Dutch Girl

Audrey Hepburn and World War II

By: Robert Matzen, Luca Dotti - foreword

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Twenty-five years after her passing, Audrey Hepburn remains the most beloved of all Hollywood stars, known as much for her role as UNICEF ambassador as for films like Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Several biographies have chronicled her stardom, but none has covered her intense experiences through five years of Nazi occupation in the Netherlands. According to her son, Luca Dotti, "The war made my mother who she was."

Audrey Hepburn's war included participation in the Dutch Resistance, working as a doctor's assistant during the "Bridge Too Far" battle of Arnhem, the brutal execution of her uncle, and the ordeal of the Hunger Winter of 1944. She also had to contend with the fact that her father was a Nazi agent and her mother was pro-Nazi for the first two years of the occupation. But the war years also brought triumphs as Audrey became Arnhem's most famous young ballerina.

Audrey's own reminiscences, new interviews with people who knew her in the war, wartime diaries, and research in classified Dutch archives shed light on the riveting, untold story of Audrey Hepburn under fire in World War II.

Also included is a section of color and black-and-white photos. Many of these images are from Audrey's personal collection and are published here for the first time.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Robert Matzen (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Page turner for me

I found the book a very read. I really only knew the celebrity Audrey and didn’t know about her surviving through world war 2 and nazi occupation. What strong people who had to endure that war and no matter how strong many didn’t survive.

Loved it

I can't stop talking about it! I've been keeping my S/O informed about the whole thing! I can't believe all of the obstacles she overcame and still managed to maintain her humility.

The longest war. The longest book. The worst feelings.

Don’t even start it unless you have a strong stomach for what it was really like living under nazi rule. Less about Audrey Hepburn andmore about the horrors of WWII.

I learned a Lot

Nevertheless, much too long mainly because the narration was painfully difficult to follow. I believe, TaviaGilbert, was given an opportunity based on privileged rather than talent. Much like the theme of Hepburn’s Hollywood career. If people in power want one to succeed they will…with or without talent.

I admire Audrey Hepburn, Harry Belafonte and others that used their exposure to better the world…Which is the better story.

Paid for the audio after reading the ARC for free!

war-is-hell, world-war-ll, the-Netherlands, ballerina, UNESCO

Who knows more about children's troubles living in a country visited by war than a girl who lived in England and then was summarily moved to the Netherlands not long before it was occupied by the Nazis. Her later accomplishments allowed her to make a difference through UNESCO, but that frightened girl remained inside her forever.
This biographer had some real advantages in being vetted by Audrey's son and also being able to have someone able to access classified documents in the Netherlands. At first the book spends an inordinate amount of time lauding her mother and later details some aspects of the War in Europe in excruciating military detail. However, even if the reader only reads half the book and skims whatever doesn't suit, it is worth the full retail price.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Smith Publicity via NetGalley. Thank you! That was in March 2019, bought the Audio in November 2019, and Tavia Gilbert surely added to it!

A peek into the war in the Netherlands

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and learning more about Audrey Hepburn. The only struggle I had was with the pronunciation of Dutch words and places. With so many Dutch words in the text it would have been better to have a narrator that spoke Dutch.

Interesting, ok

I wish I could give 3.5 stars. This was an interesting book. As a lifelong Audrey Hepburn fan, I was excited to listen to it. However it wound up being imbalanced - it was a lot more WWII history and not enough Audrey. If the book had a better balance, I expect it would have been far shorter. I also struggled throughout with the narrator. Her tone varied between calm and steady and also seemingly weak and troubled. Perhaps she was doing her best to "act," but for me it fell flat.

Reviews helped me enjoy more

I was glad I read the other listeners reviews before I started this. They really helped. I liked the historical information provided by the author to fill in the unknown story of Audrey's experience during the war. I didn't like the performance and found her voice irritating. Possibly due to the complex names being read is why they chose her but eventually I was able to listen without thinking about that. I would read it a second time before listening to this again.

A tale of a girl in war.

Insightful to learn how this girl lived through WWII and the effect on her dancing and acting.

More than a biography

This was a fascinating character study of Audrey Hepburn as well as The Netherlands of WW ll that impacted, or perhaps even formed, the rest of her life. It was mesmerizing and l listened well into the night when l should have been sleeping. I have traveled in Holland and wish I’d known more of the “recent” history of some of the cities such as Arnhem in the pre and war years when l was there. If you are interested in Audrey Hepburn or what life was like during the Nazi’s regime in Holland, l highly recommend this book.