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  • The Women in the Castle: A Novel
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The Women in the Castle: A Novel

4.2 out of 5 stars (13,490)

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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

GoodReads Choice Awards Semifinalist 

"Moving . . . a plot that surprises and devastates."—New York Times Book Review

"A masterful epic."—People magazine

"Mesmerizing . . . The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras."—USA Today

Three women, haunted by the past and the secrets they hold

Set at the end of World War II, in a crumbling Bavarian castle that once played host to all of German high society, a powerful and propulsive story of three widows whose lives and fates become intertwined—an affecting, shocking, and ultimately redemptive novel from the author of the New York Times Notable Book The Hazards of Good Breeding.

 Amid the ashes of Nazi Germany’s defeat, Marianne von Lingenfels returns to the once-grand castle of her husband’s ancestors, an imposing stone fortress now fallen into ruin following years of war. The widow of a resister murdered in the failed July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Marianne plans to uphold the promise she made to her husband’s brave conspirators: to find and protect their wives, her fellow resistance widows.

First Marianne rescues six-year-old Martin, the son of her dearest childhood friend, from a Nazi reeducation home. Together, they make their way across the smoldering wreckage of their homeland to Berlin, where Martin’s mother, the beautiful and naive Benita, has fallen into the hands of occupying Red Army soldiers. Then she locates Ania, another resister’s wife, and her two boys, now refugees languishing in one of the many camps that house the millions displaced by the war.

As Marianne assembles this makeshift family from the ruins of her husband’s resistance movement, she is certain their shared pain and circumstances will hold them together. But she quickly discovers that the black-and-white, highly principled world of her privileged past has become infinitely more complicated, filled with secrets and dark passions that threaten to tear them apart. Eventually, all three women must come to terms with the choices that have defined their lives before, during, and after the war—each with their own unique share of challenges.

Written with the devastating emotional power of The Nightingale, Sarah’s Key, and The Light Between Oceans, Jessica Shattuck’s evocative and utterly enthralling novel offers a fresh perspective on one of the most tumultuous periods in history. Combining piercing social insight and vivid historical atmosphere, The Women in the Castle is a dramatic yet nuanced portrait of war and its repercussions that explores what it means to survive, love, and, ultimately, to forgive in the wake of unimaginable hardship.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of April 2017: Much of the buzz touting Jessica Shattuck’s WWII novel, The Women in the Castle, likens it to Kristin Hannah’s wildly popular, The Nightingale. It’s an apt comparison—both feature brave women overcoming nearly unfathomable obstacles. But their association actually made me hesitant to pick it up. Surely the well of enthusiasm for Nazi-related dramas has to be running dry, and if it hasn’t, then an author really needs to “bring it.” Well, that well is still brimming as it turns out, and Ms. Shattuck certainly does. The women referred to in the title are widows of three conspirators involved in the assassination attempt on Hitler. Marianne von Lingenfels, whose moneyed pedigree has protected her from the more unsavory punishments of the war, has been tasked with locating the other resistance widows, and ensuring their safety. But she is no superhero. Along with the naïve Benita and inscrutable Ania, they represent the everyday, ordinary Germans swept up in the extraordinary, who survived as best they could when the right thing to do wasn’t always clear (or even an option). If you’re curious about what it was like to be a typical citizen during this time--if you struggle to comprehend how a society could become a breeding ground for Hitler’s brand of evil, The Women in the Castle offers some insight. It also draws some chilling parallels to things brewing in the political climate today. Jessica Shattuck has provided a worthy addition to the canon of great WWII literature, one that answers why the appetite for this genre has not abated: In many ways, we still haven’t learned the lessons that history has to teach us. --Erin Kodicek, The Amazon Book Review

Review

“Moving . . . Shattuck’s achievement―beyond unfolding a plot that surprises and devastates―is in her subtle exploration of what a moral righteousness looks like in the aftermath of the war, when communities and lives must be rebuilt, together.” - New York Times Book Review

“If you love historical fiction, this is your must-read book: It’s captivating, fascinating, and incredibly faithful to the events as they happened, and Jessica Shattuck reveals an entirely new side of what it’s like to be a woman in wartime.” - Newsweek

