The Last Train to London
Summary (from the publisher): The New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Exiles conjures her best novel yet, a pre-World War II-era story with the emotional resonance of Orphan Train and All the Light We Cannot See, centering on the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe—and one brave woman who helped them escape to safety.
In 1936, the Nazi are little more than loud, brutish bores to fifteen-year old Stephan Neuman, the son of a wealthy and influential Jewish family and budding playwright whose playground extends from Vienna’s streets to its intricate underground tunnels. Stephan’s best friend and companion is the brilliant Žofie-Helene, a Christian girl whose mother edits a progressive, anti-Nazi newspaper. But the two adolescents’ carefree innocence is shattered when the Nazis’ take control.
There is hope in the darkness, though. Truus Wijsmuller, a member of the Dutch resistance, risks her life smuggling Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to the nations that will take them. It is a mission that becomes even more dangerous after the Anschluss—Hitler’s annexation of Austria—as, across Europe, countries close their borders to the growing number of refugees desperate to escape.
Tante Truus, as she is known, is determined to save as many children as she can. After Britain passes a measure to take in at-risk child refugees from the German Reich, she dares to approach Adolf Eichmann, the man who would later help devise the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question,” in a race against time to bring children like Stephan, his young brother Walter, and Žofie-Helene on a perilous journey to an uncertain future abroad.
In 1936, the Nazi are little more than loud, brutish bores to fifteen-year old Stephan Neuman, the son of a wealthy and influential Jewish family and budding playwright whose playground extends from Vienna’s streets to its intricate underground tunnels. Stephan’s best friend and companion is the brilliant Žofie-Helene, a Christian girl whose mother edits a progressive, anti-Nazi newspaper. But the two adolescents’ carefree innocence is shattered when the Nazis’ take control.
There is hope in the darkness, though. Truus Wijsmuller, a member of the Dutch resistance, risks her life smuggling Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to the nations that will take them. It is a mission that becomes even more dangerous after the Anschluss—Hitler’s annexation of Austria—as, across Europe, countries close their borders to the growing number of refugees desperate to escape.
Tante Truus, as she is known, is determined to save as many children as she can. After Britain passes a measure to take in at-risk child refugees from the German Reich, she dares to approach Adolf Eichmann, the man who would later help devise the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question,” in a race against time to bring children like Stephan, his young brother Walter, and Žofie-Helene on a perilous journey to an uncertain future abroad.
Review: I received an advance reader's edition of this novel from Goodreads.
Set in 1936, this novel is based on the story of the Vienna Kindertransports and the woman who fought to save children from the Nazis. Geertruida Wijsmuller was a Dutch Christian who was unable to have children of her own and who was passionate and heroic about risking her life to smuggle children out of Nazi controlled areas. Meanwhile in Vienna, 15 year old Stephan Neuman is the son of a wealthy Jewish family and an aspiring playwright and his best friend is Zofie-Helene, a brilliant teenage mathematician whose mother is editor of a prominent anti-Nazi newspaper. When their carefree life is upended by Nazi annexation of Austria, it is up to Geertruida, or Tante Truus, to try to save Stephan and Zofie-Helene and hundreds of other children like them.
Told in alternating perspectives, this is a heartbreaking novel that unfolds swiftly in brief, staccato chapters. Unlike some novels with alternating perspectives that tend to have one storyline that is far more appealing, Clayton does a good job of making both storylines equally appealing until the characters' narratives eventually intersect. Clayton has done an admirable job of breathing life to an untold true story of a hero who saved so many lives. Focusing in on two of the children she was fighting to save gives a face and a name to why she was fighting.
Like most novels that focus on the events surrounding World War II, this was difficult to read, particularly since the focus of this novel was largely on children. The building of tension, combined with the brevity of the chapters, made this a fast read. Geertruida Wijsmuller is a hero worth celebrating and I love that Clayton brought her story to life. A timely reminder of the need for humanity and compassion, regardless of our differences.
Stars: 4
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