Summary
The Nightingale is an acclaimed work of historical fiction by Kristin Hannah. Set in France during World War II, the novel follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, as they navigate the perils of Nazi occupation. While fictional, their experiences were inspired by real-life accounts of women's resistance during the war. Hannah drew particular inspiration from Andrée de Jongh, a Belgian woman who helped Allied airmen escape Nazi territory. Published in 2015, The Nightingale quickly became a #1 New York Times bestseller and has since sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide.
A highly anticipated film adaptation of The Nightingale has been in development since 2015. Originally slated for release in 2021, the project has faced several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film is set to star real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, marking their first on-screen collaboration, with Mélanie Laurent attached to direct.
Plot
Set against the backdrop of World War II in France, The Nightingale follows the lives of two sisters, Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossignol. As the Nazi occupation begins, Vianne's husband Antoine is sent to the front, leaving her to care for their daughter Sophie in their rural home in Carriveau. Vianne struggles to survive under increasingly difficult circumstances, including the billeting of German officers in her house and the gradual erosion of her rights and safety.
Meanwhile, the younger and more rebellious Isabelle becomes involved with the French Resistance. After a brief romance with a partisan named Gaëtan, she embarks on a dangerous mission. Under the code name “The Nightingale,” Isabelle begins helping downed Allied airmen escape to Spain, risking her life with each crossing of the Pyrenees.
As the war progresses, both sisters face increasingly dire situations. Vianne is forced to make impossible choices to protect her family and others, including hiding Jewish children from the Nazis. She endures abuse at the hands of an SS officer billeted in her home. Isabelle's work with the Resistance intensifies, leading to her eventual capture and imprisonment in a concentration camp.
The novel concludes with the war's end and its aftermath. Isabelle is reunited briefly with Vianne and Gaëtan before succumbing to illnesses contracted in the camp. Vianne must reconcile with her wartime experiences and decisions, including an unwanted pregnancy resulting from her abuse. Years later, an elderly Vianne reflects on these events as she attends an event in Paris honoring her sister's courage, finally sharing their story with her son.
Themes
Survival and resilience during wartime
Sisterhood and family bonds
Women's roles in war and resistance
Courage and sacrifice in the face of oppression
Love and loss in times of conflict
Identity and personal growth through adversity
The lasting impact of war on individuals and society
Setting
The Nightingale is set primarily in France during World War II, spanning the years 1939 to 1945. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of France, capturing the tension and hardships faced by civilians during this tumultuous period. Kristin Hannah vividly portrays the transformation of the peaceful French countryside into a war-torn landscape, where survival becomes a daily struggle.
The novel focuses on two specific locations within France. The quiet village of Carriveau serves as the primary setting, where Vianne Mauriac lives in her childhood home, Le Jardin. This rural setting contrasts sharply with the bustling city of Paris, where Isabelle's resistance activities take place. Hannah skillfully juxtaposes these two environments to highlight the different ways in which the war affected various parts of France.
As the story progresses, the setting expands to include the treacherous Pyrenees Mountains, where Isabelle guides downed Allied airmen to safety in neutral Spain. The author also touches on the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, providing glimpses into the brutal conditions endured by prisoners. This diverse range of settings allows Hannah to explore the far-reaching impacts of the war on different segments of French society.
Characters
Vianne Mauriac: One of the two main protagonists and the elder sister. A schoolteacher living in Carriveau, France, Vianne struggles to survive during the German occupation while her husband is away at war. She faces moral dilemmas and personal trauma as she tries to protect her daughter and help Jewish children. Vianne's character arc shows tremendous growth and resilience throughout the novel.
Isabelle Rossignol: The younger sister and other main protagonist. Rebellious and passionate, Isabelle joins the French Resistance in Paris. She becomes known as “The Nightingale” for her daring and dangerous work helping Allied airmen escape Nazi-occupied France. Her bravery and determination make her a key figure in the resistance movement.
Antoine Mauriac: Vianne's husband who is drafted into the French army. His absence during the war forces Vianne to face the hardships of the occupation alone.
Gaëtan Dubois: A young partisan who Isabelle falls in love with. He plays a significant role in Isabelle's journey into the Resistance.
Sophie Mauriac: Vianne and Antoine's young daughter. Her presence motivates many of Vianne's actions and decisions during the occupation.
Julien Rossignol: Vianne and Isabelle's father, a WWI veteran who initially seems cold and distant. He later becomes involved in the Resistance alongside Isabelle.
Rachel de Champlain: Vianne's best friend, who is Jewish and eventually deported to a concentration camp. Her fate deeply affects Vianne and influences her later actions.
Wolfgang Beck: A German officer billeted at Vianne's home. He is depicted as a relatively kind man, contrasting with the later, more brutal officer.
Von Richter: The second German officer billeted at Vianne's home. He is cruel and abusive, representing the worst of the Nazi occupation.
Quick facts
Kristin Hannah's father encouraged her to write about World War II, which sparked the idea for a novel featuring women involved in the Resistance movement against the Nazis.
The Nightingale was inspired by the real-life story of Andrée de Jongh, a Belgian woman who helped Allied airmen escape Nazi-occupied territory.
Hannah devoted six years to researching and writing the novel, including visiting France multiple times.
The character Isabelle's codename “The Nightingale” was inspired by the real-life Comet Line escape network.
The novel uses a frame story device, with an elderly narrator in 1995 recounting events from World War II.
The Nightingale has been translated into 45 languages and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide.
The Nightingale spent 45 weeks on the NPR Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List and 20 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
The novel won the Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction in 2015.
A film adaptation has been in development since 2015, with sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning set to star.
About the Author
Kristin Hannah (1960-) is an award-winning American author with over 20 novels to her name. A native of California, she worked in advertising and practiced law before transitioning to writing full-time in the early 1990s. Her breakthrough came in 2015 with The Nightingale, a work of historical fiction set during World WAr II, which has sold more than 4.5 million copies worldwide with translations in 45 languages.
Hannah's fiction often explores themes of family and resilience against the backdrop of historical events. Her notable novels include The Great Alone (2018), a semiautobiographical work following a family’s move to the Alaskan wilderness, which was recognized as the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads; The Four Winds (2021), set in Texas during the Great Depression, which was named the best book of 2021 by Book of the Month club; and The Women (2024), capturing the experiences of young women serving in the US Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Hannah’s novel Firefly Lane (2008), which traces the friendship between two women over more than three decades, was adapted into a successful Netflix series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke. Several of her other books, including The Nightingale and The Great Alone, have been optioned for film. Kristin Hannah makes her home in the Pacific Northwest.
