The Last Train to London

by Meg Waite Clayton

Book Overview

National Bestseller

A Historical Novels Review Editors' Choice - A Jewish Book Award Finalist

"An absolutely fascinating, beautifully rendered story of love, loss, and heroism in the dark days leading up to World War II. . . . A glowing portrait of women rising up against impossible odds to save children." --Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Great Alone...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062946935
• ISBN13: 9780062946935
• Release Date: September 2019
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.6" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Historical/ Fiction during world war ll,

What a wonderful Story ! This story is brilliant, and chilling, at the same time. It is full of history and everything that went on when the Nazi's were trying to rid themselves of the Jewish Children. It is about one Very Brave and courageous Dutch women, Truus Wijsmuller who risks her life to smuggle the children out of Nazi Occupied Austria, to countries that are willing to take them. As the war and the Nazi's advance, her task of saving the children becomes even more risky, as countries across Europe start to close their borders.Tante Truus, as the children call her, is still determined to keep rescuing as many as she can.This story is full of love, and hope, and REMARKABLE courage to not only Truus Wijsmuller, but to ALL the women involved with her, who lent her a hand, and did whatever they could to make this all happen for the children. It will move you to tears, fill you with hope, as the novel is threaded with the story of not only the Kindertransport, but of two young teenagers, Zofie- Helene, who is Christian, and her best friend Stephan Neuman, who is Jewish.They come from entirely two different families, Stephan from a wealthy family, Zofie..from a regular walk of life family, who's mother writes and edits a anti- Nazi newspaper. The story takes us through their difficult lives as the Nazi's invade, and Stephan's family losses all their wealth, his father is taken to a work camp, and Stephan and his young five year old brother are left with their dear, very sickly mother. Zofie, who's father had died many years before, is also affected, when her Mother is picked up by the Gastpo, because of the newspaper stories she writes against Hitler. Together you feel all their pain of there shattered lives, their carefree innocence taken away, and though, each will not admitt to the other, a growing love between the two of them. All I can say about this wonderful story, is that there Really are Angels on Earth, Truus is absolutely beyond a doubt one if them !!. The Author Meg Waite- Clayton has written a wonderful novel, filled with love, hope, compassion, courage, of how Truus, would rise up to do what almost seemed impossible...helping to save lives of young children...who will probably never see their parents again, and whose parents had the most heartbreaking decision of their lives, to send their loved children away forever, to live with strangers, but to at least survive, and hopefully grow, to have a good life. I truly cannot say enough about this author and how she brought truth and history, and the fictional characters of Zofie, and Stephan to life, and intertwined them so well into this story, of mostly truth ! I recommend this gorgeous book, that will keep readers at the edge of their seats, as the last kindertransport leaves against all odds, to make their way to London, and freedom. ABSOLUTELY deserves MORE than 5 stars !!!! Keeper for sure !!

Loved this book

I loved this book so much. The characters were amazingly well written and I teared up multiple times while reading this book. I read it in 3 days because I couldn't put it down. Meg Waite Clayton is a very talented writer. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. Read this book, you will not regret it.