The Tiger Claw

I've had this book sitting on my TBR pile for far too long. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.

Noor Inayat Khan was a British spy in France during World War II. The author has taken the known details of her life and expanded them into this mesmerizing book. Throughout the tale of Noor's experiences in France before she was captured are letters to an unborn child that she wrote while imprisoned in Germany. In this version of her life, Noor, a Sufi Muslim, fell in love with a French Jew, Armand, while attending the Sorbonne. Naturally, the religious differences were a cause of concern to Noor's parents. Noor's brother went to speak to Armand and entreated him to discontinue his relationship with Noor. After this rift, Noor show more discovered she was pregnant and with the help of her sister procured an abortion. It was to the spirit of this child that she wrote her letters. Armand had been captured and sent to Auschwitz but Noor was convinced that he would survive and they would reunite after the war. They could then conceive another child. Unfortunately, Noor was executed in Dachau in 1944. Armand survived the prison camps. He continued to love Noor for the remainder of his life.

This is a tragedy, yes, but also a love story. Baldwin has imagined a life for Noor that may not be true but it is a compelling read. show less

The Tiger Claw by Shauna Singh Baldwin is based on the true story of Noor Inayat Khan, a Indo-American woman who was sent to Nazi occupied France during World War II. We know from the beginning of the book that she is captured, and the bulk of the book is spent in switching between the story of how she was taken and her reflections on her life, her fiancé and her family. This is a slow moving book that nevertheless packs a powerful punch when it comes to describing Noor’s treatment and eventual execution at Dachau.

I thought that I would love this story but it’s multi plot lines, it’s extremely slow pace and the sheer length of the book found me making excuses to not pick it up. As a character Noor seemed a little distant and show more entirely too reflective, although this may well have been the author’s hesitation to add character traits to a real person but the result ended in a rather flat main character.

There is no denying the bravery and determination of Noor and people like her who put their lives in such extreme jeopardy for an Allied victory. One part of the book that I did find really interesting was the internal conflict that Noor felt about working for the British while her homeland was struggling to overthrow the yoke of British colonialism. Overall The tiger Claw was a worthwhile read of historical and political value, but the actual story could have used more heart. show less

Outstanding book. so much more a biography. great insight into the life of a resistance fighter in war torn France. Noor khan was a real person and this book kept her real. it is a doomed love story too.The title comes from a necklace that she had that sympolized love that she was able to have given to Armand, the jewish man she loved, when he ws in Dancy concentration camp.

De dochter van een Indische vader en een Amerikaanse moeder raakt in de Tweede Wereldoorlog betrokken bij het verzet als spionne voor de Britten.