Jessica Shattuck

A Novel

The Women in the Castle

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • FEATURING AN EXCLUSIVE NEW CHAPTER GoodReads Choice Awards Semifinalist "Moving . . . a plot that surprises and devastates."—New York Times Book Review "A masterful epic."—People magazine "Mesmerizing . . . The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras."—USA Today Three women, haunted by the past and the secrets they hold Set at the end of World War II, in a crumbling Bavarian castle that once played host to all of German high society, a powerful and propulsive story of three widows whose lives and fates become intertwined—an affecting, shocking, and ultimately redemptive novel from the author of the New York Times Notable Book The Hazards of Good Breeding. Amid the ashes of Nazi Germany’s defeat, Marianne von Lingenfels returns to the once-grand castle of her husband’s ancestors, an imposing stone fortress now fallen into ruin following years of war. The widow of a resister murdered in the failed July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Marianne plans to uphold the promise she made to her husband’s brave conspirators: to find and protect their wives, her fellow resistance widows. First Marianne rescues six-year-old Martin, the son of her dearest childhood friend, from a Nazi reeducation home. Together, they make their way across the smoldering wreckage of their homeland to Berlin, where Martin’s mother, the beautiful and naive Benita, has fallen into the hands of occupying Red Army soldiers. Then she locates Ania, another resister’s wife, and her two boys, now refugees languishing in one of the many camps that house the millions displaced by the war. As Marianne assembles this makeshift family from the ruins of her husband’s resistance movement, she is certain their shared pain and circumstances will hold them together. But she quickly discovers that the black-and-white, highly principled world of her privileged past has become infinitely more complicated, filled with secrets and dark passions that threaten to tear them apart. Eventually, all three women must come to terms with the choices that have defined their lives before, during, and after the war—each with their own unique share of challenges. Written with the devastating emotional power of The Nightingale, Sarah’s Key, and The Light Between Oceans, Jessica Shattuck’s evocative and utterly enthralling novel offers a fresh perspective on one of the most tumultuous periods in history. Combining piercing social insight and vivid historical atmosphere, The Women in the Castle is a dramatic yet nuanced portrait of war and its repercussions that explores what it means to survive, love, and, ultimately, to forgive in the wake of unimaginable hardship.

Vicky (A City Girl's Thoughts)

Jessica Shattuck's novel The Women in the Castle is a bittersweet delve into the lives of three widows post-WWII as they reflect on their lives after the struggling years right after Germany was defeated. Told from an omnipresent point of view we learn of Marianne Von Lingenfels motivation to assist her husband Albrecht as an accomplice to take down Hitler and protect the wives of the men who are helping Mr. Von Lingenfels. Starting from the first chapter we are introduced to her unwavering commitment to be "The Commander of Wives and Children," bestowed on her by her friend Connie Fledermann. She took her job protecting widows and children of rebels like a strict principal overseeing the emotional and physical growth of her students and employees, reveling in her superior position. This isn't to say she's heartless, but too focused on upholding her boarders' to her morals that she forgets empathy and forgiveness until it's too late. 

There were two types of Germans post-WWII: Nazi sympathizers and one's who felt ashamed of themselves and their nation. Marianne made sure her and the widows' children understood what their fathers' fought for, but little does she know not every widow - and their deceased husband - were a part of the movement she, Albrecht, and Connie fought for. As years go by she learns of the widows' secrets, which cause her to question whether she is ACTUALLY there for them as a friend. 

Shattuck wants readers to understand "Life's Lessons" isn't black-and-white (a.k.a. good-or-bad), but how we deal with them can either make-or-break our relationships. The omnipresent view is perfect for this novel, since it would've been too confusing to understand multiple characters point-of-views. The only downside is the amount of characters I had to remember; it would've been helpful if their was a page listing every character and their occupation, but other than that this novel is great!

