...what use is logic when faced with the power of truth?

I love picking bon mots in books I read. This one is from Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks, one of the best British writers.

The books I review or mention on my Tetradki blog all have certain relevance to Russia or the Russian view of the world. Faulks is not widely known there. A Russian language internet search returned fewer than 3,000 mentions, mostly about Faulks being the new author of James Bond books.

Charlotte Gray has only fleeting references to Russia being hammered by the advancing German armies in 1942. However, the story of British intelligence trying to help - or ignite - the French Resistance to German occupation while at the same time disrupting the Communist influence within the Resistance, this story is pertinent to understanding how the fight for freedom and democracy is won - or lost. Then and now.

Much of the thinking in Charlotte Gray is devoted to why so many of the French accomodated the German occupation - and even welcomed it. Dictatorial order and clarity instead of democratic sleaze, chaos and insecurity. Many, probably most, decided they could live with a bit of indignity.

That was in France in the 40s. In Russia in the 90s, before she became what she is now, democracy had turned in to a swear word - dermocracy (shitocracy).

Most of this was good and well written, though not on a par with the great Birdsong. However, the last third or so was more dramatic and harrowing, especially the fate of M Levade and the two boys Andre and Jacob. ( )

Love this book. Heartbreaking, warm, full of courage. This story needed to be told of an amazing lady and the courage and daring she needed to stay alive. She is a modern day hero. ( )

Historical fiction with a smattering of a so-so romance. I found the French people very interesting in their differing viewpoints about the German occupation during WW2. Small towns may have looked tranquil on the outside, but they were teeming with propaganda, secret meetings, and deceit. The story of the two Jewish brothers was devastating.

Parts of this books had me on the edge of my seat, while others left me cold. The whole secret childhood incident with her father was strange, and the "explanation" was even stranger. It did nothing to enhance the story. Please, Mr. Faulks, just stick to writing about espionage and war -- any war -- and leave out the drivel. ( )

In 1942, Charlotte Gray travels to London to work as a doctor's receptionist. On the train he meets a man who later mentions her name to an organisation who train women to become involved in work with Resistance groups in France. When Charlotte's pilot boyfriend goes missing in France, she uses her courier job as an opportunity to try to find him and gets more involved with the French locals than expected. ( )

The description of the children being deported was so sad and moving - really made an impact on me - haunting. Gives a greater understanding of the complexities of the Nazi occupation of France. A ( )

A stunning book. Setting is early 1942 - 1943 and follows Charlotte Gray into France in search of her man lost in France on a mission, her work with the underground and relationships with persecuted Jews. Some scenes brought tears to my eys. Really moving - as one newspaper reviewer wrote - 'a brilliant, harrowing, powerful novel.', ( )

After an affair with Charlotte, Peter returns to duty as a WWII pilot and disappears over France. Charlotte joins a Resistance group to serve a mission in France and to allow her to search for her lover. The characters in this book are extremely well developed and the elements of passion and intrique well balanced. I read this as a "relationship" novel but the depictions of the war were very engaging. ( )

Not up to Birdsong, and in the main fairly pedestrian, however, some parts were excellent and for them it is well worth reading. His description of the jewish children getting taken to the camps will be with me forever. The old father's story is also very good. I If I could mark it only on the good bits then it would be a 4 but the pedestrian parts brought it down to the 3 ( )

tame but interesting story about resistance to Nazis in France during WWII ( )

p.77 (on depression):
"Its onset was imperceptible: like an assiduous housekeeper locking up a rambling mansion, it noiselessly went about and turned off, one by one, the mind's thousand small accesses to pleasure..."

"...For several weeks the effort of speech had made her jaw ache; the tricks and self-delusions by which people avoided confronting the tragic lineaments of the world were an unforgiveable frivolity: the air about her limbs felt solid." ( )

Annotation
Powerful. Moving. Especially pages 329 to 370. This is a book to buy and to keep. Describes life in France under Vichy and German control, 1942-43. Starts deceptively slow but builds to a tear jerker of a climax. Read again for his skillful use of the language and vocabulary.