The Postmistress of Paris

A Novel

By: Meg Waite Clayton

Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers, Graham Halstead

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A GMA Buzz Pick * An Indie Next Pick * An Amazon Best of the Month Pick, Literature and Fiction * A People Magazine Pick

The New York Times best-selling author of The Last Train to London revisits the dark early days of the German occupation in France in this haunting novel - a love story and a tale of high-stakes danger and incomparable courage - about a young American heiress who helps artists hunted by the Nazis escape from war-torn Europe.

Wealthy, beautiful Naneé was born with a spirit of adventure. For her, learning to fly is freedom. When German tanks roll across the border and into Paris, this woman with an adorable dog and a generous heart joins the resistance. Known as the Postmistress because she delivers information to those in hiding, Naneé uses her charms and skill to house the hunted and deliver them to safety.

Photographer Edouard Moss has escaped Germany with his young daughter only to be interned in a French labor camp. His life collides with Nanée’s in this sweeping tale of romance and danger set in a world aflame with personal and political passion.

Inspired by the real life Chicago heiress Mary Jayne Gold, who worked with American journalist Varian Fry to smuggle artists and intellectuals out of France, The Postmistress of Paris is the haunting story of an indomitable woman whose strength, bravery, and love is a beacon of hope in a time of terror.

©2021 Meg Waite Clayton (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Somnolent Reader

I was looking forward to hearing this, but not five sentences in to the first chapter, I realized that the only way I was going to be able to listen to this particular reader was to do so when I am trying to go to sleep. Her delivery is beyond slow, deliberate and sleep-inducing. Her tone is, along with her pacing, as if she is reading a story to a 5 year old or speaking a lullaby. Something about her cadence and the actual tone of her voice. What a shame. I am assuming, based on other reviews, that the story is good. It should be gripping, but I'm afraid it only sounded ruminative to me. Archived with great disappointment.

Intriguing Postmistress

An entirely believable story set in wartime Vichy France with the authors wonderfully defined characters

A bit disappointed.

The book would have a much more enjoyable if it wasn’t for Imani Jade Powers French accent which was exaggerated and very pretentious! It made it hard to even understand the words and names she was trying to sound in French.
BTW… nothing like the Alice Network.

Excellent !

Thoroughly researched, beautifully read, very well written! Gentle and brutal, good people and monsters. Very difficult to put it down. Thank you!

Excellent read or listen. Compelling story w/twist

Compelling
story with twists. Well read and presented. Enough fact to be intreguing. Memorable characters

Intriguing story.

Beautifully written. I was drawn into the story immediately by the explicit descriptions and the verbalization by the narrators.

Great historical novel of early WWII

Historical fiction books are among my favorites, especially when, this book, they are inspired by a real person, and infused with rich history and settings. The protagonist, Nanee, is a young American heiress who has been living in Paris for a decade when WWII breaks out. She’s wealthy and beautiful and her then "neutral" US citizenship and passport makes it easier for her navigate treacherous Vichy France. She can't sit idly by while grave injustices are being perpetrated on innocent people, simply because they are Jewish or speak truth about the Nazis. She actively participates in, and generously finances, the undercover work of hiding and helping people escape Gestapo and Vichy French leaders who are suddenly bending over backwards to prove their loyalty to Hitler. Because of her will and ingenuity, she soon becomes a “postmistress” delivering packages and messages to those hiding from the Germans,. And much more!

Surrealist artists, some real, who defied Nazi rule are sprinkled throughout the book. Freeing a fictional photographer/ artist and his precious 5- year old daughter becomes Nanee's focal point, as she and another American, Varian Fry, spirit away many of those in hiding to other countries.

Most of the action takes place in Marseilles, which is interesting, and the story is inspired by American heiress Mary Jane Gold's real work there. I'm interested now in reading more about her selfless and courageous activities in WWII.

Recommended reading.

ok overall story based during WWII

no real new story here and slow character building... good and easy listen however and well written. Author understands the elements of story writing and incorporated a build. Liked the use of different languages to build characters and that the lead character had courage in the ending chapters.

Struggle With Purpose

Beautifully written tale of so many working for Good in our Crazy World. Made so much more real for me with current world struggles and people I love living in war......

Excellent story telling!

Great research and background. Narrations were excellent. I learned something new. Enjoyed listening very much.