Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

In a world of burning books, one woman will risk everything to keep stories alive.

Berlin, 1933. The vibrant cultural heart of Germany is darkening under the shadow of the Nazi regime. For Helene Nathan, one of the first female librarians at a prestigious German library, the books she cherishes are no longer just sources of knowledge--they are targets. As the government begins its systematic purge of literature, compiling lists of "forbidden" works and orchestrating public book burnings, Helene realizes she cannot stand by as her world turns to ash.

Determined to resist the encroaching tyranny, Helene and her colleagues embark on a perilous mission of secretly collecting and hiding the very books slated for destruction. It's a dangerous act of defiance in a city where every neighbor could be an informant and the Gestapo are a constant, looming threat. Her quiet rebellion is especially complicated by the fact that Helene is half-Jewish, and Rudolf Kummer, a ruthless Nazi official, seemingly has a personal vendetta against her.

As the stakes escalate and friends and neighbors begin to disappear, Helene must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice. Her fight is not just for the pages she saves, but for the very soul of her country and the freedom to think.

Based on the heroic true stories of librarians who fought back, Library of Forbidden Books is a gripping tale of courage, the profound power of literature as resistance, and one woman's struggle to preserve humanity in the face of absolute evil.

The Author

Mario Escobar has a master's degree in modern history and has written numerous books and articles that delve into the depths of church history, the struggle of sectarian groups, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. Escobar, who makes his home in Madrid, Spain, is passionate about history and its mysteries.

Book Review

Two things that I always enjoy: historical fiction set in/around the time of WWII and bookish books. So, a bookish book set during WWII? Sign me up! Library of Forbidden Books shares the story of the librarians in Germany who fought to protect books that would have otherwise been destroyed under the Nazi regime. While this is a fictionalized story, it is based on the real life of Helene Nathan, and while I would have enjoyed the story if it was fully fictional, I do think knowing that it is at least loosely based on real life people and events make me appreciate it all that much more. This was a thought-provoking story and one that fans of WWII fiction are sure to want to check out for themselves. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4tYKJBr