A Good Place to Hide

March 1, 2015

Australian publisher and author Grose (Power to People; Operation Rollback) tells the inspiring story of courageous villagers, determined church leaders, and persecuted refugees in a journalistic style that many readers will enjoy. Beginning during the Spanish Civil War and picking up considerably during the dark days of World War II, thousands of adults and children sought shelter in a region of France known as the Loire Valley. Geographically remote, the isolated area and its largely Protestant population had a tradition of hospitality. As the war and Germany's grip on Europe intensified, the small villages of the valley, and especially Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, organized themselves under the leadership of several pacifist pastors, eventually providing a safe, even if only momentarily, harbor to an estimated 3,500 people. The bravery and scale of the housing operations were remarkable and have been internationally recognized by the World Center for Holocaust Research. VERDICT Joining other recent books on the topic, including Caroline Moorehead's Village of Secrets, this title is recommended for general audiences with an interest in World War II history and narrative.--Linda Frederiksen, Washington State Univ. Lib., Vancouver

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