Summary:
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.
My take: 4 looks
I really enjoy historical fiction, and if there is a unique premise that I’ve never read before, even better! This was just that sort of book.
Set in Paris during the Nazi occupation of World War II, this is a much more complex novel than it first appears on the surface. The basic story involves a wealthy French industrialist requesting assistance from an architect to make renovations to a property. Turns out that the renovation requested is a hiding place for a renowned Jewish man.
And the story is set. The complexity of the novel, however, is in the characters. The architect, Lucien, has definite feelings and attitudes toward Jews, but they are based on stereotypes and rumors. He is naturally reluctant at first to help the businessman, Manet, knowing that work of this nature could lead to his execution. However, the money offered by Manet, as well as the satisfaction of outsmarting the Nazis, proves to be difficult to turn down.
The journey of Lucien’s feelings and impressions of his fellow Frenchmen, who happen to be Jewish, is subtly presented throughout the storytelling. He discusses with Manet these changes to his ideals as he learns about Jewish oppression, torture, and murder by not only the Germans, but also at the hands of complicit French citizens. When one of his hiding places doesn’t work as planned, he is faced with the very real result of hate.
I also loved how the German side is represented. Like in the movie Schindler’s List, the reader is introduced to the sadistic and tortuous personalities that pervaded the ranks of German soldiers. Torturing almost seems a pleasure to them, as their education grows in just how much the human body can tolerate. On the other hand, there are several characters who see their similarities as being much larger than their differences, and this causes surprising acts of kindness sprinkled throughout a harrowing time.
I was surprised to find that this is Belfoure’s first novel. It is an impressive one. I look forward to other titles by him, and recommend this one in the meantime.
Highly recommended.
