For Iris , each visit to her mother in St Mabon’s Cove, Cornwall has been the same – a serene escape from the city. But today, as she breathes in the salt air on the doorstep of her beloved childhood home, a heavy weight of anticipation settles over her.
Iris knows she’s adopted, but any questions about where she came from have always been shut down by her parents, who can’t bear to revisit the past. Now, Iris can’t stop thinking about what she’s read on the official BABY GIRL, FRANCE, 1939 – the year war was declared with Nazi Germany.
When Iris confronts her mother, she hits the same wall of pain and resistance as whenever she mentions the war. That is, until her mother tearfully hands her an old tin of letters, tucked neatly beside a delicate piece of ivory wool.
Retreating to the loft, Iris steels herself to at last learn the truth, however painful it might be. But, as she peels back each layer of history before her, a sensation of dread grows inside her. The past is calling, and its secrets are more intricate and tangled than Iris could ever have imagined.
The year is 1939, and in Paris, France a young woman is about to commit a terrible betrayal…
A beautifully written and addictively compelling historical novel about the terrible choices ordinary people were forced to make in the horrors of World War Two. If you loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz , The Alice Network and The Nightingale , you will devour this book.
Juliet Greenwood is the author of seven historical novels, her latest being with Storm Publishing. She has long been inspired by the histories of the women in her family, and in particular with how strong-minded and independent women have overcome the limitations imposed on them by the constraints of their time, and also with the way generations of women hold families and communities together in times of crisis, including WW2.
After graduating in English from Lancaster University and Kings College, London, Juliet worked on a variety of jobs to support her ambition to be a full-time writer. These ranged from running a craft stall at Covent Garden to collecting oral histories of traditional villages before they are lost forever, and more recently as a freelance editor and proof-reader.
She finally achieved her dream of becoming a published author following a debilitating viral illness, with her first novel being a finalist for The People’s Book Prize and her first two novels reaching #4 and #5 in the UK Kindle store.
Juliet now lives in a traditional quarryman’s cottage in Snowdonia, North Wales, set between the mountains and the sea, with an overgrown garden (good for insects!) and a surprisingly successful grapevine. She can be found dog walking in all weathers, camera to hand.
4.5 stars! The Last Train from Paris was the first book that I have had the pleasure of reading by Juliet Greenwood. It was a compelling historical fiction novel that was based partially on the author’s own mother’s experiences just before World War II and the Nazis took control of Paris. Juliet Greenwood’s mother had studied French near Paris when she was seventeen years old. Growing up listening to her mother’s memories of that time, helped authenticate Nora’s character that Juliet Greenwood created for The Last Train from Paris. Author, Juliet Greenwood, included strong female characters in her book who were intelligent, insightful, driven and passionate. Her research for The Last Train from Paris was impeccable and it was so well written. The chapters alternated between the war years of 1938 to 1945 and 1964. It took place in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. The Last Train from Paris grabbed me from the first page and did not let go until the satisfying ending.
Nora and Sabine met briefly at a lecture but felt a strong connection immediately. Sabine lived in Paris where she practiced journalism and was newly married. Nora aspired to become a French chef and wanted more than anything to learn from Paris’s best teachers. Sabine had heard about a cooking course that was to be taught by one of Paris’s best chefs and wasted no time in sending Nora the information. Nora convinced her parents to let her attend the school. Just as Nora was to arrive in Paris, Sabine and her husband had received some tragic news and were forced to depart from Paris and travel to her husband’s childhood home. Sabine had recently discovered that she was pregnant. The timing was not ideal. She imagined her family helping her through the birth and then providing child care for her newborn child. Now Sabine would be forced to rely on her husband’s mother for support. She wished they did not have to leave Paris but her husband had given her no choice. Sabine would cross paths with Nora after she had given birth. With the advancement of the Nazis on Paris, Nora was warned that she had to leave Paris immediately even though her course was not complete. Nora boarded the last train out from Paris. It would be a dangerous journey back to England. Sabine rushed to the train station just as Nora was boarding the train. She had mere seconds to make the hardest decision of her life. Sabine knew she had no other choice. The choice Sabine made that fateful day in Paris would haunt her for years. Sabine’s choice that she made that day impacted both women in ways they could never had imagined.
In 1964, Iris had come home to the cottage in St. Ambon’s Cove in Cornwall. Iris had grown up there and had had an idyllic childhood. She was living in London now since she had completed her studies. Iris had such fond memories of her life with her mother and father at St. Ambon’s Cove. Her mother was an accomplished chef and her father helped to locate and interrogate Nazi war criminals. Iris had known that she was adopted. Her parents shared this information with Iris when they felt she was old enough to understand. Why was her mother so hesitant, though, to share the details surrounding her adoption and birth mother with her. Every time Iris brought it up her mother managed to change the subject and avoid talking about it. Iris was determined to find out the details today. She would be insistent. To Iris’s surprise, her mother did not evade her questions this time. Rather she handed Iris a biscuit tin and told her to open it and look at the contents. Inside were photographs, letters and a postcard that displayed a picture of the Eiffel Tower. On the back of the postcard we’re the words, “Forgive Me”. Iris’s mother knew that Iris was ready to learn about her past. Over the next several hours, Iris learned everything she had longed to learn about herself, her mother and her biological mother.
