France, 1940: Luc de Fontenac is a Sorbonne professor and Odile Molina is a Jewish businesswoman. War is declared and Luc takes up his role as a lieutenant in command of an anti-aircraft battery; Odile tries to keep her factory working. They become separated when France collapses, and as they try to find one another again, they encounter a cast of real and very unusual characters including General de Gaulle, G.I. Gurdjieff and Capitaine de Neuchèze. The book dispels the myth that French soldiers all ran away. It places the hero and heroine in real historical events and highlights the considerable heroism shown by many French soldiers, for example at the defence of Rouen and the last stand at Saumur. It provides an insight into life in France immediately before WW2, and then during the disaster in May/June 1940, when the country was suddenly overrun by the German Army, forcing desperate choices on almost all French people. It raises issues of self-awareness, anti-Semitism, loyalty, art, courage and risk. Simply written and a real page-turner, the book will interest adults and young adults alike. There are mild sexual references and clear descriptions of battle.
