About:
A Place to Hide by Ronald H. Balson is a historical fiction story following a US State Department diplomat during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Mr. Balson is a published author, educator, and an attorney.
- 304 pages
- Publisher : St. Martin’s Press
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 1250282489
My rating for A Place to Hide – 5
Buy A Place to Hide from Amazon.com*
More books by Ronald H. Balson*
Thoughts:
This is an interesting novel about the Netherlands before and during the Nazi occupation. I found the research to be excellent, this is a true historical fiction, not a story which takes place in the past. The main characters in the book are fictional, however they live through historical events, interacting with people that existed.
Most WWII novels focus on atrocities, I assume that’s what people want. A Place to Hide by Ronald H. Balson, however, focuses on the groups of Dutch citizens who, at great personal risk, made a positive difference to save lives.
After reading historical fiction books, I always make sure to read the author’s notes at the end, when available. In the Book Lover’s Library I learned more about English lending libraries, and in this book I took the time to look up the creche, a nursery school that played a part in the story.
The Nazis arrested a large number of Amsterdam’s Jews and put them in the Jewish Theater, Hollandsche Schouwburg, but allowed the children to be put in a nursery on the other side of the street headed by Henriëtte Pimentel. Ms. Pimentel was an educator and a member of the Dutch resistance who dvices a plan to sneak out the kids and have them adopted by Christians. All the while, the manager of Hollandsche Schouwburg, Walter Süskind, erased the children’s names from the German lists.
Another amazing World War II story.
In a time when Jews around the world are being vilified and antisemitism is running wild under the guise of “protest” and “intellectualism”, it’s important to remember the consequences of such rhetoric.
Synopsis:
Theodore Haritgan, a man in his late 90s has been contacted by Karyn, a Holocaust survivor, hoping to find her sister. She was adopted by a family and her identity changed to save her life, however her true name was lost, and she hoped he can help her while, at the same time, writing his biography.
Teddy, the son of a powerful DC insider has gotten a promotion and an opportunity to get ahead in the US State Department. He is placed in the Consulate in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to process visas for refugees from the Nazi war machine.
Teddy hates his job but loves Amsterdam. Soon he falls in love with a Jewish woman, Sara, and the couple decides to adopt a young refugee named Katy. However, even as a wife of a diplomat Sara is unable to escape Europe and Teddy stays realizing that he holds the lives of his new family in his hands.
Buy A Place to Hide from Amazon.com*
More books by Ronald H. Balson*
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account, the money is usually spent on books
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