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A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.
France, 1939 – In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France … but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can … completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.
With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.
Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year • People’s Choice Favorite Fiction Winner • #1 Indie Next Selection • A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year
Praise for The Nightingale:
“Haunting, action-packed, and compelling.” ―Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Absolutely riveting!…Read this book.” ―Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director of the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute
“Beautifully written and richly evocative.” ―Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A hauntingly rich WWII novel about courage, brutality, love, survival―and the essence of what makes us human.” –Family Circle
“A heart-pounding story.” ―USA Today
“An enormous story. Richly satisfying. loved it,” ―Anne Rice
“A respectful and absorbing page-turner.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Tender, compelling…a satisfying slice of life in Nazi-occupied France.” ―Jewish Book Council
“Expect to devour The Nightingale in as few sittings as possible; the high-stakes plot and lovable characters won’t allow any rest until all of their fates are known.” ―Shelf Awareness
“I loved The Nightingale.” ―Lisa See, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Powerful…an unforgettable portrait of love and war.” ―People
From the Publisher
Publisher : St. Martin’s Griffin
Publication date : April 25, 2017
Edition : Reprint
Language : English
Print length : 608 pages
ISBN-10 : 1250080401
ISBN-13 : 978-1250080400
Item Weight : 1.15 pounds
Dimensions : 5.55 x 1.55 x 8.25 inches
Lexile measure : HL740L
Best Sellers Rank: #14 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in World War II Historical Fiction #7 in Family Life Fiction (Books) #13 in Women’s Domestic Life Fiction
Customer Reviews: 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 373,988 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Customers say
Customers find this novel well-written with a gripping story that keeps them engaged. The book features strong female characters and explores the resilience of the human spirit through the experiences of two sisters during World War II. Customers describe it as heart-wrenching and deeply moving, with one customer noting its multifaceted look at love of family.
Sherry Lynn –
The book of my life time.
The Nightingale is the most powerful, emotionally resonant book I’ve ever read. I don’t say that lightly, it’s my favorite book of all time. Kristin Hannah masterfully tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, during World War II, and the way their lives unfold, so differently, yet so beautifully, absolutely gutted me.This story isn’t just about war, it’s about survival, sacrifice, love, resilience, and the quiet (and loud) ways women show courage. I laughed, I sobbed, I had to stop and sit with certain scenes because they hit so deeply. The writing is lyrical, the pacing is perfect, and the emotional depth is like nothing I’ve experienced in a novel before.Content note: This book deals with death, violence, wartime trauma, and loss. It’s intense and heartbreaking, but so worth the emotional weight if you’re in the right headspace.I’ll carry this story with me forever. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
Leslie Shaw –
Unforgettable!!
Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale is a masterpiece that takes hold of your heart from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Her ability to paint characters with such depth and honesty is nothing short of brilliant. Both sisters, with all their strengths, flaws, fears, and fierce courage, feel achingly real—you can’t help but see yourself in their struggles and triumphs.The writing is beautifully atmospheric, transporting you straight into war-torn France. You can almost feel the chill of the French countryside, hear the distant rumble of planes overhead, and experience the raw tension of living under Nazi occupation. Hannah’s research is evident in every detail, making this not just a novel but an immersive journey through one of history’s darkest times.This book doesn’t just tell a story. It makes you feel it. Love, sacrifice, heartbreak, resilience… it’s all here, woven together in a way that will stay with you long after the final page. If you only read one historical fiction novel this year, let it be The Nightingale. Absolutely unforgettable.
