The Dutch Orphan
The Dutch Orphan by Ellen Keith is a historical fiction novel published by Park Row Books in 2023, featuring 400 pages in English. Set in Amsterdam during World War II, the story follows singer Johanna Vos as she navigates the dangers of Nazi occupation. When she learns of a Jewish orphan facing deportation, Johanna takes the baby in, hiding this act of defiance even from her sister, Liesbeth, who is caught between her loyalty to family and her husband’s allegiance to the Nazis.
Readers will find a narrative that explores themes of family life and the moral complexities faced during wartime. As Johanna becomes involved in the Artists’ Resistance, an underground network supporting Jewish performers, Liesbeth grapples with her own choices, especially when a member of the Dutch Fascist Party complicates her situation. The novel delves into the evolving relationship between the sisters as they confront their differing paths amid the turmoil of 20th-century Europe.
Official synopsis Publisher
From the author of The Dutch Wife comes a riveting novel set during World War II about a woman who offers shelter to a Jewish baby, and her sister, who must choose between family loyalty and her own safety.
Amsterdam, 1941. When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased, her Jewish friends forbidden from performing with her onstage. Alongside her friend Jakob, Johanna helps organize the Artists’ Resistance, an underground network allowing Jews to perform at house concerts hosted by their allies. When Johanna hears of a Jewish orphan headed for deportation, she does not think twice. She takes the baby in as her own, hiding the truth from even her own sister, Liesbeth.
Meanwhile, Liesbeth finds herself in a dilemma, as she knows of her sister’s staunch support for the Resistance, but her husband supports the Nazis. When a charming member of the Dutch Fascist Party sets his eyes on her, her predicament only deepens. As secrets continue to grow between the sisters, severing their once-unbreakable bond, they are both forced to make choices that will alter their lives forever.
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