Suzanne Kelman crée des récits captivants qui résonnent profondément auprès des lecteurs, explorant les thèmes de la connexion et de la résilience. Ses œuvres se caractérisent par un style d'observation aiguisé et une capacité à saisir les nuances des relations humaines. L'expérience de Kelman en tant que scénariste primée informe sa narration, apportant une qualité cinématographique et des dialogues percutants à sa prose. Elle crée des histoires à la fois émotionnellement engageantes et stimulantes, invitant les lecteurs dans des mondes richement imaginés.
Set in 1940s England, this poignant narrative explores themes of love, wartime secrets, and betrayal amidst the backdrop of World War II. The story unfolds with emotional depth, capturing the struggles and sacrifices of characters as they navigate their relationships during a tumultuous time. The powerful tale promises to leave a lasting impact on readers, highlighting the complexities of human emotions in the face of adversity.
University professor Josef Held has never recovered from the loss of his wife. He has no intention of letting anyone new into his quiet, safe world, where the ticking clock in his mathematics classroom drowns out the beat of Nazi soldiers' boots. But when his Jewish pupil Michael comes to him, saying Jews will no longer be allowed to study, Josef can ignore the situation no longer. In an impulsive act of courage, he offers Michael a place to hide in his attic. In the quiet gloom of the secret room, Josef discovers Michael is everything he himself is not: spontaneous, poetic, and unafraid to love, though his passionate relationship with a non-Jewish Dutch girl is strictly forbidden. Michael insists: not even the Nazis will keep him from his fearless, beautiful, chestnut-haired Elke. Josef sees the determination in his young friend's eyes. Remembering his own heartbreak, he feels desperate to give Michael and Elke a chance. But in the dark days of war, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted. And then tragedy strikes, facing Josef with an impossible choice. If Michael is to survive and get back to the woman he loves, it will be down to Josef - to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep Michael alive. Even if it means putting his own life on the line
The story opens with a vivid scene featuring a young girl in a blue nightie, barefoot and dirty, illuminated by nearby fires. As Lizzie approaches, the child's closed eyes and upward-facing palms evoke a sense of innocence, reminiscent of prayer. This striking imagery sets the stage for a deeper exploration of themes such as vulnerability, childhood, and perhaps a mystical connection to the environment around them. The scene hints at an emotional journey that may unfold as Lizzie interacts with the girl.
An incredible story of love, hope and friendship, and a testament to humanity
and courage in history's darkest days - perfect for fans of The Tattooist of
Auschwitz and The Choice
"1937, Europe and America. Based on a true story, this powerful novel about wartime courage and extraordinary friendship, tells how two women changed the fate of the Second World War and the course of history. When an impossibly shy young woman named Judy Morgan finishes her studies in Physics at Cambridge University, it is with dreams of changing the world for the better. Meanwhile, a beautiful, young Jewish woman decides to flee her beloved Austria, changing her name to Hedy Lamarr, and risking everything to get to America, as far away from the Nazi threat as possible. A powerful friendship is formed when the two women meet in pre-war London—with Judy’s passion for science a perfect match for Hedy’s brilliant talent for invention. So when the world is gripped by a war that nobody could have imagined in their worst nightmares, both Hedy and Judy know they must act now. As their lives repeatedly collide, in Cambridge, California, Pearl Harbor and beyond—throwing both their lives into danger and tragedy—Judy and Hedy both find themselves seeking ways to end the war. But neither of them will know that one of them is on a path of tragedy. A path that could change the outcome of the war, but also threaten their friendship forever…" -- Amazon.com
"The face of the woman in the photograph was tilted upwards, as if enjoying the sunshine just for a moment, even as the wreckage of the bombed-out street lay behind her ... 1944, Cornwall: Blinded by love, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi prisoner-of-war, never to be seen again. A disgrace to her family, her name would not be mentioned by any of her relatives for over 75 years. Present day, London: When Sophie discovers a photograph of her great aunt Vivi from World War Two, it throws her into a world of confusion. Because, as she learns about this secret relative, she quickly realises that the photograph doesn't fit with her family's story. It shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London - a place she had no reason to be - and it is dated right before she disappeared. Meanwhile Sophie's own life feels as blasted and bombed as the blitzed city in the photograph she's looking at. Her beautiful daughter - as full of joy and wild energy as Vivi had apparently once been - is gone; and Sophie's heart has been left broken into pieces. Retreating to the family home in rural Cornwall to seek solace from her pain and the feelings of guilt that she could have done more to protect her daughter, Sophie finds herself becoming obsessed with Vivi's life. But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to uncover - the story of a woman who risked everything for the person she loved the most; and a secret family history that could be the key to Sophie's own future."--Provided by publisher
Nezapomenutelný příběh lásky, naděje i zrady
Píše se rok 1941. Nacisté obsazují Amsterdam, milované město profesora Josefa Helda. Ten navíc záhy zjišťuje, že se jeho bývalý žák Michael Blum snaží uniknout gestapu. Nabídne mu tedy úkryt u sebe v podkroví. V tichu a příšeří této skrýše mu Michael vypráví o své krásné a nebojácné přítelkyni Elke. Trvá na tom, že je nerozdělí ani nacisté. Jenže Michael je židovského původu, zatímco Elke nikoli.
Josef v rozhořčení nad pravidly krutých německých okupantů a při vzpomínce na vlastní zlomené srdce zoufale touží dát lásce Michaela a Elke šanci. Jenže pak dojde k tragédii a Josef se ocitne v bezvýchodné situaci. Pokud má Michael přežít a znovu se setkat se ženou, kterou miluje, musí Josef najít hrdinu, který uvnitř něj dřímá, a udělat všechno proto, aby Michael zůstal naživu.
I když to znamená, že bude muset riskovat vlastní život…
Když plachá Judy Morganová dokončí studium fyziky na univerzitě v Cambridge, sní o tom, že se jí podaří změnit svět k lepšímu. Mezitím se krásná a geniální mladá židovská herečka Hedy Kieslerová rozhodne uprchnout z milovaného Rakouska, změní si jméno na Hedy Lamarr a riskuje vše, aby se dostala do Ameriky, co nejdále od nacistické hrozby. Poté, co se obě ženy setkají v předválečném Londýně, vznikne mezi nimi silné přátelství, navíc objeví společnou vášeň pro vědu a vynálezy. Začíná válka, kterou si nikdo nedokázal představit ani v nejhorších nočních můrách, a Hedy i Judy vědí, že musí spojit své síly a jednat hned…
