Product Description

Catherine Dessin, a young French girl living in Paris during the occupation, falls for an older, married German officer. The novel examines the tensions this causes within her family of patriots and resistance workers. Meanwhile Klaus, the German officer, who is Oxford educated and a professed Anglophile, faces his own moral dilemma as he comes to realise, through his love for Catherine and a tragedy in his own family, the true nature of the regime he is serving.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #155783 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 257 pages

Review
All the events Ann did were excellent and we still have one more to go, Ottakar's in Bury St Edmonds on 15 April. We've had reviews in THE TIMES and THE GUARDIAN and just to recap on the publicity Ann did: THIS MORNING (ITV), THE ARTS PROGRAMME, (BBC Radio Scotland), BBC RADIO STOKE, BBC RADIO NORFOLK, BBCRADIO KENT, BBC RADIO LEEDS, BBC RADIO DEVON, FORTH FM and Cumbria Life. Still to happen are THE STEVE WRIGHT SHOW (BBC Radio 2) and LOOSE ENDS (BBC Radio

About the Author
Tory MP for Maidstone. In John Major's Government she was Home Office Minister under Michael Howard. Shadow Home Secretary 1997-2001. Unmarried and a Roman Catholic convert. Has been writing since at school where she won essay prizes. Now writing third novel.

Customer Reviews

It WAS a gripping read!
I found Catherine's story both beautiful and tragic, and a work its author should be proud of. Although a romantic at heart this was the first novel which actually made me cry. Widdecome's efforts surpassed my expectations and regardless of the criticism of authenticity and realism by the last reviewer, should be recommended as a story of forbidden love with heartbreaking comsequences. Even though it was set prior, during and subsequent to WWII, younger readers should not feel discouraged, as I myself, with no experience of the war first hand, found this to be no obstacle at all.
Widdecombe's evokes sympathy, anger and heartbreak in the reader and is in every sense a powerful read.

Have you been 17 and in love?
I read this book a while ago but still find it moveing to think about it's storyline. The insular quality of the protagonist is much like any teenager in love in that she does not worry about details in the war that do not concern her, for her the France she lives in is all about her lover. Well written and moving! I read the sequel too.

A missed opportunity
This is the first novel I’ve read by Ann Widdicombe. I have respect for her as a politician as I see her as a very sincere person.
If an unknown author had written this book it would probably never have made it into print. Ms Widdicombe has chosen a difficult subject. While I am sure she did research the period it somehow does not feel authentic.
She writes in the first person as a young girl in mid teens emerging into adulthood in occupied France during the Second World War. Unfortunately the ‘voice’ coming through is that of the author rather than the character. I feel much more could have been made of the real fear there was at this time and the dreadful reprisals meted out on the French people.
It’s highly unlikely a German General could overlook the undercover work of his girlfriend’s family, although in the end a search was made of the family home little was made of this.
References were made to the Jewish friend who disappeared with her family but again they were rather left in the air.
I am sorry to say the whole book is one dimensional and rather superficial.