A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation. With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s … history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.
Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year • People’s Choice Favorite Fiction Winner • #1 Indie Next Selection • A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year
Praise for The Nightingale:
“Haunting, action-packed, and compelling.” —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author
”Absolutely riveting!…Read this book.” —Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director of the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute
“Beautifully written and richly evocative.” —Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A hauntingly rich WWII novel about courage, brutality, love, survival—and the essence of what makes us human.” —Family Circle
“A heart-pounding story.” —USA Today
“An enormous story. Richly satisfying. I loved it.” —Anne Rice
“A respectful and absorbing page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews
”Tender, compelling…a satisfying slice of life in Nazi-occupied France.” —Jewish Book Council
“Expect to devour The Nightingale in as few sittings as possible; the high-stakes plot and lovable characters won’t allow any rest until all of their fates are known.” —Shelf Awareness
“I loved The Nightingale.” —Lisa See, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Powerful…an unforgettable portrait of love and war.” —People
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This book had me staying up until the early morning to finish it because I had to know what happened to the characters as they struggled to survive the many atrocities of World War II. Hannah’s unflinching portrayal of two sisters caught up in the war is heartbreaking and inspirational as she depicts the strength of the human spirit in the face of …
This was a good novel that presented a part of the second world war of which I had no knowledge. In addition, it presented choices which are easy to make from the safety of 75 years later, but were choices that really had little wiggle room at the time. Makes one think in terms of what we might have chosen had we had to make those choices.
This was an excellent account of a very different aspect of WWII. Two sisters in France facing very different obstacles. Well worth reading
Beautiful book, would make a great movie.
Could not stop thinking about this story or these characters
This is a very haunting story of World War II from the perspective of two sisters at odd with each other, each trying to find their place and survive in Nazi occupied France. Their mother passed away when they were young and their father didn’t know how to handle the grief and or the girls. Vianne creates her own life and family in Carriveau, …
Great book!
I absolutely loved this book! I was completely immersed in France during the late 1930’s and 1940’s! I had not read much about the French people during that time. I became so interested that I went right to another book about the same thing. Very good! Very interesting! Very enlightening! Read it!!
What an incredible book – it’s rare that a book truly lives up to the hype, but this one certainly did. I couldn’t put it down. Entirely gripping, with compelling characters and a heartbreakingly personal and tactile portrait of France during the Nazi occupation. It reminded me of one of my all-time favorite historical fiction authors, Tatiana de …
So often, society overlooks the aged. Instead of realizing our parents lived full lives, we imagine their existence as defined by our interactions only.
The Nightingale explores WWII through the experiences of two amazing French women. They grow to understand their shell-shocked father and their own complicated history. Their bravery and selfless …
One of the best books I’ve read in decades! It rings very true about how the two sisters tried to cope in war-torn (occupied) France during the WW II.
I read this in 2 hours the first time, I just couldn’t stop I loved it so much. Definitely read this book, it’s a book that will keep you up at night just thinking abut the wonderful plot and characters. Really meaningful and eye opening to the true suffers of the war.
One of the most well-written books I have ever read. The story is tragic yet beautiful. Kristin Hannah did a phenomenal job making me fall in love with the main characters, Vianne and Isabelle. I have never read a book with such strong sisters. The character and plot development were outstanding. It’s a book that will surely stay with me for a …
This is my #1 book of all time (so far!) and whenever I’m asked to recommend a book it is always The Nightingale. If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly set in WW2, you will LOVE this story. Make sure you have a few boxes of tissues handy.
Loved this book and the characters. The role of women in wars is always over looked and never celebrated. What I liked best about this book that each character did what he/she could do to help to make change. The idea that you can do what others do is false and to get caught up in feeling bad you are not doing what others are doing or assume …
Ten stars, maybe even a dozen. Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve read something so hauntingly beautiful and tragic, yet hopeful, too. Not only did I become absorbed by the historical aspect of the story, but the characters were each fascinating and compelling.
This post will have spoilers, so if you don’t want to know what happens, don’t read …
This is a great story–well written and fast paced, with many twists and turns. The story line, historical content, and character development deserve five stars…but the author kept using trite and meaningless homilies…”Men tell stories, women get on with it.” REALLY? And she indulged in some hyper-romantic scenes worthy of a Harlequin book. …
This is the first of Kristin Hannah’s books that I’ve read, but if it’s representative of her story-telling abilities, she has a new devotee. Set in WWII France, it is everything you want in historical fiction – an accurate depiction of the occupation, complex, well-developed characters, moral dilemmas and edge of your chair suspense; it has it …
This is one of my favorite books that I have read recently. Takes place in France during WW II and how it affects families, both German and French when France is occupied by German forces.
Vianne and Isabelle are two sisters in 1939 France – but they couldn’t be more different. Vianne and her husband Antoine live with their daughter Sophie in the quiet village of Carriveau, while Isabelle is kicked out of boarding school after boarding school for her unruly behavior. When war breaks out, Vianne’s husband goes to fight, and the …