Tag Archive | Imogen Matthews

The Girl With Two Names by Imogen Matthews

May28

Powerful & Engaging

The Girl With Two Names by Imogen Matthews is a powerful historical novel that is grounded in facts.

We follow the leading lady who is Dutch through her wartime experiences in World War II.

We ‘travel’ from Holland to Britain and back again, as she is part of the S.O.E. and parachuted into Holland. “I couldn’t just sit back and accept what the Germans were doing to the Dutch.”

The Nazis quickly took over much of mainland Europe. Their intelligence was one step ahead of the British, meaning they were ready and waiting for any parachute drops.

The leading lady has a dreadful second half of the war as she is in Ravensbrück and then Mauthausen. Kindness was in short supply but grabbed when seen. “Lotte’s kind, wise words… seemed to shine like a beacon in the darkness.” The women pulled together in order to keep going. They held on to the hope of a better future.

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Only I Can Save Them by Imogen Matthews

Oct10

Unravelling The Truth

Only I Can Save Them by Imogen Matthews is a powerful dual timeline novel that has its’ roots in facts as we follow photographer Rudolf Breslauer from Leipzig in 1936 and onwards. The second period is in present day and seen through the eyes of Rudolf Breslauer’s great granddaughter.

The novel spans the Second World War years as we follow Rudolf Breslauer and his family from their home in Amsterdam (where they located to avoid the persecution) to the camp of Westerbork, which was a holding camp for Dutch Jews before continuing on to Auschwitz, Birkenau or Theresienstadt.

In present day, a great granddaughter finds a photo of her grandmother aged thirteen in a book. She wants to seek the truth about her grandmother’s family and their wartime experiences.

For all of her life, the grandmother has kept quiet but as she approaches the end of her life, is it now time for the truth to come out?

Rudolf Breslauer did what he could in order to protect his family. He was chosen as the official photographer of Westerbork – but there were only so many photos that the commandant wanted before it would be a one-way ticket to Auschwitz.

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The Boy In The Attic by Imogen Matthews

Sep29

Unsung Heroes

The Boy In The Attic by Imogen Matthews is a powerful dual timeline novel that I read in just one sitting. It is a fictional tale but has its roots in fact.

The action is set in present day in both Britain and Holland, alternating with war-torn Holland in 1945. We hear voices in the past and present that are linked by genes.

Holland in 1945 was a precarious place to be. It was still occupied by the Nazis who were determined to continue their reign of terror even though they were clearly losing the war at this point.

We hear of the brave members of the resistance who hide and move those as needed.

Resistance members needed to blend in and also disrupt the Nazi war machine. A brave female resistance fighter finds herself socializing with the Nazis. It is a dangerous position to be in as she listens for secrets. She could also be accused of fraternizing with the enemy.

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The Girl With The Red Hair by Imogen Matthews

Mar22

Extraordinary Bravery

The Girl With The Red Hair by Imogen Matthews is a powerful historical novel that is grounded in fact.

The action is set in the Netherlands during World War II. We see the lives of the Dutch move from freedom to persecution as the Nazis marched in and tightened their grip on the country.

We witness the fear as good people hide their Jewish friends and strangers. We can understand the frustration of those in hiding – but is it really worth the risk of going outdoors?

Ordinary people commit extraordinary acts of bravery. It is surprising to learn of the hidden talents of some – being able to forge documents, de-code messages etc.

We follow members of the resistance. They are asked to do things one would never usually dream of – such as handling a gun.

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