“If you love historical fiction, this is your must-read book: It’s captivating, fascinating, and incredibly faithful to the events as they happened, and Jessica Shattuck reveals an entirely new side of what it’s like to be a woman in wartime.” - Newsweek

“The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras.” - USA Today

“Vivid and beautifully written . . . With extraordinary skill, knowledge, and insight, Jessica Shattuck transports us to Germany in the aftermath of World War II and into the lives of three powerfully drawn and memorable women. Compelling and very satisfying.” - Jill McCorkle, New York Times bestselling author of Life After Life

“A poignant, World War II page-turner.” - Marie Claire

“A poignant, World War II page-turner.” - Marie Claire

“A masterful epic.” - People Magazine

“A masterful epic.” - People Magazine

“If you’re a historical fiction fan, this will be your new favorite novel of 2017. It’s so emotionally powerful there’s a chance the literary-induced chills will stay with you well into summer.” - Redbook Magazine, 20 Books By Women You Must Read This Spring

“Fans of The Nightingale and other classic World War II stories will fall in love with this compelling new perspective on women at war.” - Helen Simonson, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Before the War and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

“A vivid and gripping tale of endurance in the wake of World War II. . . . The writing is magnificent, as is Shattuck’s ability to render unimaginable circumstances with tremendous clarity and compassion. A joy to read, this is a beautiful and important book.” - Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest

“A virtuoso of time and place, Jessica Shattuck has created a heart-smashingly good story that will change the way you look at current events, and leave you asking, ‘What would I do if I were in these characters’ shoes?’ Powerful and prescient, an important book everyone should read.” - Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and Songs of Willow Frost

“The reader is fully immersed in the experiences of these women, the choices they make, and the burdens they carry. . . . a rich, potent, fluently written tale of endurance and survival.” - Booklist (starred review)

“I couldn’t put Jessica Shattuck’s gorgeous novel down, an intricate and intimate portrait of the lives of three women whose fates draw them together in WWII Germany. A wonderful, wonderful read.” - Janice Y.K. Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Piano Teacher and The Expatriates

“A must-read!” - New York Post

“For your friend who loves a good war drama. About a woman who plays castle with other war widows across Germany post WWII.” - The Skimm

“Offers a mesmerizing new look at the aftermath of the war . . . with insight and empathy, The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras.” - USA Today

“Riveting and emotional, The Women in the Castle is a WWII story like you’ve never seen before.” - Bustle

“Well-researched . . . Shattuck manages to be both morally tough-minded and remarkably empathetic.” - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Moving...Shattuck’s achievement—beyond unfolding a plot that surprises and devastates—is in her subtle exploration of what a moral righteousness looks like in the aftermath of the war, when communities and lives must be rebuilt, together.” - New York Times Book Review

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 28, 2017
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062563661
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062563668
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.17 x 9 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #580,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars (13,490)