The Last Train from Paris by Juliet Greenwood was gripping and inspirational. I cried, I smiled, I feared and I loved every moment of it. Juliet Greenwood created such strong and admirable female characters in The Last Train from Paris. Both Nora and Sabine were faced with hard, almost impossible decisions and yet they embraced them and did their best to live with them. The Last Train from Paris touched on choices, trust, instinct, friendship, sacrifice, loss, displacement, love, courage, revenge, separation and betrayal. It was so well written. I enjoyed how past and present alternated flawlessly. The Last Train from Paris also portrayed the desperation and fear of the Parisian people desperate to escape Paris and the occupation of the Nazis. I really enjoyed reading The Last Train from Paris and being transported to the streets of Paris and the seaside of Cornwall. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Last Train from Paris by Juliet Greenwood through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I.love j. Greenwoods writing. . It has the perfect blend between fiction and history. Her stories are gripping, This book was a tear jerker. You Will fall in love with the Main characters, and you Will understand their decisions. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
The biggest mistake with this story is that I started reading it before sleep...There was no sleep in most of the night because I had to read this beautifully, gut-wrenching story. I enjoyed it from the start till the very end.
Set in Paris, a beautiful city day and night, during World War 2, The Last Train from Paris is an engrossing, and intriguing dual-time thought-provoking novel. Loved the awesome writing style of the author and the pace at which the sequences take place.
1964: Iris wants to know who she is, she was visiting her adopted mom Nora at St Mabon's Cove, Cornwall as she is visiting from London. She could ask questions to her mum as she held her certificate of adoption she had first seen. No mother, No father, No hint of who she might have been, or even an exact place of birth. It seemed such a vague statement of her existence in the copy she had in her hands. She was born in 1939 the year war was declared in a country that is unlike Cornwall. She had always known that she was adopted but seeing Mum Nora and Dad named on an unofficial document had made it real. The adoption certificate was dated 1950, five years after the war had ended.
1939: Sabine and Nora become friends through letters, they never met until in German-occupied France just before the war broke out. Sabine was a Journalism student who lived in Colmar. Nora leaves London to study in Paris to become a chef as her father has finally been persuaded. A heavily pregnant Sabine with her husband Emil who was working in the enemy country Germany, gives birth to twins - Valerie and Violette in Paris. Sabine deeply loved her twins and she could do anything, fight anyone to keep her children safe. Violette had to get an operation done as the child had a disability when she was born. As things in Europe looked uncertain where war was inevitable. Sabine gives Violette to Nora as she leaves Paris and goes back to London on a train and thereafter on a ferry boat as the war is prepared to break out in France.
In the midst of intense war, Nora's bravery and heroic actions, Sabine fleeing Paris forcefully and Nora when she finds herself on a ferry in the middle of the channel are entangled with how Violette grows up to become Iris. The whole story revolves around how these characters survive and struggle through war-torn Europe.
Thanks to Netgalley and Rachel Random Resources and Storm Publishers for an advance digital copy for my honest review.
Rating: 5 Stars!! Review: Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for sending me this FREE EBook to Promote and Review for Juliet as part of The Blog Tour.
This was my first time reading a Book by Juliet so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i really loved and enjoyed this one especially when Iris' background was explained in the opening.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Iris was definately my favorite especially with her determination to find out who she really is since she bounced from Orphanages most of her life.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in 1939 Cornwall, England while reading, especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Beautifully Written Historical Fiction Novel about a Woman getting on the last Train from Paris to find out who she is.
It takes place just at the start of WW2 and follows through the war. It flips back and forth from present to past effortlessly. It’s the story of Nora and Sabine and two lives that they would do anything to protect. It’s an emotional story that will have you completely engrossed. You won’t be able to put it down.
WW2 historical romance 1964 Iris travels from London to Cornwall to visit her mum Nora and needs answers her mum knew the questions were coming, a biscuit tin with postcards, photographs and letters with French stamps on them were these from Iris past? she was born the year WW1 was declared and adoption certificate was dated 1950, the hairs began to rise on the back of her neck as she starts to read through them all, till she finds a image of the Eiffel Tower with the word Forgive on the back. This book takes us back to Paris 1938, as we read such a remarkable story from the beginning. The last tram from Paris, is one inspirational story that will grip you, through all of it's history, and Iris journey. I truly loved reading, the author has captured every single chapter to keep her readers turning pages.
