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The English German Girl [Paperback]

Jake Wallis Simons (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
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Book Description

Publication Date: 1 April 2011
'Rosa must carry her suitcase herself. She heaves it up, walks through the doorway, looks back one final time: Papa and Mama are standing arm in arm, they are waving, but their masks have fallen away, they look hopeless, and that is the worst thing of all; Rosa turns her back and they are gone.'

The Klein family is slowly but surely losing everything they hold dear or ever took for granted as Hitler's anti-Jewish laws take hold in 1930s Berlin. In desperation, fifteen-year-old Rosa is put on a Kindertransport train out of Germany, to begin a new life in England. In a foreign country, barely able to make herself understood, she struggles to find a way to rescue her parents. Overtaken by the war, however, they gradually lose touch. Now Rosa must face the prospect of not only being unable to fulfil her vow to save her family but also of an unknown future, quite alone.

One of Britain's most compelling and original new voices, Jake Wallis Simons blends meticulous research with powerful storytelling in an epic journey from heartbreak to hope

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Product details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Polygon: An Imprint of Birlinn Limited (1 April 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1846971764
  • ISBN-13: 978-1846971761
  • Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 626,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

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Jake Wallis Simons
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Review

'Here is a new young voice in British fiction - entertaining, provocative and original. Jake Wallis Simons will surely prove a name to remember' - Beryl Bainbridge, The Independent

'Fascinating and moving' - Monica Ali

'A powerful evocation of a bygone era' - Sir Martin Gilbert

'This well-researched and very moving novel is dedicated to the children of the Kindertransport and is a fine tribute to their bravery' - The Times

'Absolutely compelling' - Sarah Crown, The Guardian

'A film waiting to happen although so vivid is Jake Wallis Simons' description and attention to detail I feel I've seen it already. If you only read one novel this year make it this one' - Lovereading --Sir Martin Gilbert

'Fascinating and moving' --Monica Ali

'A powerful evocation of a bygone era' --Sir Martin Gilbert

'Fascinating and moving' --Monica Ali

'A powerful evocation of a bygone era' --Sir Martin Gilbert

An ambitious, courageous book. --Jewish Chronicle

'A powerful evocation of a bygone era' --Sir Martin Gilbert

An ambitious, courageous book. --Jewish Chronicle

'A powerful evocation of a bygone era' --Sir Martin Gilbert

About the Author

Jake Wallis Simons is a novelist, journalist and graphic artist. His acclaimed first novel, The Exiled Times of a Tibetan Jew, was named by the Independent on Sunday as a Book of the Year. Jake writes a regular column in the Telegraph as well as features for other publications. He is a contributor to BBC Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent. Born in London in 1978, Jake was awarded a first-class degree in English from St Peter's College, Oxford, before undertaking a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. Jake is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, and Practitioner-in-Residence at Bournemouth University. He lives with his family in Winchester.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An evocative exciting read 15 April 2011
By me
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is the story of the kindertransport seen through the eyes on an affluent Jewish family from Berlin. It follows a 15 year old girl as she goes to England and experiences not only the trauma of relocation but also the agony of "not knowing".
I read this book very fast indeed and was gripped to the air of tension, the brilliant descriptions of pre war Berlin, the air of menace that faced Jews in every day life and the way that old friendships and allegiances crumbled. The second half set in London, explored the (now adult) character as she becomes a Nurse, and tries to face up to what has happened immediately post war. I was stunned by her conclusion towards the end and loved the "real life" follow up the author added.
I really recommend this book - it would also make a stimulating book group read as there are so many themes to consider.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Rather too precisely tied up: 'Closure' felt contrived 12 Jan 2012
By Lady Fancifull TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
For about the first 2/3rd of the book, I felt the author did not put a foot wrong. This was an absorbing, and beautifully written novel based on the Kindertransport, where Jewish children, with great difficulty, were weaved through impossible bureaucracy to safety, before England and Germany went to war, after the invasion of Poland. Simons writes most beautifully; he has a real flair for the surprising image 'ravens of guilt', without becoming self-consciously literary. He is excellent at the nuances of character, can evoke time and place brilliantly and precisely, and the narrative is good - for most of the time.

The evocation of the slowly gathering forces of fascism, and the inability to believe that the seriousness of its threats were real, were carefully and realistically handled, in this story of an upper-middle class, Jewish intelligentsia family, in Berlin. The feeling of despair and dislocation of the central character, Rosa, once she arrives in the UK as part of a Kindertransport group, is also beautifully and believably handled.

However (can't say too much, in order to avoid spoilers) I felt that once the novel moves from the Norwich setting, and indeed the reason for that move, the story itself became more formulaic, and Simons began using coincidence upon coincidence in order to get a nice tidy 'wrap'. The complexity and reality of his characters deserved a less predictable outcome, a greater ambiguity. Life has a habit of being untidy, unfinished. More could also have been made of the fact that German nationals - even escaped Jewish German nationals, were often suspected of being spies, and thus faced an even more desperate time as asylum seekers. This is certainly hinted at, but could have steeped a little more clearly into Rosa's daily consciousness.

I felt some red-pencil work would have benefited the book, and prevented a bit of the rather drawn out sequence in the blackout, on the streets, whilst bombs were falling. The ending was always obvious, and its length unnecessarily contrived.

Simons, despite a faltering towards the end of the book, is certainly one to watch.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very moving and absorbing book... 11 Jun 2011
By Wisskers
Format:Kindle Edition
I'd highly recommend this book. It's one of those books that you can't put down and it's easy to get lost in the world. As a book based on a Jewish family in World War II Germany, the author carefully entwines fiction with historical fact. The effect is very moving and brings history to life through the story of this Jewish girl's escape. A very beautiful read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars interesting
this book started well but had a week ending. The descriptive parts of Vienna were very interesting and gave the reader a feel for the horror of life for Jews at that time
Published 1 month ago by patricia stanton
5.0 out of 5 stars German children in the UK - based on fact
Bought as a gift for me, marvellous story once through the first few slow chapters. Recommended it to a lady who came here from Germany at the same period in history.
Published 3 months ago by annyp
4.0 out of 5 stars The English German Girl
This isn't a book I would have chosen to read as holocaust stories are too upsetting, but we had to read it for Book Club. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lovebooks
5.0 out of 5 stars An unexpected ending
The book moved seamlessly from Berlin to London. The characters were strong and individual which kept the book an interesting read from start to finish. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Susan
5.0 out of 5 stars xmas present
Can not review the book, its present too, but my girlfriend likes books about WW2 and Jews, so hope she's gonna be happy
Published 4 months ago by Szilard Paczer
5.0 out of 5 stars The German English Girl
I Knew someone who came on Kinder transport, and found this book very moving, She was so determined to get her family to safety. Loved it and shed tears with her
Published 5 months ago by grannyma73
4.0 out of 5 stars A bookclub winner
We read this book for our bookclub; it was very easy to start and kept my attention throughout. It was well described and emotional enough without being too much. Read more
Published 6 months ago by burntwood71
2.0 out of 5 stars Good story but annoying writing
It is relatively hard for me to rate this book; the story is good and interesting (so far, I haven't even finished yet). Read more
Published 7 months ago by elehn
3.0 out of 5 stars Good idea, worth a read
I've never read a novel that is based so closely on the Kindertransport experience (though I've met and worked with people who came on it). Read more
Published 8 months ago by Girl with a book
3.0 out of 5 stars A book of two halves
The first part of this book is really good. The main character, Rosa, goes through childhood as the Nazis come to power and steadily crush the Jews of Germany. Read more
Published 8 months ago by gerardpeter
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