The Nightengale by Kristin Hannah (2015 fiction)
I am a long-time fan of Kristin Hannah, but this book is really special. Isabelle Rossignol and her sister Vianne Mauriac are sisters in World War II France. After a difficult childhood, Vianne is married with a child, while the younger Isabelle has run away from several boarding schools, only to have her father reject her again. She and Vianne have a tenuous relationship. Vianne’s husband is drafted by the French military, leaving her to manage their farm. All too soon, France is occupied by the Nazis, and the life Vianne cherishes changes drastically. The rebellious Isabel, who wants to “do something” to help her country, becomes involved with the French Resistance and ultimately becomes “The Nightingale,” guiding downed Allied pilots over the Pyrenees into Spain to escape capture by the Nazis. This is a beautifully detailed novel, based on fact, which describes the horror of war and the courage of many of the French citizens, who endured great hardship but managed not only to survive themselves but also to save others. Recommended.
Reviewed by Ginger Russell
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