Being an enormous fan of Paulette Mahurin's historical fiction that usually has a basis in fact, I was thrilled to have a chance to read her latest effort - The Old Gilt Clock.
In early 20th Century Netherlands, Willem Arondeus was a young man who had suffered both for his sexuality and his defence of not only Jews but all persons treated with contempt by society, at that time. When the Nazi's invaded the Netherlands at the start of WWII, this successful young artist decided it was time for him to stand up and be counted. He was damned if he was going to stand idly by and let the Germans slaughter millions of innocent people. In a story of immense courage and conviction Mahurin highlights one of the true unsung heroes of the Dutch Resistance.
As with all of Mahurin's books, this one resonates with truth and justice. A reader cannot help but to be swept away in Willem's profound belief in the dignity of his fellow human beings no matter their race, their creed, their features, or their religion. This is an incredibly powerful and soaring treatise of man's injustice to man and one person's conviction that it cannot and should not be allowed to happen.
As always, with Mahurin, the writing is superb with the main character and his supporting cast, simply beautifully drawn and equally demanding of the reader's empathy.
I loved this book, which for me, marks a new level in Mahurin's considerable maturity as a real literary talent. A fantastic read and one I can highly recommend.
In early 20th Century Netherlands, Willem Arondeus was a young man who had suffered both for his sexuality and his defence of not only Jews but all persons treated with contempt by society, at that time. When the Nazi's invaded the Netherlands at the start of WWII, this successful young artist decided it was time for him to stand up and be counted. He was damned if he was going to stand idly by and let the Germans slaughter millions of innocent people. In a story of immense courage and conviction Mahurin highlights one of the true unsung heroes of the Dutch Resistance.
As with all of Mahurin's books, this one resonates with truth and justice. A reader cannot help but to be swept away in Willem's profound belief in the dignity of his fellow human beings no matter their race, their creed, their features, or their religion. This is an incredibly powerful and soaring treatise of man's injustice to man and one person's conviction that it cannot and should not be allowed to happen.
As always, with Mahurin, the writing is superb with the main character and his supporting cast, simply beautifully drawn and equally demanding of the reader's empathy.
I loved this book, which for me, marks a new level in Mahurin's considerable maturity as a real literary talent. A fantastic read and one I can highly recommend.
You can find The Old Gilt Clock, along with the rest of Paulette Mahurin's superb portfolio, here on her Amazon page:
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