The New York Times Book Review - Mary Pols
Shattuck's characters represent the range of responses to fascism. Her achievementbeyond unfolding a plot that surprises and devastatesis in her subtle exploration of what a moral righteousness like Marianne's looks like in the aftermath of war, when communities and lives must be rebuilt, together.
Publishers Weekly
02/27/2017
Shattuck (The Hazards of Good Breeding) explores the lives of three widows at the tail end of World War II in this redemptive tale. Marianne von Lingenfels, whose husband was one of many resisters murdered in a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler, returns to the beautiful but dilapidated Bavarian castle, Burg Lingenfels, as the war comes to an end. At the outset of the war she had promised her friend, another resister, that she would watch over his wife Benita and their child if anything happened to him. Seeking safety in numbers after the death of husbands, Marianne invites Benita to live with her—as well as another widow, Ania, and her two sons. As new chapters in their lives are written, the women come to rely on each other as a makeshift family—much as the entire country, reeling after the horrors of the war, must imagine a new future and forge a new identity. Shattuck’s latest has an intricately woven narrative with frequent plot twists that will shock and please. The quotidian focus of the story, falling on the period just after the war, provides a unique glimpse into what the average German was and was not aware of during World War II’s darkest months. Shattuck’s own German heritage and knack for historical details adds to the realism of the tale. A beautiful story of survival, love, and forgiveness. Agent: Eric Simonoff, WME Entertainment. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
If you love historical fiction, this is your must-read book: It’s captivating, fascinating, and incredibly faithful to the events as they happened, and Jessica Shattuck reveals an entirely new side of what it’s like to be a woman in wartime.” — Newsweek
“Moving . . . Shattuck’s achievement—beyond unfolding a plot that surprises and devastates—is in her subtle exploration of what a moral righteousness looks like in the aftermath of the war, when communities and lives must be rebuilt, together.” — New York Times Book Review
“A masterful epic.” — People Magazine
“A poignant, World War II page-turner.” — Marie Claire
“Offers a mesmerizing new look at the aftermath of the war . . . with insight and empathy, The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras.” — USA Today
“If you’re a historical fiction fan, this will be your new favorite novel of 2017. It’s so emotionally powerful there’s a chance the literary-induced chills will stay with you well into summer.” — Redbook Magazine, 20 Books By Women You Must Read This Spring
“Fans of The Nightingale and other classic World War II stories will fall in love with this compelling new perspective on women at war.” — Helen Simonson, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Before the War and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
“Riveting and emotional, The Women in the Castle is a WWII story like you’ve never seen before.” — Bustle
“For your friend who loves a good war drama. About a woman who plays castle with other war widows across Germany post WWII.” — The Skimm
“A virtuoso of time and place, Jessica Shattuck has created a heart-smashingly good story that will change the way you look at current events, and leave you asking, ‘What would I do if I were in these characters’ shoes?’ Powerful and prescient, an important book everyone should read.” — Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and Songs of Willow Frost
“A must-read!” — New York Post
“A vivid and gripping tale of endurance in the wake of World War II. . . . The writing is magnificent, as is Shattuck’s ability to render unimaginable circumstances with tremendous clarity and compassion. A joy to read, this is a beautiful and important book.” — Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest
“I couldn’t put Jessica Shattuck’s gorgeous novel down, an intricate and intimate portrait of the lives of three women whose fates draw them together in WWII Germany. A wonderful, wonderful read.” — Janice Y.K. Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Piano Teacher and The Expatriates
“Vivid and beautifully written . . . With extraordinary skill, knowledge, and insight, Jessica Shattuck transports us to Germany in the aftermath of World War II and into the lives of three powerfully drawn and memorable women. Compelling and very satisfying.” — Jill McCorkle, New York Times bestselling author of Life After Life
“The reader is fully immersed in the experiences of these women, the choices they make, and the burdens they carry. . . . a rich, potent, fluently written tale of endurance and survival.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Well-researched . . . Shattuck manages to be both morally tough-minded and remarkably empathetic.” — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Helen Simonson
Fans of The Nightingale and other classic World War II stories will fall in love with this compelling new perspective on women at war.
New York Times Book Review
Moving . . . Shattuck’s achievement—beyond unfolding a plot that surprises and devastates—is in her subtle exploration of what a moral righteousness looks like in the aftermath of the war, when communities and lives must be rebuilt, together.
Redbook Magazine
If you’re a historical fiction fan, this will be your new favorite novel of 2017. It’s so emotionally powerful there’s a chance the literary-induced chills will stay with you well into summer.
Jamie Ford
A virtuoso of time and place, Jessica Shattuck has created a heart-smashingly good story that will change the way you look at current events, and leave you asking, ‘What would I do if I were in these characters’ shoes?’ Powerful and prescient, an important book everyone should read.
Marie Claire
A poignant, World War II page-turner.
Bustle
Riveting and emotional, The Women in the Castle is a WWII story like you’ve never seen before.
Newsweek
If you love historical fiction, this is your must-read book: It’s captivating, fascinating, and incredibly faithful to the events as they happened, and Jessica Shattuck reveals an entirely new side of what it’s like to be a woman in wartime.
USA Today
Offers a mesmerizing new look at the aftermath of the war . . . with insight and empathy, The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras.
People Magazine
A masterful epic.
The Skimm
For your friend who loves a good war drama. About a woman who plays castle with other war widows across Germany post WWII.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Well-researched . . . Shattuck manages to be both morally tough-minded and remarkably empathetic.
Janice Y.K. Lee
I couldn’t put Jessica Shattuck’s gorgeous novel down, an intricate and intimate portrait of the lives of three women whose fates draw them together in WWII Germany. A wonderful, wonderful read.
Jill McCorkle
Vivid and beautifully written . . . With extraordinary skill, knowledge, and insight, Jessica Shattuck transports us to Germany in the aftermath of World War II and into the lives of three powerfully drawn and memorable women. Compelling and very satisfying.
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
A vivid and gripping tale of endurance in the wake of World War II. . . . The writing is magnificent, as is Shattuck’s ability to render unimaginable circumstances with tremendous clarity and compassion. A joy to read, this is a beautiful and important book.
Booklist (starred review)
The reader is fully immersed in the experiences of these women, the choices they make, and the burdens they carry. . . . a rich, potent, fluently written tale of endurance and survival.
New York Post
A must-read!
USA Today
Offers a mesmerizing new look at the aftermath of the war . . . with insight and empathy, The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras.
New York Post
A must-read!
Newsweek
If you love historical fiction, this is your must-read book: It’s captivating, fascinating, and incredibly faithful to the events as they happened, and Jessica Shattuck reveals an entirely new side of what it’s like to be a woman in wartime.
People Magazine
A masterful epic.
MAY 2017 - AudioFile
Cassandra Campbell narrates the story of three German women whose lives have seemingly been destroyed by the Third Reich. Campbell depicts the protagonists’ teen years in prewar Germany in a soft and lilting tone that evokes the joys of innocence and first romance. But as war seizes the nation, Campbell begins using a cold, didactic tone. At war’s end, each woman is emotionally scarred, but Campbell’s tone of bitter guilt gradually turns to one of self-reflection and forgiveness. Shattuck has written a beautiful, thought-provoking story, and Campbell’s masterful reading strikes just the right chord in portraying each character’s pain and joy. E.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine