Never Easy Choices

 

Again reading some fiction has made me realise that choices are not always easy. Neither was everything conveniently black and white  

The Paris Library, mentioned in my previous post, showed some of the difficulties of living in occupied France.  A mixed bunch of people visited, borrowed from and studied in the American Library.

Margaret, an English woman and a diplomat’s wife, was arrested because she had not been reporting to the police every day as an enemy alien must. She had a novel in her bag and read to the other women.  This so enchanted one of the guards that he let her and some of the other women go.  He eventually became her lover and supplied her with many goods she wouldn’t normally have been able to obtain.  This included items that her friend was able to send to her brother, a prisoner of war.    

Professor Cohen studied in the library. Later, as a Jewess, she was no longer allowed to leave her apartment. Her books and papers were confiscated but the staff at the library continued to deliver books to her. This did happen: staff form the American Library in Paris did deliver books to Jewish people who were confined to their homes.

Protagonist Odile stole the “crow” letter – letters denouncing people of interest to the Nazis - but in doing so she put her father and fiancé in danger.  They were both policemen and this could harm their careers.

Odile’s fiancé Paul did not get called up as his job as policeman was considered important.  However, once Paris was occupied by the Nazis he has to do many things of which he is not so proud. He is instrumental in getting Professor Cohen transferred to a concentration camp. He and a colleague end up beating Margret up. On a lighter note he has to wear white gloves, which he detests, in order to direct traffic.   

The library was offered some protection by Dr Hermann Fuchs who regularly inspected. He already knew Miss Reeder, the director, and they shared a love of books. Though they must not distribute or display any of the banned books, he allowed the library a great amount of freedom. These two people really existed.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

 

Odile obtains a post as librarian at the American Library in Paris. She continues working there for most of World War II. She makes many friends, some of whom later are in danger: Professor Cohen, who is sent to an internment camp, Margaret, an English woman who is the wife of a diplomat, Bitsi who works in the children’s section and many others.  

She has a twin brother, Remy, who dies whilst he is a prisoner of war.

She finds out that her father and the man she married, both of whom are policeman, have been responding to “crow” letters – letters that giveaway illegal activities. Odile hides some of these letters. She leaves her husband of one day when she finds out this that he has been involved in beating up Margaret who had had an affair with a German soldier.

We read of Odile in World War II but also of her life in the 1980s as a widow in America. She married bigamously an American soldier she met at the American hospital. She befriends   a young neighbour, Lily, and tries to help her avoid the same sort of mistakes she had made.

Some of the characters are based on real people.