About the author

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Jessica Shattuck
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Jessica Shattuck is the New York Times Bestselling author of Last House (forthcoming May 2024), The Women in the Castle, The Hazards of Good Breeding (a New York Times Notable Book and finalist for the PEN/Winship Award), and Perfect Life. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Glamour, Mother Jones, and Wired among others. A graduate of Harvard University, she received her MFA from Columbia University.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
13,490 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this historical fiction novel engaging and thought-provoking, with well-developed characters and a haunting storyline based on true events. The book offers a fascinating perspective on World War II, providing an excellent inside view of life in Germany, and customers appreciate how it explores human emotions and insights about human nature. The writing style is praised for its delicate grace in handling graphic parts, and customers note that the book stays with readers long after completion.
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338 customers mention content, 308 positive, 30 negative
Customers find the book engrossing and totally absorbing, with one customer noting it's worth reading more than once.
I felt The Women in the Castle novel was a good read to make you understand the feelings of the German people regarding WWII and the rise of Naziism....Read more
This is a great read! The characters are so well written. It is the best book I have read so far this year & I read a lot.Read more
This was an excellent read. Good character development. I would recommend it to those who like historical fiction....Read more
Interesting, sad.... A story of a terrible time in history when people believed a leader who lead to a path of destructionRead more
231 customers mention story, 199 positive, 32 negative
Customers enjoy the story of the book, praising its thoughtful narrative and haunting storyline, with several noting it is based on true events.
great story,where I learned more about German women during and after WWII-particularly women who were married to men who had conspired to kill Hitler...Read more
Good Story with great character development. However, I was never tempted to avoid chores to continue reading.Read more
Thought is was an interesting story of what was the plight of the women left behind when their husbands left for war, Details have helped me...Read more
...The relationships among these three make for an excellent story. And it is interesting to read about the “Good Germans” of that era.Read more
161 customers mention character development, 124 positive, 37 negative
Customers praise the rich and well-developed characters in the book, with one customer noting how they jump off the pages.
Great character development, singular imagery in this story of war and moral courage and resistance. A book to read more than once.Read more
Great story with interesting characters (even though Benita was not my favorite). Definitely a slow burn, but overall a great story!Read more
Good historical context story. Good character development but could have given us more depth. Covered a vast space of time but did pretty good Job.Read more
Average. The characters were not realistic.Read more
132 customers mention writing quality, 122 positive, 10 negative
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as well-crafted and beautiful, with particular appreciation for how the graphic parts are handled with delicate grace.
...This was well written and at the end of the book this writer explains how her mother and grandparent's lives as Germans in Nazi Germany inspired and...Read more
A truly exceptional book, very well written with wonderful visual descriptions of a devastated war town,and beautiful insights of people's feelings....Read more
Beautifully written ! The characters come alive ! Would strongly recommend to anyone interested in well-written fiction surrounding World War II.Read more
Interesting story and well-written. Captured my attention from the very beginningRead more
101 customers mention emotional, 75 positive, 26 negative
Customers find the book emotionally engaging, describing it as heart-wrenching and poignant, with one customer noting how it provides a different perspective on suffering.
Interesting, sad.... A story of a terrible time in history when people believed a leader who lead to a path of destructionRead more
...Beautifully written. Poignant and unsentimental. A story that will stay with me--as all good books do.Read more
...Realistic, maybe too real. It is a sad book, depressing. The main character, the Resister, the hero, so to speak, is not as likable as the Nazi....Read more
...Devastating and heartbreaking to see how these women survived such an unimaginable period in time. I highly recommend it!Read more
101 customers mention perspective, 99 positive, 2 negative
Customers appreciate the book's perspective on World War II, providing an excellent inside view of life in Germany and offering insights into Hitler and Germany's pre and post-war experiences.
A different view of WWII, good story & would recommend itRead more
Interesting perspective on how real Germans viewed World War II and wMy book club had a great discussionere affected by it, particularly if those...Read more
...A unique perspective that will have you thinking about the characters long after you finish the book....Read more
...It is well told, reasoned and interesting....Read more
90 customers mention thought-provoking, 89 positive, 1 negative
Customers find the book thought-provoking on many levels, providing insights about human nature and making them reconsider their perspectives.
...people caught in horrific circumstances is always grounding and thought provoking.Read more
This book was enlightening,thoughtful, and gave one a historical prospective of life during WWII from the point of view of the women who lived and...Read more
...Not a light or happy book, but definitely insightful and a rewarding addition to my knowledge of the historical period.Read more
This thought provoking novel takes the reader from the time of pre war Germany through the war, and then into the 90's....Read more
83 customers mention engaging, 62 positive, 21 negative
Customers find the book engaging, noting they couldn't put it down and it stayed with them long after finishing. One customer mentions how the time and place drew them in.
...There is so much to love about this novel. It was hard to put down and the writing is excellent. I felt transported in some sections....Read more
I love historical fiction. I wanted this to be engaging and parts of this were. I started to lose interest in the last 1/3 of the book....Read more
...It was dull, boring and I could never figure out who was who and what was going on. It was a waste of my time.Read more
...But the story is definitely worth reading. I couldn't put it down. Sad and beautiful and tragic....Read more
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