by the resilience and bravery of Françoise Frenkel as she traverses southern France, witnessing unimaginable horrors along the way. From children torn from their parents to mothers desperate enough to throw themselves under buses, Frenkel's survival is a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Originally published quietly in 1945 and rediscovered in an attic nearly six decades later, "A Bookshop in Berlin" is an extraordinary tale that will leave you spellbound. In the tradition of other remarkable stories like "Suite Française" and "The Nazi Officer's Wife," this memoir is a testament to the power of literature and the unyielding determination of a woman who refuses to let adversity extinguish her love for life.

Don't miss out on this compelling tale of survival and resilience. Take a journey back in time with "A Bookshop in Berlin" and discover the unbreakable spirit of Françoise Frenkel. Get your copy now!

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