NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • One million copies sold! Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. “Extremely moving and memorable . . . This impressive debut should appeal strongly to historical fiction readers and to book clubs that adored Kristin Hannah’s that adored Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.” —Library Journal (starred review)
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
USA Today “New and Noteworthy” Book • LibraryReads Top Ten Pick
“Harrowing . . . Lilac illuminates.”—People
“A compelling, page-turning narrative . . . Lilac Girls falls squarely into the groundbreaking category of fiction that re-examines history from a fresh, female point of view. It’s smart, thoughtful and also just an old-fashioned good read.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A powerful story for readers everywhere . . . Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a firsthand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. A novel that brings to life what these women and many others suffered. . . . I was moved to tears.”—San Francisco Book Review
“[A] compelling first novel . . . This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly’s vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.”—Publishers Weekly
“Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Inspired by actual events and real people, Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days. This is a part of history—women’s history—that should never be forgotten.”—Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of China Dolls
“Profound, unsettling, and thoroughly . . . the best book I’ve read all year.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
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Jumps around geographically. Bothers some people. Characters well writing.
one of the best i’ve read
Three different women’s story lines through the Holocaust, one in the US trying to help immigrant Jews, one doctor in a concentration camp, one a Jew inside a concentration camp.
This book is historical fiction yet a good and fair representation of the times. The author masterfully weaves a story of the three women.
Wonderfully written & a reality we must not forget
A wonderful, very powerful book! Gritty and realistic, it tells the story of three women (two of whom are actually real people) with strikingly different experiences during WWII.
Good story involving several different characters and their experiences during WWII and afterward.
If you are interested in WWII, this is a true/fictional story of surviving ladies.
This book is shattering in the lives of women who experienced the Second World War in different parts of the world and the horrific things each encountered. A young woman earns the right to be a doctor in Nazi Germany and is told to give shots to elderly Polish women that put them to eternal sleep. Later the commandant of the Polish work camp begins experiments that terribly disfigure them and cause them great pain. One of the women tells her story of being a Polish worker at the camp and experiences the disfigurement. The war ends and these women must find their way home while German war criminals try to get away. This book is really gut-wrenching. This book offers up a perspective seldom explored in one of the most written about events in human history.
History lesson, informative and entertaining. Based on real people and events.
This story was a little difficult to get started with (characters, etc.), but gave a realistic WWII picture.
Fantastic book…about 3 separate women during the start of ww2. 1939. Written in chapter about each woman and how they ultimately intertwine. All 3 women are from war torn countries. One is a German girl…a new doctor..who for survival for her family takes a job in ravensbruck camp…not known to her initially. Before long she is participating in the atrocities of the camp. She evolves from one horrified by it to a willing participant. Not often do you have a character such as this, but we learn what war does to families and individuals in order to survive. Very well written…portrays each woman well. Highly recommend this..
Historical during WWII
Great book combining history with a story. It’s unreal what these women endured and survived. I had no idea about some of the things I learned in this book about the history of polish people. Thank you to the author for her dedication in researching and sharing.
If we are half way intelligent we learn form history, and keep learning, hopefully avoiding mistakes of the past. People did survive the Holocaust, all have lifelong scars and memories. Yes, they did use living humans for “medical experiments”. Some survived and eventually went on to live. One group is now known as The Lilac girls. Reading their story gives us one more window into understanding what was done to those taken prisoner. They were in some ways treated better than others in that they had food, water and were in a clean environment. Their survival was much enhanced by their benefactor who helped them become as whole as they could be again. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarning, but first a foremost true.
Heart breaking the strength of these people
Excellent story or stories, all intertwined at the end, about 3 women during WWII. One a Polish girl, working for the underground, one a doctor in one of the camps, one a socialite in New York, involved with her charity work with immigrants. I enjoyed the weaving of the story and the characters, both good and bad. I have read many, many books about WWII, but never one with these angles and from these perspectives. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction (although this is based on real people), this is a must read.
A beautifully difficult story.
I have read many stories set during WWII based on true stories. It never gets any easier to read these stories or to be grasp the depth of the atrocities committed. I never cease to be amazed at the resiliency of the victims- their ability to survive, overcome, and remain hopeful. I am thankful for stories like these because the basics learned in school do not cover the magnitude of what happened under Hitler’s regime. This book taught me about the medical experiments at Ravensbruck women’s concentration camp – a story I knew very little about.
To be honest, this was not a book I could read before going to bed because of the disturbing and difficult content, especially in part 1 of the book. So, it took me a little longer to read this book, but when the stories of the three women finally converge, the author did a beautiful job of bringing the story to a close.
I am glad I read this book and I would recommend it to others. Readers just need to be prepared for an emotional read.
Bookclub read it and loved it.