About the Book

LibraryReads Selection

Amid the ashes of Nazi Germany's defeat, Marianne von Lingenfels returns to the once grand castle of her husband's ancestors, an imposing stone fortress now fallen into ruin following years of war. The widow of a resistor murdered in the failed July, 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Marianne plans to uphold the promise she made to her husband's brave conspirators: to find and protect their wives, her fellow resistance widows. 

As Marianne assembles this makeshift family from the ruins of her husband's resistance movement, she is certain their shared pain and circumstances will hold them together. But she quickly discovers that the black-and-white, highly principled world of her privileged past has become infinitely more complicated, filled with secrets and dark passions that threaten to tear them apart. Eventually, all of the women must come to terms with the choices that have defined their lives before, during, and after the war—and each with their own unique share of challenges. 

In this evocative and utterly enthralling novel, Jessica Shattuck offers a fresh perspective on one of the most tumultuous periods in history. Combining piercing social insight and vivid historical atmosphere, The Women in the Castle is a dramatic yet nuanced portrait of war and its repercussions that explores what it means to survive, love, and, ultimately, to forgive in the wake of unimaginable hardship.

Critical Praise

“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

-

Product Details

• ISBN: 9780062563675
• ISBN 10: 006256367X
• Imprint: William Morrow Paperbacks
• On Sale: 01/02/2018
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.900 in (d)
• Pages: 400
• List Price: $16.99
• BISAC1 : FICTION / Historical
• BISAC2 : FICTION / Literary
• BISAC3 : FICTION / Family Life