Wow, what an incredibly powerful story! I am speechless and emotionally wrung out after reading The Last Train From Paris by Juliet Greenwood. It made my heart ache and race and put my stomach in knots. There is so much trauma spread across these pages. The author exquisitely recreates the last few hours before the war began. How everyone was racing to safety, making difficult gut wrenching decisions, trying to protect their loved ones.
I felt from the passionate writing of this novel, and the haunting events covered, the author had a personal connection. And in the notes at the back, we learn Juliet’s mother, then seventeen, was studying French near Paris on the day war broke out in 1939. Although all the characters are fictional, the author has based her story on a rich tapestry of research: taken from various public and personal accounts (including her mother’s). The heartbreak, the sacrifice, the loss, the betrayal, the separation, the devastation and countless tears shed by all victims come across intensely real. I was fully transported to WWII France and England through the characters and events that left me choked up more times than I can say.
This novel covers two time periods: 1938-1945, and 1964. The past is told by Sabine and Nora. While Iris gives us the 60’s version. It is set in France and England at various locations.
The Last Train From Paris is centred around Iris who has come of age, ready for the truth of her family roots. While acquiring paperwork for her passport, she sees her adoption certificate and how sparse it is: Baby Girl, France, 1939. It’s a bleak statement of her existence: no exact birthplace, no mother or father listed. For her own sanity, she needs to know who she is and the secrets of her past. Iris is haunted at night by sounds and images. Her mum, Nora, finds it hard to talk about the war years but the time has come. Nora first gives Iris a tin with various photos, letters and such: things of the heart. There’s one faded photo of the Eiffel Tower and a word on the back: ‘Forgive’. And so, the story begins…
This is such a complex and beautifully written novel. Unique in so many ways. The two lead women Nora and Sabine are equally strong and likeable characters. Nora lives in London and dreams of being a Chef in Paris. Sabine encourages her friend and helps her find a course. Sabine originally wanted to be a journalist but since her marriage, pregnancy and giving birth to twin girls, those dreams are on hold.
The two women look forward to spending time together in Paris but then a tragedy strikes in Sabine’s husband’s family taking her away from the City. And when war erupts, everything changes. The bonds of their friendship are tested. Sabine will trust her most precious gift to her friend. Nora will be asked to carry out a mission that will alter her life.
Political divisions will occur, families will be separated and paths will lead to unexpected destinations. Heartbreaking decisions will be made to secure safety, support and freedom. Some will walk a dangerous tightrope and fall into the flames of the enemy.
So many things happen over the remainder of the novel that kept me so emotionally invested in this one-of-a- kind story. I totally encourage everyone who loves historical fiction based around WWII to read this magnificent, moving novel. I will never forget the characters and even the animals in The Last Train From Paris. Gripping, heart-breaking and haunting. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.
This was a very beautiful historical fiction read surrounding WWII. I thought this just going to be another typical WWII read but I was very wrong. The author focuses on the displacement of families as they race to safety and away from the clutches of the nazis. It also focuses a little on children born with deformities and mental incapacities- highlighting how they were seen as hinderances to society and brought shame to families. Very heartbreaking but something that the author skillfully mentions in this book. I was completely engrossed with the lives of Sabine and Nora, two young women caught up in a dreadful war and the sacrifices they had to make to survive and keep those they love safe. The lives of these two women were brought to life with this beautifully written book and I was moved beyond words with how their story played out. This was a book that has many layers and depth, something that will make you cry both tears of joy and of despair. It is a story about love, loss, sacrifice, the strength of women, a mother's love, grief and above all survival. I cannot say enough good things about this one and I highly recommend giving it a try. It's right up there with some of the best historical reads I've ever read. A special thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Juliet Greenwood, from my eARC of this book. Al opinions are 100% my own and leave my review voluntarily.
Set against the ominous backdrop of Nazi-occupied France just before World War II, this historical fiction masterpiece intricately weaves the lives of two women who, having briefly crossed paths at a lecture in Paris, find themselves bound by an unspoken pact for survival. The author's poignant narrative unfolds a heartbreaking tale of sacrifice that resonates from the first page to the last. The emotional depth, gut-wrenching decisions, and compelling storytelling make this novel an unforgettable journey through the harrowing realities of wartime France. A testament to the enduring power of human spirit and resilience, this book is a must-read for those seeking a captivating blend of history and heartrending drama.
I found this book to be a refreshing take on WW2 historical fiction. Nora and Sabine appear “ordinary” and in that way it makes their stories through the 1930s and 1940s all the more compelling. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that just because someone seems ordinary or does not do as much as others, does not mean that they are ordinary. It is a book about love but not romantic love. I appreciated that the other timeline was 1964 (rather than modern day which is common in the genre), but I do wish we would’ve gotten a little more of Iris.
