The Librarian of Saint-Malo

Written by Mario Escobar

Narrated by Carrie Brewer

Libraries are being ransacked. France is torn apart by war. A French librarian is determined to resist. Told through smuggled letters to an author, an ordinary librarian describes the brutal Nazi occupation of her small coastal village and the extraordinary measures she takes to fight back.

Saint-Malo, France: August 1939. Jocelyn and Antoine are childhood sweethearts, but just after they marry, Antoine is drafted to fight against Germany. As World War II rages, Jocelyn uses her position as a librarian in her town of Saint-Malo to comfort and encourage her community with books. Jocelyn begins to write secret letters smuggled to a famous Parisian author, telling her story in the hope that it will someday reach the outside world.

France falls and the Nazis occupy Jocelyn's town, turning it into a fortress. The townspeople try passive resistance, but the German commander ruthlessly begins to destroy part of the city's libraries. Books deemed unsuitable by the Nazis are burnt or stolen, and priceless knowledge is lost.

Risking arrest and even her life, Jocelyn manages to hide some of the books while desperately waiting to receive news from her husband Antoine, now a prisoner in a German camp.

Jocelyn's mission unfolds in her letters: to protect the people of Saint-Malo and the books they hold so dear. Mario Escobar brings to life the occupied city in sweeping and romantic prose, re-creating the history of those who sacrificed all to care for the people they loved.

• World War II historical fiction inspired by true events
• Book length: 368 pages

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9780785239932

Mario Escobar

Mario Escobar, novelista, historiador y colaborador habitual de National Geographic Historia, ha dedicado su vida a la investigación de los grandes conflictos humanos. Sus libros han sido traducidos a más de doce idiomas, convirtiéndose en bestsellers en países como los Estados Unidos, Brasil, China, Rusia, Italia, México, Argentina y Japón. Es el autor más vendido en formato digital en español en Amazon.

Reviews for The Librarian of Saint-Malo

[Michelle Landry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully written WWII era story with true events and some actual and fictional characters. This is a heartbreaking depiction of true bravery in the face of actual & internal war.

[betinadelmar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good book, great story! Another kind of love, for books and knowledge.

[claire jenkinsrobinson · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Too American in its vocabulary and the narration is appalling, another one using stupid voices. Couldn’t stand listening to it and the first few chapters did not entice me to try reading it.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While this may be a short (and I hope sweet) review of The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar, this WWII-era novel is anything but lightweight. Beautiful writing offsets the heartbreaking story told in the first person voice of the town’s librarian, Jocelyn. As she embarks on a new life with her husband Antoine, Hitler begins his merciless trek across Europe. Escobar examines the everyday life of Jocelyn and others in the town of Saint-Malo during the Nazi occupation and subsequent liberation by the Allies. The question of how cruelty and mercy, love and hate could co-exist kept coming to mind as I read this book. It had the same feel as All The Light We Cannot See, but with a hope for a future that Doerr’s book did not express. Jocelyn fights to save the library’s books, but also the soul of her city. I found the book unputdownable, yet had to take some breaks because of the subject matter. Many of the stories told in the course of the book don’t have a happily-ever-after ending, yet the triumph of right and goodness and love, is truly a very good ending.I highly recommend The Librarian of Saint-Malo. It’s a must read for those who want a deeply felt novel that will make you think.Very Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(I purchased this book from Barnes And Noble. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[heatherlinc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"The Librarian of Saint-Malo" was an enjoyable read although I couldn't understand why the author decided to write the chapters as a series of letters. It wasn't necessary and they didn't enhance the novel in any way. I found the plot fairly slow and bleak, and the novel lacked deep emotion. Nor did the romance ring true between Jocelyn and her husband and then later her relationship with the Nazi soldier; they both felt forced.I did enjoy following Jocelyn as she tried to protect her precious library and the valuable books from the Nazis' clutches. Her dedication and her love for her books and her city were obvious. I also liked how the novel seeped into history at a time when the best and worst of humanity were on display. However, I never really connected with Jocelyn emotionally and struggled to finish the book.

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This historical fiction is set during World War II and the German occupation of France in the small coastal town of St, Malo. Jocelyn, a young librarian, is determined to save old and valuable books from being destroyed or sold by the Germans. She endures many hardships, including TB before the war, and then her husband's departure to fight against the Germans. Her situation deteriorates when a particularly brutal SS officer becomes obsessed by her, but in contrast her friendship with a German officer "protector of cultural heritage" saves her several times. The themes of trust and betrayal are underscored by the difficulty of knowing whom to trust when collaborators and the Resistance both became more active. This novel has action, suspense, and romance at the same time it portrays an important chapter of 20th century history.

[eamace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everyone wants to conquer her, but she resists. They may occupy her streets but never her soul. Saint-Malo will be free so long as we keep tending her fire in our hearts.Jocelyn Ferrec lives in a small town on the northern coast of France. The war has already affected the lives of many, but the heart of Saint-Malo stays alive due to the diligence of its librarian, Jocelyn. Letters written to author Marcel Zola bring to life the struggle to maintain this most important part of the town. Some survive, many do not, but history brings it all alive. Life takes on meaning when we dedicate it to others. This well written book is one you will long remember. How much meaning is in our daily lives?An ARC was received through HarperCollins, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. These comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully written novel about one woman's goal of protecting the books in her library from the Germans who wanted to destroy the books by authors they don't approve or confiscate the rare older books to send back to Germany.Jocelyn and Antoine get married in August, 1939 Right after their marriage, Antoine is drafted to fight against Germany and ends up in a prisoner of war camp. Jocelyn is the town librarian and after the Germans move into town, she realizes that she must work to save the books from their hands. She puts her life in danger by joining the resistance and by her attitude towards the oppressors. During this time, she decides to put her thoughts into words and writes letters to send to the famous author Marcel Zola. In these letters she tells him about her quest to save the library and how important books are to her life. As the plans for her future become more unreachable, she puts herself in danger to save what she feels is most important.Jocelyn is a wonderful character. She is full of love for her husband, her town, her library, her books and many of the people that she comes in contact with. She was a strong woman throughout the novel and did what had to be done to save her beloved books. This is a book about bravery when faced with impossible obstacles. The writing is both sweeping and romantic and Mario Escobar brings to life the occupied city and re-creates the history of those who sacrificed all to care for the people they loved.Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[debs4jc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a solidly written work of WWII fiction, and a bit different than most Christian fiction. The author is from Spain so the perspective is different than an American Christian -while the main character struggles with issues of faith, she does not have a solid "come to Jesus" moment, though she feels very strongly that love must win out over the pragmitism of the Nazi's. She is a librarian at Saint-Malo, a coastal village in France that is, of course, doomed to be overrun by the Nazi's during WWII. Orphaned at a young age, her husband becomes her world when she marries. He nurses her through a long and almost deadly bought of TB, and then he is sent off to fight with the French during the Nazi invasion. He is taken prisoner, and during his absense the Nazi's move into town and torment the local citizens. The librarian is tormented to see her Jewish friends persecuted, and her beloved books combed through and those that are deemed unsuitable, burned. Gradually (very gradually) she finds ways to fight back and even join the resistance. Eventually her husband returns, but the continued presence of a Nazi officer who has it out for her, and another Nazi officer who is in love with her keeps her life in turmoil. Throughout it all she tries to make the best choices she can, for all that is good and full of love, until the novels fiery conclusion as the Nazi invaders mounth their final defense agains the allied forces. Fans of a happy ending may not enjoy this one. It is a thoughtful, realistic book though and a different persecptive among all of the many WWII books that are written - especially in the Christian fiction genre.