The Paris Architect

Books | Fiction / Historical / 20th Century / World War II

3.9

(3.7K)

Charles Belfoure

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!"A gripping page-turner...a riveting reminder of sacrifices made by history's most unlikely heroes." —Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We HideAn extraordinary book about a gifted architect who reluctantly begins a secret life of resistance, devising ingenious hiding places for Jews in World War II Paris.In 1942 Paris, architect Lucien Bernard accepts a commission that will bring him a great deal of money – and maybe get him killed. All he has to do is design a secret hiding place for a Jewish man, a space so invisible that even the most determined German officer won't find it while World War II rages on. He sorely needs the money, and outwitting the Nazis who have occupied his beloved city is a challenge he can't resist.Soon Lucien is hiding more souls and saving lives. But when one of his hideouts fails horribly, and the problem of where to conceal a Jew becomes much more personal, and he can no longer ignore what's at stake.Book clubs will pore over the questions Charles Belfoure raises about justice, resistance, and just how far we'll go to make things right.Also by Charles Belfoure:The Fallen ArchitectHouse of Thieves

World War 2

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More Details:

Author

Charles Belfoure

Pages

400

Publisher

Sourcebooks, Inc.

Published Date

2013-10-08

ISBN

1402284322 9781402284328

Ratings

Google: 3

Community ReviewsSee all

"Amazing, eye opening read."

Linda Dziekan-DeRosa

"4.5 rounded up"

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Paul Garcia

"The Paris Architect was amazing!!! The characters were the best and the worst of humanity all living in one of the most trying times in world history. Charles Belfoure's story of heroism, strength and self-sacrifice in a time when such actions would have meant death by the Gestapo or torture followed by death in a death camp if they had been discovered. Mr. Bernard was an architect in Paris during Germany's occupation of France in World War II. Desperate for work, he became a collaborator with the Germans to build a factory for a wealthy man. In exchange for the commission of a lifetime, he was asked for his assistance in building hiding places for Jews in homes and apartments all over Paris. At first, the selfish and cowardly Bernard took the money and commission so that he might take care of himself, his wife Celeste and his mistress. Bernard eventually realized that his designs for hiding places actually saved lives which changed his mind about helping the Jews. Once an indifferent agnostic living only for himself, he begins to care for the plight of the Jews and also finding love where he least expected and people that he truly cared about. Anyone interested in fiction centered around World War II and the Holocaust will enjoy this harrowing tale of survival, morals and love for all mankind. Highly recommended for audiences 20+ especially for language, scenes of torture and violence, and sexual content."

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Allison Freeman

"I just love any story about the way people behaved during WWII. A clever architect finds new life designing hiding places for Jews in German occupied Paris. Loved it!"