JBenoit –
Epic and powerful story of survival and strength
‘In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.’Wow… what a completely epic and powerful story this book was! This is a book that is subtle in its brilliance, it’s one of those books that gets even better the more you sit and think about it. I’m still kind of in awe as I sit here and reflect back on the sheer magnitude of everything that happened over the course of this book. This isn’t the type of book I typically read but I’ve heard so many people talking about it and with nearly 14,000 5-star reviews, how could I not check it out? I’m very glad I did because it was such a moving experience and it really makes you reflect on your own life and certainly will make you thankful for the freedoms we enjoy each day. It wasn’t over the top or gratuitous but it was a very real and honest portrait of life for women in France during WWII and the journey of two sisters as they set out on two very different paths towards survival and freedom in this horrific era.The story centers around two sisters, Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossingol. Vianne, the older and more responsible of the two is living a peaceful and happy life with her husband and daughter in the French countryside. At the threat of impending war, her life is upended when her husband, Antoine, is sent off the fight for France. As Germany begins to occupy France, Vianne is forced to learn how to survive in these new times and protect her young daughter, Sophie. Meanwhile, Isabelle, the younger more rebellious sister has spent much of her childhood being bounced from one boarding school to the next. After the death of their mother when she was just 4, Isabelle has been largely abandoned by her sister and their father. Neither one knowing how to handle the rambunctious girl. As the war starts, Isabelle is not content to sit back and watch as her beloved city of Paris is overtaken by the enemy. Longing to make a difference in the war, Isabelle makes some shocking choices that will forever alter the trajectory of her life.“Tell my sister I asked about her. We parted badly.”He smiled. “I am constantly arguing with my brother, even in war. In the end, we’re brothers.”Vianne and Isabelle’s war-time experience was vastly different, but I was fascinated and inspired by each. Their situations and choices, combined with their tumultuous history, was the source of much conflict between the two. But I loved that when push came to shove, they were still sisters and that’s a bond that is pretty hard to break. I loved seeing how their paths would intersect over the course of the book, even when it was heartbreaking. As I read, I found myself waiting for the time when they would cross paths again. Their relationship was so complicated and well written, I was 100% invested in each of their journeys as well as the evolution of their relationship with each other.“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Make me forget.”“It’s not forgetting we need, Vianne,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. “It’s remembering.”I found myself relating with Vianne on many levels. I can’t imagine having to live what she lived through, but I could picture myself making some of the same decisions she did. She was cautious and was one to try to fly under the radar in order to not draw attention to herself or her daughter. She did what she had to in order to survive but she wasn’t one to take unnecessary risks. There were few exceptions to this rule as time goes on, however, and I was so proud of some of the things she was able to do. Of course my heart also broke time and again for the things she had to endure or do. She was certainly a hero in her own right for the part she played in the war, and I think she deserved just as much recognition as her sister. And both of them deserved as much recognition as the men on the front lines. I was fascinated by all of the complicated relationship dynamics at play with her and the various men in her life, from Antoine, to Beck to her father and Von Richter. It was all so well done, I know I’m not doing any of it justice here!“I hope you never know how fragile you are, Isabelle.”“I’m not fragile,” she said.The smile he gave her was barely one at all. “We are all fragile, Isabelle. It’s the thing we learn in war.”We may all be fragile, but Isabelle did not let that stop her or hold her back from setting out to make a difference in the war! She was a fighter and pretty fearless. Many of her decisions gave me anxiety but I also had huge respect for her for all that did was doing and the risks she took to try to free her country. She may have been impulsive and reckless a lot of the time but her passion and love for her country radiated from the pages of the book, I could feel it in my soul. Her relationship with Gaetan was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. It really captures the risks of giving your heart to someone in a time of war. As I said, her journey was very different from her sister’s but her experiences were equally (if not more) horrific as her sister’s. But it was her strength and her will to survive that captured my heart and inspired me throughout the entire story!I struggled with how I was going to review this book, and I know that I haven’t done a great job of capturing the depth and impact of this book. It’s really one that you have to experience for yourself. It’s painful and heartbreaking at times but it’s also inspiring and uplifting. While this is a work of fiction, it’s hard to think that people actually had to live through this during the actual war. I can’t even imagine, but like I said earlier, it’ll definitely make you thankful for the lives we have now. This book deals with loss, hardships and personal and human atrocities but it’s in the message of survival and redemption where it truly shines. I loved how it all comes together at the end, it’ll really hit you right in the heart! It was just perfectly done. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a story with an epic feel that features very real relationships and celebrates the strength and resiliency of the seldom talked about heroes of the war, the women!“It’s hard to forget,” she said quietly. “And I’ll never forgive.”“But love has to be stronger than hate, or there is no future for us.”
Audrey sisco –
Good read!
I loved this book, but not enough to give 5 stars. I know, controversial. I love Kristen Hannah. There were times this was just a little slow going for me.
D. Metcalf –
Wow, so well written I could barely put it down
This is my 2nd Kristin Hannah book (The Women was first). I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction as I prefer lighter books for pleasure reading. That said, this book (as well as The Women) was one I couldn’t put down. The mystery and suspense happened at the time as reading about the tragedy is heavy because it is true and the writer makes you feel like you are watching from around a corner.Characters and the plot are well developed. There were twists and turns that were unexpected. The writing style is easy to read. The author didn’t overly describe things where you wanted to bypass sections. The end was worth getting to (no spoiler alert here).I definitely recommend this book. Although it is about horrific and unimaginable human cruelty, it is well worth the read.
Hajar N. –
Very engrossing
jmilone –
Simplesmente maravilhoso. Emocionante do começo ao fim. Um jeito de contar uma linda e emocionante estória que nos faz viver e compartilhar sentimentos através das páginas do livro. Leitura mais que recomendável. Amei!!!
Carol00 –
I loved this book so so much
Sara –
Loved this book so much. Kristin Hannah is an amazing writer.
Bby –
What an amazing book i have just red…wowKristin Hannah writes beautifully , in a way that you can feel the characters feelings. I was completely absorbed into the story. 5/5 stars !!!!