Author: Susan Shalev | Genre: Historical Fiction | Pages: 304
If there’s one genre I can never get enough of, that’s historical fiction. It’s needless to say that I’m always on the lookout for good books in the genre. Coming across Susan Shalev’s ‘The German Dressmaker’, I hardly knew what was in store for me. Let’s just say, it was a long while before I finished a book in one sitting; let alone fall in love with every word, every page, every little detail. This book is a gem in the genre. And if you haven’t read it yet, well, let me tell you why you need to pick this book right away.
The Review
In ‘The German Dressmaker’, written by Susan Shalev, readers experience an thrilling journey through the historical landscape of World War II; infamous for gruesome horrors unleashed on humanity – the unforgettable holocaust. Against that backdrop, Shalev manages to weave a heart-warming tale of love, sacrifice, desperation, and resilience.
The year is 1937, and against the backdrop of a Germany on the cusp of war, a young and gifted aspiring seamstress named Lily finds her heart captivated by Heinrich, a charismatic major in Hitler’s formidable Wehrmacht. Their burgeoning love story unfolds as a beautiful and hopeful romance, where Lily dares to dream of a future illuminated by shared aspirations; hard to imagine, harder yet of realising.
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However, Heinrich conceals a perilous secret, one that, if unveiled, would jeopardize not only his own life but also cast a shadow of danger over Lily’s existence. As the specter of impending war looms larger, the weight of their hidden truths becomes increasingly burdensome. In a world taken over by darkness and plagued by secrets, the lovers are inexorably torn apart, becoming casualties of a world consumed by the chaos of war.
From the very first pages, you’re drawn into the book with the vivid details spun with the choicest of words in Shalev’s masterful writing style capturing the poignant love story of Lily and Heinrich, and the horrors of war looming over their innocent love. With artful prose, she captures the blossoming romance against the ominous backdrop of war, immersing the audience in a world teetering on the brink of darkness. The characters are dipped in a rare candour suffused with profused humility that one can only revel in their character portrayals with enthused elation.
Lily has faced adversities since a very young age and yet manages to remain an indomitable character with much integrity, depth, and calibre. Her unwavering strength and determination to piece together her constantly challenged stature in a war-torn society serve as potent sources of inspiration. Heinrich is equally powerful a character, strong enough to stand up to his rights and principles, and mellow enough to fall in love with a woman with a troubled past and be her confidante and life support. Both these characters are utterly lovable, adorable, and memorable characters.
The writing style is one worth a mention since it holds together this beautiful story of love and its core characters, right in the nook, inviting readers to come fall in love with these characters and live their story. The historical details, the accuracy, the meticulous research, and acute depictions of elements local and global, tell us how ingenious the author is with her craft and how focused she was at what she set out to achieve this book. Shalev’s writing is a beautiful synchronization of poignancy, passion, and perfection, successful at penning a riveting narrative that refuses to be set aside, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, yearning for resolution.
In a nutshell, ‘The German Dressmaker’ is a story that leaves a profound and enduring impact on its readers; one that will not leave their minds anytime soon. For those in search of an absorbing historical fiction novel that delves deeper into the intricacies of love challenged by war, Susan Shalev’s creation is a literary fiction masterpiece not to be missed. While it is undoubtedly a character-driven narrative, the author does not shy away from depicting the horrors of the war. Inspired by historical truths during World War II, this is an indelible narrative that refuses to be forgotten once embarked upon. It is a story of love cruelly tampered with by the relentless march of tragedy, a tale of two star-crossed souls ambushed by fate determined to keep them apart.
About the Author
Although I have only found the courage later in life to try my hand at penning fiction, writing has always been a part of who I am. For a large part of my working life I was a writer and editor for numerous academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations, where I covered an exciting range of topics from nanotechnology to philosophy and from virtual reality to Seeing Eye dogs. My motto is it’s never too late to pursue a dream. At age fifty eight I enrolled for a PhD in Anthropology and Sociology and five years later was awarded my doctorate. During this period I fell in love with research and now having left behind my professional obligations I continue to research and write for my own pleasure. I am an ex-pat Brit living in Israel on a farm with my husband and two horses, and when I’m not writing I am reading, doing Pilates or entertaining my eleven grandchildren.
P.S.: I received a review copy from the author, but the review remains unbiased.
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