The Paris Architect

$14.99

A gifted architect reluctantly begins a secret life devising ingenious hiding places for Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris

Like most gentiles in Nazi-occupied Paris, architect Lucien Bernard has little empathy for the Jews. So when a wealthy industrialist offers him a large sum of money to devise secret hiding places for Jews, Lucien struggles with the choice of risking his life for a cause he doesn’t really believe in. Ultimately he can’t resist the challenge and begins designing expertly concealed hiding spaces–behind a painting, within a column, or inside a drainpipe–detecting possibilities invisible to the average eye. But when one of his clever hiding spaces fails horribly and the immense suffering of Jews becomes incredibly personal, he can no longer deny reality.

Written by an expert whose knowledge imbues every page, this story becomes more gripping with every life the architect tries to save.

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Description

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
An extraordinary book about a gifted architect who reluctantly begins a secret life of resistance, devising ingenious hiding places for Jews in World War II Paris.
In 1942 Paris, architect Lucien Bernard accepts a commission that will bring him a great deal of money—and maybe get him killed. All he has to do is design a secret hiding place for a Jewish man, a space so invisible that even the most determined German officer won’t find it while World War II rages on. He sorely needs the money, and outwitting the Nazis who have occupied his beloved city is a challenge he can’t resist.
Soon Lucien is hiding more souls and saving lives. But when one of his hideouts fails horribly, and the problem of where to conceal a Jew becomes much more personal, and he can no longer ignore what’s at stake.
“A beautiful and elegant account of an ordinary man’s unexpected and reluctant descent into heroism during the second world war.”—Malcolm Gladwell
Book clubs will pore over the questions Charles Belfoure raises about justice, resistance, and just how far we’ll go to make things right.

Additional information

Weight 8.25 lbs
Dimensions 5.5 × 1 × 8.25 in
Product Type