April in Paris

by Michael Wallner

Book Overview

Michael Wallner's thrilling first novel, set in occupied France during World War II, movingly recounts the impossible love affair between a German soldier and a French resistance fighter.Roth, a young... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385519141
• ISBN13: 9780385519144
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Nan A. Talese
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

From a different angle

A German soldier, fluent in French, is reassigned to do translations for the SS torture team in Paris. When he is away from the "office" he tries to hide in the French culture by wearing civilian clothing. In the process he meets and falls in love with a French girl and has to continue hiding his identity from her as well as elude his commander who has taken a special liking to him. The novel is fast moving and well crafted, a superb translation of the original German. A fresh look at how a German dealt with the inhuman treatment.

Love during the German occupation of Paris

A Wermacht soldier named Roth works as a translator in Paris as the Germans occupy the city in the months leading up to the Allied invasion of World War II. He does his job by day, but by night he transforms himself into a Frenchman and takes to the streets. He rejoices in the freedom he feels whenever he is out of the restrictive uniform, walking among the Parisiennes. Naturally, he understands the enormity of the risk he is taking but cannot seem to help himself. While it's possible that he thrives on the danger, it seems more likely that Roth simply hates his day job. Shedding all vestiges of his rank allows him to pretend he's strolling around without a care in the world. "The next afternoon, desire and curiosity overcame fear once again. I pulled the checkered suit out of the wardrobe, took a fresh shirt, and picked out a tie...I was Antoine again!" Roth's wandering takes him to a bookshop where he notices a young Frenchwoman, Chantal, and falls hopelessly under her spell. Even when he discovers she's part of the French Resistance, he can't stop himself from pursuing her. He spends his daytime hours in the Rue des Saussaies, a notorious bastion of harsh interrogation and hideous torture, translating the words of the prisoners. Not a particularly queasy person, still Roth averts his eyes whenever possible as the brutality is meted out to the unfortunate numbers suspected of underground activities. Instead of spurring Roth to discontinue his evening escapades, it seems to intensify his desire to don Antoine's clothes and amble about the city. And his need to seek out Chantal. The young German soldier watches feverishly for her, haunting her hangouts in hopes of even a glimpse of her. His tenacity pays off, but as their love is the forbidden fruit, it can be nothing but doomed. Their clandestine meetings must, by necessity, be brief. Totally smitten, Roth finds that he cannot get enough of her. She dominates his thoughts constantly, and it starts to show in his attention to details. He turns dreamy, his mind drifting somewhere far from the Rue des Saussaies. Of course, the distraction does not go unnoticed. His superiors begin to pay closer attention to Roth. Soon, he finds himself in more trouble than he had imagined possible. Then an alarming message: Chantal has disappeared. Gone into hiding, he reassures himself. He consoles himself in the belief that she escaped capture. But for Roth, life without Chantal is the worst form of torture. He will risk everything to find her. Hopefully, he will be on time. Roth and Chantal's relationship is nearly as sweet as Romeo and Juliet's, and almost as tragic. Set in a time of great fear and uncertainty, APRIL IN PARIS is a stunning love story that Michael Wallner has penned with a poignancy unequaled by most historical fiction writers. --- Reviewed by Kate Ayers

Honest, emotional story

I just finished this book and I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. It was strange that as a reader you are rooting for the Nazi, "the bad guy," but that is the sign of a good storyteller when he makes the reader abandon any preconceived notions about the time, place or people. The romantic in me wanted a happy ending, but the ending I got was realistic and satisfying. I recommend this book highly.