Resistance Women

A Novel

By: Jennifer Chiaverini

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

From the New York Times best-selling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, an enthralling historical saga that recreates the danger, romance, and sacrifice of an era and brings to life one courageous, passionate American - Mildred Fish Harnack - and her circle of women friends who waged a clandestine battle against Hitler in Nazi Berlin.

After Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish marries brilliant German economist Arvid Harnack, she accompanies him to his German homeland, where a promising future awaits. In the thriving intellectual culture of 1930s Berlin, the newlyweds create a rich new life filled with love, friendships, and rewarding work - but the rise of a malevolent new political faction inexorably changes their fate.

As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party wield violence and lies to seize power, Mildred, Arvid, and their friends resolve to resist. Mildred gathers intelligence for her American contacts, including Martha Dodd, the vivacious and very modern daughter of the US ambassador. Her German friends, aspiring author Greta Kuckoff and literature student Sara Weiss, risk their lives to collect information from journalists, military officers, and officials within the highest levels of the Nazi regime.

For years, Mildred’s network stealthily fights to bring down the Third Reich from within. But when Nazi radio operatives detect an errant Russian signal, the Harnack resistance cell is exposed, with fatal consequences.

Inspired by actual events, Resistance Women is an enthralling, unforgettable story of ordinary people determined to resist the rise of evil, sacrificing their own lives and liberty to fight injustice and defend the oppressed.

This audiobook includes an episode of the Book Club Girl Podcast, featuring an interview with Jennifer Chiaverini about Resistance Women.

©2019 Jennifer Chiaverini (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Resist at all costs!

I was shocked and a little dismayed that I had never heard these women’s stories before reading this book... but that’s what happens when patriarchy and McCarthyism color your history. I will definitely be looking up the real history. I also really appreciate how well the author describes the rise of fascism in Germany and the real, fatal consequences of having a majority of the population either celebrate it or look the other way entirely. As we watch events unfold in the US and across the world with a resurgence of the far right, I hope we all have the courage of these women to continue to resist.

Resist

This is such a good book. I love reading historical fiction especially about the world wars. I love too that the characters are real historical heros.

Difference story

So many stories of WW2 tell stories of horrors of concentration camps. This was interesting because it told the story of other citizens of Germany and what life meant to them during this time. A group of intellectuals from different backgrounds who fought to free Germany through the women’s perceptions. She took a little known story and brought it to life. A thought provoking book.

Great read!

Loved this chronological order story worth the time !!
The story the truths the people all touch your heart

Inspired reminder

This book serves as inspiration and reminds one of the importance of speaking out against bigotry. It is shocking that racism and prejudice still lurk in our midst in the 21st century, after all this time.

It was uncanny that while I was listening to this story, Trump was on his teetering, bigotted throne, BLM was gaining momentum and brutal police actions in the US were being bought into the worldwide public domain. Aside from that, I am South African and I was dumbstruck at the similarities of how - rather simply put - demeaning laws that were able to be implemented through fear-inducing indoctrination and a ruthless state security, were the very same systems and methods used to implement Apartheid laws in South Africa post WW2. Thus allowing for a morally depraved system of governance to become legal.

To quote Dimitri Tsafendas who finally assassinated the then president of SA and architect of Apartheid, Hendrik Verwoed, "Verwoed was Hitler's best student". It seems that I digress from a book review but my point is that while listening to this book all this was going on and my own country's history was going through my mind. Although he can't be blamed for all of humanity's failings, the parallels were astounding.

What absolute courage and moral strength of character it would have taken to stand up against Hitler's ruthless policies and internal security forces - the brown shirts (SA) and the SS. The gradual build up towards war is wonderfully outlined in the book and seen through the different female characters' viewpoints, and clearly illustrates how hard it must have been to go against this increasingly suffocating, restricting tide.

I did find the character development lacking as I didn't feel a strong connection to them, sadly, as I usually do when reading a novel. However, knowing these women (except one) were based on real people and true events makes me think of them and their stories often, long after listening to the book. A story of friendships formed and tragically lost and of moral strength in a harrowing period of history. I am grateful to these brave women and men (and to the many others, who in similar situations at another time and place, have done the same) and to the author for putting this story to paper. We need to be reminded lest we forget.

Added edit (1 year later) : I have so often thought of this book while we wade our way through this ridiculous time of lies, hidden agendas and mandatory and abusive rule of law that has crept in throughout the world through the repetitive, simple tool used to control the masses throughout history: Fear. And then the next: divide and rule. All in a space of one year since listening to this book. It sends alarm bells screeching in my head. What these courageous young people fought and died for - Freedom - we must not give away with such ease.

Very timely can apply today

How many times have you asked, how did this get out of control? Why did Germans comply so easily? Because Jennifer Chiaverini wrote this story in chronological order with few flash backs, you see starting as early as 1929 the profession of a country ripe for mad dictator to control a population of seemingly good people. Some of the characters were real & their story needed to be told.

Great book

This is one of the best World War II novels I’ve listened to. If you liked the Huntress, Nightingale, and/or the Alice Network this book is for you. What I really loved was how informative it was about the years leading up to the war and how German culture, life, and politics changed. If you’re debating listening to this one just do it!!!! And then check out the above mentioned if you haven’t already

Women in World War II Germany.

A must read. True story of women both German and American who resisted the Nazi along with their husbands before and through World War II. You feel like you are there with them.

Wow!

Great development of characters and wonderful depiction of Germany post/during ww2. Courageous women and men during very perilous times. Great glimpse of history.

Amazing

The story line was amazing! The reader was wonderful speaking as men and women, Americans, French and Germans. Great listen!!