Inspired by an astonishing true story from World War II, a young woman with a talent for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel from the international bestselling author of the “epic and heart-wrenching World War II tale” (Alyson Noel, #1 New York Times bestselling author) The Winemaker’s Wife. Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it’s an image of a book she hasn’t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names. The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II—an experience Eva remembers well—and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin’s Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don’t know where it came from—or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war? As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rémy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. The records they keep in The Book of Lost Names will become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rémy disappears. An engaging and evocative novel reminiscent of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Alice Network, The Book of Lost Names is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil.
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About the author
Kristin Harmel
Author
Kristin Harmel is an American novelist. Her most notable works include The Book of Lost Names, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Sweetness of Forgetting, and The Paris Daughter.
The Book of Lost Names
by Kristin Harmel
Books Like The Book of Lost Names
If you're looking for books similar to The Book of Lost Names, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
All the Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set during World War II, following a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths ultimately cross. The story explores themes of human connection, survival, and resilience during wartime. Similar to 'The Book of Lost Names', it delves into the personal experiences of individuals caught in the broader historical context. The novel beautifully illustrates the complexity of human experiences during war.
The Nightingale
Kristin Hannah
A powerful novel set in France during World War II, focusing on two sisters' extraordinary courage and resistance against Nazi occupation. The story explores themes of survival, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit. Similar to 'The Book of Lost Names', it highlights the bravery of ordinary people fighting extraordinary circumstances. The novel provides a deeply emotional portrayal of women's experiences during the war.
Code Name Verity
Elizabeth Wein
A gripping World War II novel about two young women working in the British war effort. The story explores friendship, espionage, and resistance through the experiences of a female pilot and spy. Like 'The Book of Lost Names', it highlights themes of courage, sacrifice, and preserving identity during wartime. The novel provides a nuanced look at women's roles in resistance movements.
The Storyteller
Jodi Picoult
A powerful novel exploring the lasting impact of the Holocaust through interconnected stories of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption. The narrative delves into themes of personal and collective responsibility. Like 'The Book of Lost Names', it provides a nuanced exploration of individual experiences during and after World War II. The novel offers a profound meditation on memory and healing.
The Alice Network
Kate Quinn
A historical fiction novel about female spies during World War I and the aftermath, intertwining stories of courage and resistance. The narrative follows women who risk their lives gathering intelligence against enemy forces. Like 'The Book of Lost Names', it explores themes of personal sacrifice and heroism during wartime. The novel showcases the incredible bravery of women in challenging historical contexts.
The Zookeeper's Wife
Diane Ackerman
A true story of a Polish couple who saved hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust by hiding them in their zoo. The novel explores themes of resistance, compassion, and human courage. Similar to 'The Book of Lost Names', it highlights extraordinary acts of bravery during wartime. The story reveals how ordinary people can make extraordinary differences in challenging circumstances.
The Lost Girls of Paris
Pam Jenoff
A gripping World War II historical fiction about female resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied France. The story follows a woman who discovers a suitcase of mysterious photographs and uncovers a network of female spies. Like 'The Book of Lost Names', it explores themes of resistance, courage, and preserving identity during wartime. The novel delves into the heroic efforts of women who risked everything to fight against Nazi oppression.
The Invisible Woman
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A historical novel about Virginia Hall, an American spy who worked with the French Resistance during World War II. The story highlights extraordinary acts of bravery and resistance against Nazi occupation. Similar to 'The Book of Lost Names', it explores themes of personal sacrifice and courage. The novel reveals the incredible contributions of women in wartime intelligence efforts.
Lilac Girls
Martha Hall Kelly
A historical novel based on true events, following three women's experiences during and after World War II. The story explores themes of survival, resistance, and healing. Like 'The Book of Lost Names', it provides a powerful narrative of individual resilience during historical trauma. The novel interweaves personal stories of courage and compassion.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Heather Morris
A powerful true story of love and survival in Auschwitz concentration camp. The novel follows Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner who becomes the camp's tattooist, documenting his remarkable journey of hope and resilience. Similar to 'The Book of Lost Names', it explores themes of survival, identity, and human connection during the Holocaust. The story reveals the power of love and human spirit in the face of unimaginable horror.
The Women in the Castle
Jessica Shattuck
A powerful novel about three German women surviving in the aftermath of World War II. The story explores themes of survival, guilt, and redemption in war-torn Germany. Like 'The Book of Lost Names', it delves into personal experiences during and after the war. The novel provides a nuanced exploration of individual choices and consequences during historical upheaval.
The Paris Architect
Charles Belfoure
A novel about an architect who designs hiding places for Jews during the Nazi occupation of Paris. The story explores themes of moral complexity and personal courage. Similar to 'The Book of Lost Names', it highlights individual resistance against Nazi oppression. The novel provides a compelling narrative of human ingenuity and moral choices during wartime.
The Kommandant's Girl
Pam Jenoff
A historical fiction novel set in Nazi-occupied Krakow, following a young Jewish woman who becomes involved in the resistance. The story explores themes of survival, identity, and moral complexity during wartime. Like 'The Book of Lost Names', it focuses on personal courage and resistance against Nazi oppression. The novel provides a compelling narrative of individual heroism in extraordinary circumstances.
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