This book’s plot took a turn that even I hadn’t anticipated, which heightened the mystery and suspense. I love a good mystery and my mind actively starts plugging in facts to fill the gaps. A tin of old letters and snapshots from WWII leads to unending questions for Iris who lives in Cornwall. What she is told by her mother shocks and stuns her. The story is well crafted and flows well. There are tough decisions made and actions that forever change lives. But the ending brings those story shards back together to complete the fractured picture. Thanks to Storm publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.
A gripping, emotional journey into the impact of war on ordinary families. The Last Train from Paris had me enthralled from the start. Sabine and Nora’s dilemmas are set against the simmering tension of imminent international conflict which will throw all their plans and dreams into the air and completely alter their priorities. With this story the author celebrates the way women can hold their families and communities together, and how valuable those contributions were during WWII, while mourning the senseless cruelty of war and fascist ideology. Although there’s a lot of sadness and loss in this book, as one might expect from a story set at this time, it’s ultimately hopeful and very satisfying. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
This review is being posted as part of the The Last Train From Paris blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.
The Last Train From Paris is the latest compelling novel from historical fiction author Juliet Greenwood. It’s been a while since a historical fiction book has truly made me cry but this gut-wrenching story had me sobbing throughout. Our story is told through a dual-timeline third-person multiple POV narrative, alternating between Iris’ perspective in 1964 and Nora and Sabine’s perspectives between 1938 and 1945. The two timelines work beautifully together in progressing the story, with tension created through us learning things in Iris’ chapters which have not played out yet in our wartime chapters. All of the wonderful settings truly came alive on the page and the perfectly-paced narrative explores thought-provoking themes such as sacrifice, mother-daughter relationships, love, adoption, friendship, separation and revenge. All of the characters in The Last Train From Paris were beautifully complex and our protagonists were all wonderful strong female characters who demonstrated such tenacity and strength throughout the story. The story was a beautiful ode to the love of both biological and adoptive mothers, with Sabine forced to make a heartbreaking decision in the best interests of her daughter and Nora taking on another women’s child and loving her as her own. The primary antagonist in the story Karl Bernheim was also fantastically written and a truly vile piece of work who made my blood boil whenever he appeared. The section focusing on Nora fleeing France when Europe found itself on the brink of war and catching the last train from Paris (hence the book’s title) and last ferry to Dover was incredibly powerful and had me on the edge of my seat. Juliet Greenwood explains in her author afterword that this was based on the real experiences of her Mum who, like our character Nora, had been studying in Paris when war broke out and was forced to hurry back to England before the borders closed. The chapters exploring Sabine’s story as her family were forced to flee their home on the outskirts of Paris and join the millions of refugees travelling south with nothing more than they could carry were also incredibly powerful and based on the true experiences of the friends and relatives of Juliet Greenwood’s mother. Using genuine accounts as inspiration in this way really made the story feel so authentic and helped the narrative to perfectly capture the emotions the characters would have been feeling. The story was clearly meticulously researched to support the genuine accounts used as history just seeped through the pages. I found the exploration of 1930s attitudes to disability to be a really interesting aspect of the story. The despicable Nazi eugenics policies which saw the murder of thousands of mentally and physically disabled children are infamous and this is explored through Sabine’s daughter Violette who is born with a cleft lip. Sabine has to make heartbreaking decisions to protect her daughter from the Nazi regime and this sets up our story. Overall, The Last Train From Paris is a really powerful and compelling piece of historical fiction and has been one of my standout historical fiction books of 2023. It is a story which is equally as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking and it’s truly going to stay with me for a long time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.
*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity
In Juliet Greenwood’s newest novel, The Last Train From Paris, the author offers us a fictional story touched with glimpses of her own family’s WW11 experience & echoes of her heritage. Alongside clear historical research, the ghosts of these personal facts are employed to great effect. The result is literary historical fiction at its best, laced with a feminist message & a cast of unforgettable characters.
The stories of Sabine & Iris criss-cross time. In 1939, in war-ravaged Paris, Sabine is presented with an indescribable & heart-breaking decision. In 1964, in a quiet Cornish village, Iris’s mother offers her a bundle of ink-faded letters revealing the truth of what happened in the aftermath of that pivotal moment when choice had felt like betrayal. In between is a story of love, loyalty, tragedy, hope & remarkable courage. A story of the stoicism & resilience of women. A story of the bonds that exist between grandmothers, mothers & daughters; the love that drives the friendships women make & hold sacred across decades.
