Armand Joubert may have physically lived through the war, but emotionally he passed away forty years ago. He had left the village of Mont-Saint-Jean in the hope of moving forward, but he is a broken man. Tormented by grief and guilt, Armond had tried to forget. He had tried to carry on, to live his life. He wanted to put the past back where it belonged, and his psychiatrist had advised him to sell what was once his home in Mont-Saint-Jean. But, to do so, he had to travel back to the village where he had lost everyone he had ever loved, only to discover a shocking secret that he had been cruelly denied all knowledge of…
In the Shadow of the Pyrenees: The Freedom Trail to Spain by Kathryn Gauci is a captivating and beautifully haunting novel. Once you begin reading this book, you won't want to put it down, and the characters will leave a lasting impression on your heart.
In a classic Gauci manoeuvre, this novel kicks off by fast-forwarding to a time long after the events that will transpire, instilling a feeling of foreboding for the upcoming characters' the reader is about to meet. The story offers hints of an unfortunate outcome and certain characters' possible demise, yet the reader remains fascinated by these men and women who risk everything to save the lives of strangers. Their bravery in the face of such risks is astounding, and it certainly makes the reader pause for thought and marvel at how ordinary people can do extraordinary things in the face of such an adversary.
There is nothing outwardly heroic about Armand. He is an intellect, a teacher, but no one would know by looking at him that he led a secret life. Armand is a very brave man and one who seeks the truth. His friendship with Dr Théo Berdu opens his eyes to the suffering of those forced to flee as the Spanish Civil War came to an end. Armand was appalled by what he witnessed at the border and did all he could to help Dr Berdu. But what he witnessed was just a prelude, for when Germany invaded he would have to make some stark choices. Did he risk his and his family's lives by helping not only British soldiers and airmen but also French and foreign Jews? The decisions Armand makes, often leave him feel emotionally exhausted. He loves his family, his wife and his adult daughter, and yet he feels so much for the people he tries to help. He isn't a particularly conflicted character, until later in the novel when his emotions get the better of him and he goes down a path which would never end well. He comes across as very human in the telling. Armand is a very well drawn character whose courage is only eclipsed by that of his daughter, Justine.
Justine is young and yet so very courageous. She is a young woman in a very dangerous world and she risks so much to help those who are fleeing persecution. She is well aware of the dangers involved but she feels so moved to help these poor people that she continues to play a type of Russian roulette with her own life. Every time she intercepts a "parcel" the dangers to her increase tenfold. Of all the characters in this novel, Justine is the one that a reader will remember long after turning the last page. Her courage, her youth, and her beliefs in what she is doing make her so very likeable, and yet as strong as she is, there is an air of vulnerability about her. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster as you read her story. Bring tissues!
Hélène is another character who has been swept up in this terrible persecution of the innocent. She is a Jew and she loses everything, her husband, her children and at times, her sanity. She is a character that really tugs at the heartstrings. She isn’t strong, like Justine. She wants to be brave, but she isn’t, she is fragile and yet there is something very appealing about her character, but also dangerous as well. Hélène is like a loose cannon and yet so many people risk their lives to try and save her. She's like the purist mountain water that seeps into rock cracks and breaks it when it freezes. The reader fears that she will bring disaster upon the protagonists in this novel, And yet, she is a casualty in this war, and that is something the reader never forgets.
The characters in this novel experience horrors that stand in stark contrast to the picturesque snow-capped mountain ranges, rivers, and forests. Many are fleeing from the worst of humanity, but nature only adds to their struggle. Despite the unimaginable separation of families, the fear of being discovered, and the treacherous mountain passes, this novel remains grounded in historical fact. Gauci's ability to bring history back to life is remarkable, and despite being fiction, this story holds numerous truths, resulting in a captivating and thought-provoking read.
In the Shadow of the Pyrenees: The Freedom Trail to Spain by Kathryn Gauci is a historical fiction novel that will captivate your heart and earn a cherished place on your bookshelf.
I Highly Recommend.
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