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 authorAbsolutely riveting!...Read this book. ―Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director of the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher InstituteBeautifully 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 TodayAn enormous story. Richly satisfying. loved it, ―Anne RiceA respectful and absorbing page-turner. ―Kirkus ReviewsTender, 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 wont allow any rest until all of their fates are known.” ―Shelf AwarenessI loved The Nightingale. ―Lisa See, #1 New York Times bestselling authorPowerful...an unforgettable portrait of love and war. ―People
In Kristin Hannah's spellbinding novel, "The Nightingale," we are transported to the heart of Nazi-occupied France, where two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle Rossignol, find their lives irrevocably changed by the ravages of war.
Vianne, the elder sister, is a spirited and independent woman, married to Antoine and living in the quiet village of Carriveau. When the Nazis invade, she is determined to protect her family and her community. She transforms her home into a refuge for downed Allied airmen, risking her own life to aid the cause of freedom.
Isabelle, the younger sister, is a free-spirited artist with a thirst for adventure. When her beloved fiancé is captured by the Nazis, she embarks on a perilous journey to find him, traversing dangerous territory and encountering both kindness and cruelty along the way.
As the war rages on, Vianne and Isabelle's paths diverge, but their unwavering love for each other and their unwavering determination to survive remain unbreakable. Their stories of resilience, courage, and the enduring power of the human spirit will resonate with readers long after they finish the book.
"The Nightingale" is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that pays tribute to the strength and resilience of women during wartime. Hannah's vivid storytelling and deeply drawn characters bring the horrors and hardships of Nazi-occupied France to life, while also illuminating the extraordinary courage and selflessness of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
With its unforgettable characters, its gripping plot, and its thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, "The Nightingale" is a must-read for historical fiction fans and anyone interested in stories of courage, resilience, and the enduring power of love.