Stef

Three women, haunted by the past and the secrets they hold Set at the end of World War II, in a crumbling Bavarian castle that once played host to all of German high society, a powerful and propulsive story of three widows whose lives and fates become intertwined—an affecting, shocking, and ultimately redemptive novel from the author of the New York Times Notable Book The Hazards of Good Breeding. Amid the ashes of Nazi Germany’s defeat, Marianne von Lingenfels returns to the once-grand castle of her husband’s ancestors, an imposing stone fortress now fallen into ruin following years of war. The widow of a resister murdered in the failed July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Marianne plans to uphold the promise she made to her husband’s brave conspirators: to find and protect their wives, her fellow resistance widows. First Marianne rescues six-year-old Martin, the son of her dearest childhood friend, from a Nazi reeducation home. Together, they make their way across the smoldering wreckage of their homeland to Berlin, where Martin’s mother, the beautiful and naive Benita, has fallen into the hands of occupying Red Army soldiers. Then she locates Ania, another resister’s wife, and her two boys, now refugees languishing in one of the many camps that house the millions displaced by the war. As Marianne assembles this makeshift family from the ruins of her husband’s resistance movement, she is certain their shared pain and circumstances will hold them together. But she quickly discovers that the black-and-white, highly principled world of her privileged past has become infinitely more complicated, filled with secrets and dark passions that threaten to tear them apart. Eventually, all three women must come to terms with the choices that have defined their lives before, during, and after the war—each with their own unique share of challenges. Written with the devastating emotional power of The Nightingale, Sarah’s Key, and The Light Between Oceans, Jessica Shattuck’s evocative and utterly enthralling novel offers a fresh perspective on one of the most tumultuous periods in history. Combining piercing social insight and vivid historical atmosphere, The Women in the Castle is a dramatic yet nuanced portrait of war and its repercussions that explores what it means to survive, love, and, ultimately, to forgive in the wake of unimaginable hardship.

Salwa Mohamed

Took me a while to finish this book; part 1 was a little exhausting considering all the doom and dismay it contained; I had to consume it in small doses. But the following chapters flew by. I had to pay attention to all the little details, descriptions of places, emotions and actions in a time when humanity was tested, failed and triumphed. A great deal of research has clearly went into this book; it can be clearly seen in the chapters. But that was also confirmed in the author’s note; 7 years in the making and what a rewarding effort that was.

I loved the complexity of the relationships in this book. The historical fiction was also intriguing.
The book was filled with strong female characters that I really enjoyed.
A story about war and what we will do to survive and get through it.
Great read!!

Carla Aquino

Won in a GoodReads Giveaway! 
I would like to thank the publisher and the author for sending ARCs out to readers! 

This was such an amazing novel!! It's the first time I have read a WWII novel from a German point of view. The novel was so multifaceted with its characters and individual storylines. From resisters to former nazi's the characters grabbed hold of me and would not let go from the very first page! Each woman lead completely different lives and yet shared their time in the castle having a certain commonality as well; the war, displacement, familial loss, etc. This was such a fantastic read and recommend it to all!

Caitlin Faupel

Kay Jamieson

Susan Beddes

Olivia Danheim

Three women, haunted by the past and the secrets they hold Set at the end of World War II, in a crumbling Bavarian castle that once played host to all of German high society, a powerful and propulsive story of three widows whose lives and fates become intertwined--an affecting, shocking, and ultimately redemptive novel from the author of the New York Times Notable Book The Hazards of Good Breeding. Amid the ashes of Nazi Germany's defeat, Marianne von Lingenfels returns to the once-grand castle of her husband's ancestors, an imposing stone fortress now fallen into ruin following years of war. The widow of a resister murdered in the failed July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Marianne plans to uphold the promise she made to her husband's brave conspirators: to find and protect their wives, her fellow resistance widows. First Marianne rescues six-year-old Martin, the son of her dearest childhood friend, from a Nazi reeducation home. Together, they make their way across the smoldering wreckage of their homeland to Berlin, where Martin's mother, the beautiful and naive Benita, has fallen into the hands of occupying Red Army soldiers. Then she locates Ania, another resister's wife, and her two boys, now refugees languishing in one of the many camps that house the millions displaced by the war. As Marianne assembles this makeshift family from the ruins of her husband's resistance movement, she is certain their shared pain and circumstances will hold them together. But she quickly discovers that the black-and-white, highly principled world of her privileged past has become infinitely more complicated, filled with secrets and dark passions that threaten to tear them apart. Eventually, all three women must come to terms with the choices that have defined their lives before, during, and after the war--each with their own unique share of challenges.

The women in the castle

Kelsey

Nita Mailo

Devon Morton 

Maggie Horikawa

Chelsey

Steven O'Toole

Michelle Miller

Judy McClure

liz mcclaran

Efter et mordforsøg på Hitler, bliver Marianne von Lingenfels mand henrettet. I 1945 indfrier hun sit løfte til sin mand og åbner slottets døre for 2 andre enker og deres børn, men der er mange hemmeligheder mellem kvinderne

The Women in the Castle A Novel

Reviews