This story of four generations of women is gorgeously character driven. It is both intimate & panoramic. The horror & reality of war is quietly conveyed without ever resorting to sentimentality or mawkishness. There are no cheap tricks or shock tactics in this book, nothing to unnecessarily or crassly emphasise the horrors of war. There is no voyeurism here, just a picture, painted in words, conveying a subtle menace keenly experienced as an undercurrent of evil. It leaves the reader in no doubt of the effects of war on ordinary people. In particular, on the women who, along with their children have always been the first victims of conflict. It is a novel about keeping safe that which matters. About protecting those we love, at all costs and against all the odds.
Each of the four parts acts as a marker in the present day as the story unfolds & the truth about the past gradually emerges. Moments of true pathos are simply described & yet they are redolent with heart stopping poignancy leading us to a series of unexpected & haunting revelations. And the women – this sisterhood of remarkable women – are an unbreakable thread running through the telling.
‘Sometimes it’s best not to know what’s going to happen to you just around the corner. It’s not cowardice, or avoiding the truth. It’s knowing the truth all too well in your heart. The only thing left is to survive.’
Beautifully written, affecting & inclusive, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
While St Mabon’s Cove in Cornwall might be an escape from the city for Iris, it also provided a much needed refuge for her mother at a time when she most needed it – and the box of letters, cards and other memories that her mother shares with her provides the clues to the compelling story that then begins to unfold.
1939 and the possibility of war on the horizon, but Nora has managed to scrape together the money needed to take a cookery course in Paris – working in the kitchen of a French restaurant in London, there’s little possibility of advancement, and she’s determined to achieve her dreams. And she has a Parisian friend – Sabine, a journalist she met briefly at an event in London, to hopefully call on when she needs to. But her stay is curtailed as the threat increases – and a split-second decision at the railway station as she catches that last train for the coast takes the lives of both women in differing and unexpected directions, with considerable challenges for them both, along with the legacy of that life-changing moment.
The book follows the ensuing lives and experiences of both women – Sabine’s heartbreaking story of survival in war-torn France, and Nora’s own difficult decisions following her return to England. I desperately want to tell the full story, but I really must allow you to discover it for yourself ��� this really is historical fiction at its very best, a story of human endurance and immense courage, of love and kindness but also of tragedy and betrayal, and always with that faint glimmer of hope.
The characterisation is simply superb, both women showing immense bravery and resilience – it’s a story of love and loyalty, heart-breaking and emotional, set against a perfectly drawn backdrop of the evil and horror of wartime and its impact on the ordinary people caught up by it. And it’s also an all-consuming story about the unbreakable bonds between women – grandmothers, mothers and daughters – and the shared love that sustains them.
The parallel wartime stories are drawn back into the present by Iris’ questions prompted by the box’s contents – the full truth slowly emerging, with key moments that certainly moved me to tears. The whole book is so very cleverly constructed and quite beautifully written, a totally compelling read that I found impossible to set aside – and, when I sometimes just had to, I couldn’t stop thinking about the individuals at the story’s heart.
This was such a powerful read – tremendously moving, entirely unforgettable, one of my books of the year, and I really couldn’t recommend it more highly.
I'd not read anything by Juliet Greenwood before, but I now have to add her to the list of authors I have to keep up with.
The Last Train From Paris is a story about two women who were faced with the unimaginable – and whose sacrifice saved one little girl from war: Iris.
In 1960s Cornwall, young Iris visits her mother, determined to discover her origins. She knows she's adopted, but nothing else. Now that she lives independently, in London, she yearns for knowledge about what happened. And this time, her mother, Nora, gives in. She hands her a box with letters and mementos, and Iris slowly discovers the true story of her life. And the cruel reality of what happened in the early days of World War II.
In 1939, the Nazis march on Paris, suppressing the French as they force their way through to the capital city. Nora – from England – is still in the middle of her training to become a chef, a dream come true that soon turns into a nightmare as she finds herself confronted by a brutal war machine approaching the city. She dithers, until she has no other option but to take the last train heading out of Paris before the arrival of the enemy. But as she says goodbye to her friend, Sabine, she is in for a surprise.
Sabine, her heavily pregnant friend, has to leave Paris, following her husband to an uncertain fate. Having given birth, and finding herself in a difficult situation, she decides to ensure her daughter is safe from harm, and looked after, well away from the danger that has reached them. In a heartbreaking move, she hands her daughter over to Nora, safe in the knowledge that her dear friend would care for the child.
As Iris discovers the whole truth, a story of bravery and desperation comes to light, and there is a surprise in store for her.
The Last Train From Paris is a heartbreaking novel, one that pulls you into its plot and doesn't let you go. Evocative and moving, it tells a tale of love, loss, and commitment.
The central part of the novel are the three women: Nora, Sabine, and Iris. All three are fascinating characters, well-drawn, human, and caring beyond duty. I found them to be so realistic that I felt their pain as I worked my way through the novel.
