Resistance Women - Jennifer Chiaverini

Resistance Women

By Jennifer Chiaverini

  • Release Date: 2019-05-14
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 362 Ratings

Description

One of BookBub's best historical novels of the year and Oprah magazine's buzziest books of the month.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, an enthralling historical saga that recreates the danger, romance, and sacrifice of an era and brings to life one courageous, passionate American—Mildred Fish Harnack—and her circle of women friends who waged a clandestine battle against Hitler in Nazi Berlin.

After Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish marries brilliant German economist Arvid Harnack, she accompanies him to his German homeland, where a promising future awaits. In the thriving intellectual culture of 1930s Berlin, the newlyweds create a rich new life filled with love, friendships, and rewarding work—but the rise of a malevolent new political faction inexorably changes their fate.

As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party wield violence and lies to seize power, Mildred, Arvid, and their friends resolve to resist. Mildred gathers intelligence for her American contacts, including Martha Dodd, the vivacious and very modern daughter of the US ambassador. Her German friends, aspiring author Greta Kuckoff and literature student Sara Weitz, risk their lives to collect information from journalists, military officers, and officials within the highest levels of the Nazi regime.

For years, Mildred’s network stealthily fights to bring down the Third Reich from within. But when Nazi radio operatives detect an errant Russian signal, the Harnack resistance cell is exposed, with fatal consequences.

Inspired by actual events, Resistance Women is an enthralling, unforgettable story of ordinary people determined to resist the rise of evil, sacrificing their own lives and liberty to fight injustice and defend the oppressed.

Reviews

  • Outstanding

    5
    By amycubs7
    I finished this book twenty minutes ago, and I am still crying. I knew none of this story beforehand. I feel like I am in Germany, I feel like I want to tell all of the characters to be more careful. I was drawn in completely. I grieve for the loss of life. The writing is superb; if you have any interest in WWII history, any interest in strong women, or any interest in a phenomenal story, please read this.
  • Renaiaasance

    5
    By ginobasso
    The quiet but courageous story intertwining true stories of diplomats in Berlin, artists, journalists, educators, Jews, & concerned German citizens who sought to gather information of the rising influence of Adolph Hitler during the 30s in Germany. Desperate for international help in their endeavors, small groups took great risks at private peril to warm the Soviet Union, Britain & the US, but to no avail. What a clever story entertaining historical people & faces w/ just a touch of necessary historical fiction to help us get a glimpse of the many sides & fears of WW11 in Germany & nearby nations. A tragedy that reaches into days archives.
  • Good book but

    4
    By NovaMolly
    This is a good book with engaging characters but it is very long. The shift in character point of view is interesting but over done and occasionally it is hard to remember which character is which for the first several chapters. Since this is set in the WWII time frame you expect it to begin during the 1930s but it goes back to the 1920s in order to set up the struggle and changing circumstances for each character. This leads to the book being too long. It probably should have been written in two parts.
  • Book was too long and drawn out

    2
    By anne1224
    Could not get thru this book. Too much detail and lost interest. Had high hopes, but was disappointed.
  • World War II Historical Fiction

    5
    By cassiew16
    Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini World War II Historical Fiction is one of the best books I have read this year. There are are so many true facts it almost reads like non fiction. The characters, their lives and details are very realistic. I did not see any political basis with the characters no matter their nationality. Every German, Russian or American character was portrayed as human with good traits and bad. I was encouraged by the challenge that each person is responsible to struggle against the evil in this world.

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