"Inspired by true events, a thought-provoking work of historical fiction and a great family saga. A literary masterpiece". ★★★★★ Reedsy Discovery
"The story is unflinching in its subject matter and rich in sensory detail, and its roots in lived experience lend it undeniable emotional weight". ★★★★ The Coffee Pot Book Club
A Top Pick for Danish Libraries, now available in English.
Kirsten Marie Pedersen wants more from life than the narrow prospects offered in 1940s Copenhagen
Her father is an alcoholic, her mother struggles to provide for the children, and the German occupation weighs heavily on them all. Yet in those dark years, Kirsten grows from a timid girl into a determined young woman, while her sisters, Martha and Ingrid, fight their own battles.
After the liberation, she secures work as a translator at the Fürstenfeldbruck air base in Germany, where she assists the Americans in their pursuit of Nazi fugitives. The war is over; the world lies open; her body awakens. But when tragedy strikes, the family is torn apart-and Kirsten is presented with an unexpected chance for a new life in America.
The lives of the three sisters form a raw and sensual mosaic of wartime fragments in a world where women must twist and turn to reach their dreams-and face the price of following their own path.
Why readers are discovering this Scandinavian sensation:
- A Personal Legacy: This novel is a reimagining of the author's own grandmother's journey through occupied Denmark and post-war Germany, lending the story a deep, emotional resonance.
- Proven Success: Originally published to critical acclaim in Denmark, this narrative was selected by over 80% of the Danish public library system-a rare distinction for contemporary historical fiction.
- Unflinching Realism: Moving beyond the tropes of the resistance thriller, this novel offers a gritty, authentic look at the "everyday" war and the cost of survival on the domestic front.
