The Goddess of Warsaw

A Novel

De: Lisa Barr

Narrado por: Jane Oppenheimer

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

“Utterly gripping. . . a transformative and immersive story so powerful and captivating that I could not put it down. . . . Truly one of the best books I’ve read.”—Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Lisa Barr's new historical fiction, The Goddess of Warsaw, gifts the reader with jaw-dropping moments worthy of a Tarantino film, a story that could not be more timely, and a heroine whose ferocity and valor knows no bounds.”—Natalie Jenner, author of the instant international bestseller The Jane Austen Society

The Goddess of Warsaw is an enthralling tale of a legendary Hollywood screen goddess with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. When the famous actress is threatened by someone from her past, she must put her skills into play to protect herself, her illustrious career, and those she loves, then and now.

Los Angeles, 2005. Sienna Hayes, Hollywood’s latest It Girl, has ambitions to work behind the camera. When she meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous Golden Age movie star, Sienna sees her big break. She wants to direct a picture about Lena’s life—but the legendary actor’s murky past turns out to be even darker than Sienna dreamed. Before she was a Living Legend, Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis.

Warsaw, 1943. A member of the city’s Jewish elite, Bina Blonski and her husband, Jakub, are imprisoned in the ghastly, cramped ghetto along with the rest of Warsaw’s surviving Jews. Determined to fight back against the brutal Nazis, the beautiful, blonde Aryan-looking Bina becomes a spy, gaining information and stealing weapons outside the ghetto to protect her fellow Jews. But her dangerous circumstances grow complicated when she falls in love with Aleksander, an ally in resistance—and Jakub’s brother. While Lena accomplishes amazing feats of bravery, she sacrifices much in the process.

Over a decade after escaping the horrors of the ghetto, Bina, now known as Lena, rises to fame in Hollywood. Yet she cannot help but be reminded of her old life and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who escaped justice after the war. Her power and fame as a movie star offer Lena the chance to right the past’s wrongs . . . and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had.

A gripping page-turner of one of history’s most heroic uprisings and an actress whose personal war never ends, The Goddess Of Warsaw is filled with secrets, lies, twists and turns, and a burning pursuit of justice no matter the cost.

Captivating.

A story of tragedy, pain and heroism. A reminder that hate still prevails in todays world. It seems like humanity never learns life’s lessons. The characters were rich and full of life. The authors prose makes you feel like you are living this journey. A superb read!!!

Riveting

It was just a brilliant story about unimaginable events. Not only was the rating of masterpiece, but the narration was perfect.

Passionate

Liked it all… beautifully conceived and developed. Narration excellent! Will recommend. Look forward to reading more of Lisa Barr.

Perseverance

I loved the story, the way Lisa researched and wrote it and learning more about what happened in Warsaw. She had me laughing and crying and having even more respect for my Jewish friends and their ancestors. It was one of my all time favorite books.

Fantastic!!!

One of the best books I have ever read. The story was impeccably told. The narration was amazing. This is a must read if you enjoy great writing.

Powerful woman

Loved the main character, she was fierce and tenacious. Enjoyed the historical references and the overall storyline.

The Goddess of Warsaw

Lena Browning, a world-famous and aging Hollywood star, relays her previously unknown history to a young woman who hopes to create a movie about her life. In reality, Lena Browning is a woman named Bina Blonski, a survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland. Although based on 2005 interviews, most of the story is a flashback to the Holocaust. Trigger warning: violence by Nazis is explicit and will upset some.

Liked. The narration is terrific. Excellent reading. The story is page-turning. Although the story is fiction, it is based on a reality we must "never forget".

Not so hot. There are a few instances of dialogue using language not conducive to the era. It's not really serious, but a competent editor should have caught it.

Thirteen hours of listening, unabridged, released in 2024 by Harper Audio.

Recommended WWII historical fiction.

Overall Amazing

Beautifully written. The author keeps you wanting more all the way to the end. I became so attached to the characters and emotionally followed their journeys throughout the book. Highly recommend.

Recommend this to everyone!

The plot twists were unexpected and logical. Very poignant and historically educational. Impressive story and I hope there really were many Dina’s protecting families on the Warsaw Ghetto.

Bravery

Outstanding portrayal of bravery during war mixed with a profound love story. I never wanted it to end