Like most gentiles in Nazi-occupied Paris, architect Lucien Bernard has little empathy for the Jews. So when a wealthy industrialist offers him a large sum of money to devise secret hiding places for Jews, Lucien struggles with the choice of risking his life for a cause he doesn’t really believe in. Ultimately he can’t resist the challenge and begins designing expertly concealed hiding spaces — … — behind a painting, within a column, or inside a drainpipe — detecting possibilities invisible to the average eye. But when one of his clever hiding spaces fails horribly and the immense suffering of Jews becomes incredibly personal, he can no longer deny reality.
Written by an expert whose knowledge imbues every page, this story becomes more gripping with every life the architect tries to save.
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Great read. Grabs the reader on first page and doesn’t let go.
Ingenious concept and totally believable. Still haunts me!
Probably can’t recommend this book highly enough. Nerve-wracking and a wild ride from page to page. WWII fiction but this ranks up there as the best of the best. It informs at the same time it engages (and terrifies). A good read to the very last.
I’ve read some highly qualitative books that took place during the period leading up to and/or the time of WWII. A few of those that come to mind are Kristin Hanna’s ‘The Nightingale,’ Ken Follett’s ‘Winter of the World,’ Anthony Doerr’s ‘All the Light we Cannot See,’ and Eric Larson’s ‘Midnight in the Garden of Beasts.’ I want to now add another …
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The cast of characters was rich and varied and the protagonist’s slow growth from ordinary to hero was inspiring.
Continuing onward with my goal of recommending my all-time favorite historical novels, I come to two books today, both of which have “Paris” in their titles. The Paris Architect is one of those books I wholeheartedly put on my favorites list. Not only is the premise completely original–a young male architect in occupied Paris is commissioned to …
I am biased because I love Paris.
However, this book is so much more than the city itself and is heartbreaking in parts as, although fiction you can see it happening and what it must have felt like to be a Jew in the war.
I really enjoyed reading The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure. It takes place in Nazi Germany during WWII. It is very surprising, unpredictable, exciting, and had me on the edge of my seat until the book was finished. It had suspense, romance, terror, all the things you would expect in a WWII book but so much more. It was unpredictable, but at …
Wonderful read. Different than other books about the hiding of Jews during the war. Loves the characters and the dynamic roles they played and the impact they had even though they did not always know it. I think the idea of who do you trust and who is friend or foe. Sometimes who you think you can’t trust saves you in the end was inspirational.
This story follows the story of how an architect became an unintentional hero by hiding Jewish people during WWII in Paris.
Another of my favorite books ever! Such great writing that you can believe every word
Brilliant! World War II from the viewpoint of an Architect is totally different from other views I’ve heard or read about that horrific time. Thank God for people like Lucien who were willing to sacrifice their lives to save another life. Hide And Go Seek takes on another totally different meaning. This time it’s not child’s play. It’s all about …
The Paris Architect has great characters, that change in a very troubled and changing world around them. The only question after reading this book:
what would I have done?
A gripping read with fascinating insights into what occupation does to the civilians affected. Quite disturbing!
I really enjoyed this book. It was different and a real page turner.
Loved this book – learned alot about Paris occupation but great story at the same time!!
This is an original story, based on a historical event in a different era, when hiding places called Priest Holes were made for priests under persecution to escape to. The author, who is an architect, took this idea and imagined an architect in WWII occupied France designing hiding places for Jewish people to escape the Nazis.
Lucien is a …
I loved reading this book. This historical novel brought to live Paris of the nazi occupation. The characters are realistic and well described. If you love history you will love this book!
This book is fiction. It is the story of an architect in Paris who is asked to build hiding places in houses during the holocaust in order that Jews can be hidden I found it to be extremely interesting, and if you are interested in this period of history I think you love it.
Great character development and ending! Very clever and original story.
Amidst World War II, work has dried up for architect Lucien Bernard when a wealthy factory owner approaches him with a commission – and a catch. In short order, Lucien finds himself designing factories for the Germans and secret hiding places for the Resistance. His wife, unaware of Lucien’s work hiding Jews, labels him an architectural …