The Last Train From Paris is a moving tribute to the bravery of women in times of war and danger, to their capacity of being able to deal with life-saving decisions that are both heart-wrenching and sensible.
A truly wonderful novel!
Note: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.
Regular readers of my blog will know how much I love a good historical fiction novel, particularly those set in and around World War II.
This one was utterly captivating from the outset. There were several moments where I held my breath as I read as the human perspective of war was so eloquently described from the viewpoint of those left behind to deal with the horrors of daily life away from the battlefields.
The characterisation is undoubtedly one of the strengths of the narrative as, due to the uncertainty of war and Hitler’s ideology, people are forced to make almost impossible choices in the face of adversity. It’s impossible not to empathise wholeheartedly with Sabine at the station as she has to make a split second decision that could change both her life and that of her daughter forever.
What is apparent throughout is the strength of character and determination shown by people during the atrocities of war. The female protagonists in this novel demonstrate incredible fortitude and the characters of Sabine, Nora, Meme and Miss Maltby in particular, are heroic in their efforts to protect those around them.
In contrast, the odious characters of Emil and Karl help to accurately convey those who allowed ego, ambition and selfishness to chip away at any semblance of humanity or compassion for others. It was refreshing to see the introduction of Professor Jackson later in the story who provided the antithesis to their singleminded brutality.
The real beauty of this book is in those tender moments of humanity and compassion for fellow human beings, even when they are sometimes pitted against each other, while there are also inexplicably cruel twists of fate juxtaposed alongside moments of providence which allow characters to continue along their journeys.
The attention to detail with regards to historical facts lent a real gravitas to the storyline and I particularly liked the inclusion of details of those seeking refuge as opposed to the more commonly known horrors of the Nazi regime and its‘ policies.
I’ve read some wonderful books this year across a range of genres but this is definitely up there as one of my favourites. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down!
With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to participate in the tour.
From this very popular writer comes this new book set in dual timelines and dual locations, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of this superb story. It does, in fact, actually make the book more enjoyable, as you realise what actually went on in the different years and locations. At the beginning of the book it's 1964 in Cornwall, England and Iris is wondering about her past, she already knows that she is adopted, but there are so many unanswered questions, and in Paris, France 1938, Nora is doing a french cookery course and her friend Sabine is living nearby with her husband Emil. After the death of one of his relatives, Emil makes the decision that they will move from Paris to Colmar. Pregnant and living with her husband's family in Colmar, on the border of Germany, Sabine is not happy but Emil says they have to go as Albert wanted him to follow into the family boot making business. As war breaks out in France, Sabine has to make a heartbreaking decision, without her husband's support she has to let one of her twin daughters return to England with Nora, as her daughter was born with a cleft palate and in her husband's "German eyes" she is not worth being alive as she is imperfect! Nora is left with a young baby to look after and arrange hospital treatment. Is she able to do this, a single, unmarried woman with a French baby? As you read through the book, you find yourself rooting for the characters. I thought Nora had a lot of courage and commitment to do what she did, on her own and Sabine on her own has her own demons to fight, especially when her husband appears again, full of nazi patriotism. Will everyone survive? will the twins meet each other again? A truly enchanting and captivating historical novel by Juliet Greenwood which held my attention all the way through, in fact I think this is her best book yet and definitely my favourite book of 2023, and a book that I will read again in a few years time.
This was an emotional and inspiring story about the heartbreaking decisions that had to be made by many families during WWII. And the author has created some astonishing female characters that bring the hardships to life.
The story is told over 2 timelines - the Iris storyline is told during the 1960's as she's looking back to her past as her mother is finally ready to share the story of how she adopted Iris, and has letters to share. We also then travel back to France to hear the story of Sabine, married to Emil and living in Paris and how they love their life there as journalists, but that's all about to change.
We are also introduced to Nora who is a young woman living in London, but dreams of being a Chef in Paris and is friends with Sabine who helps her find a course and is looking forward to them spending time together while she studies. But when tragedy hits Sabine's husbands family she finds her plans being changed and life becomes very different for them all.
I loved the varied plotlines within this story. In the past we really get a sense of the tensions leading up the War and people wondering what is the best thing to do - they should be planning their futures and enjoying life but they have to think about fleeing their current lives and finding somewhere safe. And there's also divided family loyalties when differing political views are present and the harm that causes. Some really tough decisions have to be made, no matter how heartbreaking they may be and it was so gut wrenching at times watching women wrestle with their conscience as to their next move.
This was a beautifully written piece of historical fiction, capturing the dilemmas and the desperation that families were facing during the war, and watching the action unfold over the years as new bonds were made was a real emotional rollercoaster!! Highly recommended!!
