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Cover of MARSEILLE 1940
4.47

Based on 595 Goodreads ratings

MARSEILLE 1940

by France’s collapse, most Americans opposed helping refugees. Running for reelection in November, Franklin D. Roosevelt knew that supporting immigration was a sure loser at the polls. Some readers will recognize Wittstock’s hero, Varian Fry, a young New York journalist: He is at the heart of Julie Orringer’s 2019 novel The Flight Portfolio, which inspired the Netflix series Transatlantic. Together with a few activists, Fry raised money and founded the Emergency Rescue Committee. Carrying a list of names, including 200 German\u002Dlanguage authors provided by Thomas Mann, he traveled to Marseille in August 1940, assigned to spend a few weeks organizing an office to aid refugees. He remained for more than a year. On arriving, Fry realized that thousands needed help to survive as well as navigate absurd procedures for obtaining paperwork to live, travel, and leave France. Fiercely idealistic, he did what had to be done, much of which was illegal and expensive\u003B this offended the ERC, which demanded his return, and the State Department, which refused to renew his passport and denounced him to the Vichy government. Fry finally returned in the fall of 1941\u003B declared persona non grata, he received little thanks. Wittstock detours regularly for accounts of refugees. Readers may recognize names like Max Ernst, Hannah Arendt, Marc Chagall, and Heinrich Mann, but most will be as unfamiliar as they were to Fry, who rescued more than 1,000 people, a lifesaving feat because, of course, death in concentration camps awaited many who were left behind."

Book Details

Publisher:France after its
Published:1940-01-01
Pages:240
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781509565

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the tense, occupied streets of Marseille during the darkest days of World War II, following a young protagonist whose world is upended by the Nazi ...

Our Review

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the tense, occupied streets of Marseille during the darkest days of World War II, following a young protagonist whose world is upended by the Nazi invasion of France. The narrative masterfully captures the palpable fear and moral complexity of survival, as ordinary citizens are forced to make impossible choices between collaboration and resistance. Through vivid, sensory details of the bustling port city now under a shadow, the book brings history to life with an immediacy that is both educational and deeply compelling for a young adult audience. It’s a powerful exploration of courage set against a meticulously researched backdrop.

What sets this story apart is its focus on the grey areas of war, where heroes are flawed and survival is not a simple matter of good versus evil. Teen readers will connect with the protagonist's internal struggles, the weight of secrets, and the forging of unexpected alliances in a world turned upside down. Parents and educators will appreciate the book’s ability to spark meaningful conversations about ethics, history, and resilience without shying away from difficult truths. This is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant journey that leaves a lasting impression about the human capacity for bravery in the face of overwhelming oppression.

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