The Paris Architect - Charles Belfoure

The Paris Architect

By Charles Belfoure

  • Release Date: 2013-10-08
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 526 Ratings
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Description

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

"A gripping page-turner...a riveting reminder of sacrifices made by history's most unlikely heroes." —Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We Hide

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.

Book clubs will pore over the questions Charles Belfoure raises about justice, resistance, and just how far we'll go to make things right.

Also by Charles Belfoure:

The Fallen Architect

House of Thieves

Reviews

  • Paris Architect

    5
    By L. Ruh
    The entire time reading, I kept imagaining the book as a movie. It’s beautifully written and educational. I did feel that the ending was a bit weak and left some characters’ plot lines unfinished. But otherwise, I couldn’t put it down.

  • Great Story!

    5
    By Anymoses
    Loved this book - so creative, great character development but a fast paced page turner! Read it!

  • Excellent Historical Fiction

    5
    By Mary/NC
    Moving story about a life lived with a daily purpose of routine who finds, to his own surprise, a greater but deadly opportunity presents itself represents itself repeatedly. What a tremendous read that catches you from the first few pages. Recommended to me by two people, and both my husband and myself could not put it down.

  • Excellent!

    5
    By Dough DRT
    The subject matter is very difficult, and I found I had to put the book up several times. It's appalling how most French behaved at that time, though I kept reminding myself their lives were very bleak and dangerous because of the German occupation. But that so many French took pleasure in turning in anyone who seems remotely Jewish - hard to forgive. The main character in the story is egomaniacal and ruthless. He is an architect who has not achieved the success he feels his talent deserves, and then an opportunity comes to him that changes that. A very well written book that will haunt you.

  • Entertaining and gut wrenching

    4
    By Altothepal
    I really enjoyed this book. I especially liked seeing growth in the main character, whom was not very likable for much of the book. I think the author did a good job of showing different people and the roles they chose or were forced to play during the German occupation in France.

More by Charles Belfoure