The Last Train From Paris by Juliet Greenwood is a powerful, heart wrenching historical novel. The book is set over two time periods – 1964 in Cornwall and also in France from 1939-1945. The war years were a terrible time as the Nazis marched into France in 1940. Life went from gay and carefree to fearful and persecuted. We follow a family as they flee to the South. Even civilians were at risk of aircraft firing on them. Terrible sights were seen along the way. Kind hearts helped where they could. People were determined to survive. “She would fight to tell their stories.” Nazi ideology infiltrated lives. It could split families as opinions would be divided. Sometimes previously loving family members were brain washed by Hitler, forcing other members to flee for their lives. The handicapped were in grave danger. It took much courage to keep a baby with a hare lip safe. Sometimes love means letting go. We witness instances of sacrificial love. There is a beautiful friendship between a young French girl and a young English girl. Both support each other. Their friendship is tested but comes up trumps. Whilst France was on the frontline of war, Britain was also suffering due to the Blitz. Lives were ripped apart in an instant as we witness the fragility of life. Cornwall was a breath of fresh air – literally and figuratively. It is in sharp contrast to occupied France. All the characters were well drawn, likable and realistic. The bravery it took to make impossible choices is admirable. The Last Train From Paris tells of love and sacrifice. It is a powerful read. I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Iris is back in Cornwall, at the cottage she grew up in, listening as her mother painfully begins to reveal their past.
As the story unfolded, we alternated between Nora’s war in England and Sabine’s in France. Sabine and Nora met in pre-war London and by the time Nora arrived in Paris to study to be a chef, their letters had created a special friendship. I bonded easily with these two strong and independent women, and admired their determination to succeed in the male dominated worlds of journalism and high-end catering. Their time together is cruelly torn apart as war is declared, but their parting moments mean their futures will be forever linked, no matter the pain and suffering this will bring them.
From Paris and the refugees fleeing south from Occupied to free France, and the land girls working in the countryside, to the London bombings, this book painted so many pictures of the tragedies of war and the effects on the families it broke apart. I was often overwhelmed trying to process the emotions it left me feeling, but loved the mystery as actions were tantalisingly revealed, that would be revisited later as the pieces all fell into place. It was gripping.
This book, more than many others I’ve read, really punched at my heart with the atrocities of the war and the dangers faced by ordinary mothers doing their best in the most difficult of times, their only goals to survive and protect their babies.
If you are looking for a powerful historical novel to lose yourself in now the nights are longer and darker, I can’t think of a better one than The Last Train from Paris.
4.5 stars This is a dual timeline story set in both France and England and taking place during WWII and in 1964. With war an imminent threat in Paris in 1939, Sabine has a heartbreaking decision to make. In Cornwall, England, in 1964, Iris is about to learn about her past, something her mother has been unable to discuss until now.
This is a thought-provoking and heartbreaking tale of strength, survival, loss, grief, friendship, and secrets, and takes the reader on an emotional journey of heartbreaking decisions and the lifelong impact of those decisions. I loved the author’s writing style, I found it hard to put the book down once I was a few chapters in and felt all the emotions of the characters – the confusion, loss, and terror, and the hardships experienced as people struggled to survive and come to grips with the devastation and madness they were facing. I enjoyed the facts woven into this story, and feel I have a better understanding of some events now. I love it when a novel makes me stop and take a moment, leading me to find more information about the events in question. The characters are so relatable and mostly likeable, I enjoyed the ‘realness’ of each character and what they each brought to the story.
If you enjoy WWII historical fiction with a touch of romance, I think you’ll enjoy this book. While heartbreaking at times, it’s not too heavy or harrowing, and there are some very sweet, touching moments throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
"The Last Train from Paris" by Juliet Greenwood appears to be a compelling World War II historical novel that promises to deliver an emotional and gripping story.
The premise of a woman named Iris discovering her adoption and the tantalizing clue on her official paperwork about being a "BABY GIRL, FRANCE, 1939" immediately captures the reader's interest. It suggests a hidden history tied to the turbulent times of World War II.
The conflict between Iris and her parents regarding her adoption and their reluctance to revisit the past adds depth to the narrative. The discovery of old letters and a piece of ivory wool hints at a carefully preserved secret, fueling Iris's determination to uncover the truth.
The dual timeline structure, with events in 1939 Paris and Iris's present-day quest for answers, suggests that the novel will provide a rich historical backdrop while unraveling the mystery of the past. The mention of a "terrible betrayal" in 1939 Paris adds an intriguing layer to the story.
"The Last Train from Paris" appears to be a promising historical novel that explores themes of identity, family secrets, and the impact of wartime events on individuals and families. To provide a more comprehensive book review, it would be necessary to read the novel in its entirety and assess how well it delivers on its emotional and gripping promises while unfolding the intricate secrets of the past.
I’ll start out by saying this story was a little slow to start for me (hence the -0.5), and I really had to make a conscious choice to pick it up throughout Part 1. There wasn’t anything necessarily that I didn’t like, it was just a lot of set up/back story before you really start to figure out who is who and where the story is going.
That being said, I have so much praise for this novel overall. This was my first WW2 historical fiction where the story followed the experiences non-Jewish people and it was an experience I found myself really interested reading about. The concept of the novel and how it relates to WW2 was also something I haven’t seen in other historical fictions. I know this was lightly based on some experiences the author’s own mother had, and I always think it adds to the story when taking into consideration the stark reality that people actually lived through these experiences and others like them.
This story was compelling, emotional, and left me thinking about what would come next every time I had to set it down.
If you are a lover of historical fiction, especially the WW2 era, or if the stories of the experiences of Jewish people during this period are too gruesome for you, but you still want to read about this time period, I highly recommend picking up this book.
As Iris delves into letters and unravels the secrets of her past, she becomes immersed in the world of 1939 Paris. The city, once known for its romance and beauty, is now overshadowed by the looming threat of war. Sabine is torn between her love for her country and the desire to protect her family. The choices she makes are born out of desperation and the need to survive in a world turned upside down. Iris begins to understand the complexity of the situation and the weight of the sacrifices made during wartime.
The novel explores the moral dilemmas faced by ordinary individuals caught amid extraordinary circumstances. It paints a picture of a time filled with fear, uncertainty, and impossible choices. As Iris uncovers the truth, she must confront her own identity and come to terms with her past.
The story is not just a gripping historical narrative but also an exploration of the power of love, resilience, and the human spirit. That even in the darkest times, there is hope, compassion, and the potential for redemption.
Iris's journey not only uncovers the truth but also helps her find a sense of belonging and understanding.
The novel reminded me of the importance of embracing the past, no matter how painful.
This is such a powerful and emotional book. It is beautifully written, and flows seamlessly. The description in this book is so vivid, heartbreakingly so. Set in Paris, it’s the story of Nora, an English woman, and Sabine who is French. Their lives become linked in a way they never could have imagined as World War II changes everything, for everyone. The tension, the uncertainty and the fear are all portrayed beautifully by the author, as the characters realise what the War will mean for them and their loved ones. Nora manages to get on the last train from Paris in the hope of getting home to England, and Sabine is faced with a mother’s worst nightmare. She makes a decision that will have massive impact on her loved ones, and breaks her heart. In 1964, Iris is in Cornwall, visiting her Mum, Nora, and her Dad. Family secrets are revealed, along with the reasons for them, and Iris finally learns the truth. This is a beautiful story, full of love, hope and courage, even on the darkest days. It’s harrowing, as war is, and the brutality shown is breathtakingly cruel. However, the will to live, to survive, and to endure is portrayed in such a way that it hurt my heart, it’s so powerful. I loved it, and wholeheartedly recommend.
After a great deal of mystery murders, I got a book of a different genre. A family story. There was a great deal of death and destruction because it was set at the beginning of WWII but it was a warm, loving story nevertheless.
It was one of those things which just has to be fate. Nora was from Cornwall never stepped out of her home town, but with a passion to be a lady chef which was almost an impossible feat at the time. Nora and Sabine met briefly. Sabine was newly married, expecting a baby. By the time she had the twins, war was imminent and everyone was fleeing Paris. To complicate matters one of the twins was born with a harelip which Sabine’s husband found abhorrent. It was also beginning to be known what the Nazis did to the disabled. In a wrenching last minute decision, Sabine thrusts Violette to Nora to take back to England and to possible surgery there.
Fast forward to 1945 Sabine has undergone immense suffering leaving her home, being refugees and barely escaping with her life. Nora has forged a life for herself as Mrs Herridge and Violette is cured, well and happy.
The reunion and retelling of the story in its entirety takes place in 1965 both girls grown up, able to handle the situation well. It ended well.
A heart-wrenching story of the terrible decisions some mothers must make for their children, The Last Train from Paris tells the tale of two friends - French Sabine and English Nora - who bond through correspondence just prior to WW2. Sabine convinces Nora to train as a chef in Paris, believing the French will protect their country from the Nazis and Paris will be safe. When Sabine gives birth in 1939 to a child marred by a cleft lip, she fears the Nazis will murder her precious baby as part of their eugenics policy to eliminate the mentally and physically disabled. As Paris falls to the Nazi invasion, Sabine is advised to seek medical help for her daughter in England. Nora, meanwhile races for the last train out of Paris and the final ferry to Dover. Desperate to save her daughter, Sabine sends her with Nora to England.
In 1964, Nora is ailing and her adoptive daughter wants answers about her past. In a beautifully written story filled with courage, hope and love, a compelling story of survival and the horrors of war. I stayed up to the wee hours reading this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advance reader copy. I recommend this book to WW2 historical fiction fans who want to feel the intense emotions of the time.