Synopses & Reviews
A real-life Suite Française, this riveting diary by a key female member of the French Resistance in WWII is translated into English for the first time.
Agnès Humbert was an art historian in Paris during the German occupation in 1940. Though she might well have weathered the oppressive regime, Humbert was stirred to action by the atrocities she witnessed. In an act of astonishing bravery, she joined forces with several colleagues to form an organized resistancevery likely the first such group to fight back against the occupation. (In fact, their newsletter, Résistance, gave the French Resistance its name.)
In the throes of their struggle for freedom, the members of Humberts group were betrayed to the Gestapo; Humbert herself was imprisoned. In immediate, electrifying detail, Humbert describes her time in prison, her deportation to Germany, where for more than two years she endured a string of brutal labor camps, and the horror of discovering that seven of her friends were executed by a firing squad. But through the direst of conditions, and ill health in the labor camps, Humbert retains hope for herself, for her friends, and for humanity.
Originally published in France in 1946, the book was soon forgotten and is now translated into English for the first time. Résistance is more than a firsthand account of wartime France: it is the work of a brave, witty, and forceful woman, a true believer who refused to go quietly.
Agnès Humbert was a distinguished art historian and a member of the Museé de l'Homme group in the French Resistance. She survived the war and died in Valmondois, France, in 1963.
Barbara Mellor is a translator specializing in the fine and decorative arts, art history, architectural history, fashion, design, and all things French. During her research into a Resistance ambush of a German armored column in Aveyron, she stumbled across the 1946 edition of Résistance.
A real-life Suite Française, this diary by a key female member of the French Resistance in WWII is translated into English for the first time.
Agnès Humbert was an art historian in Paris during the German occupation in 1940. Though she might well have weathered the oppressive regime, Humbert was stirred to action by the atrocities she witnessed. In an act of astonishing bravery, she joined forces with several colleagues to form an organized resistancevery likely the first such group to fight back against the occupation. The French Resistance was named for the newsletter published by Humbert and her commerades.
In the midst of their struggle for freedom, the members of Humberts group were betrayed to the Gestapo; Humbert herself was imprisoned. In vivid detail, Humbert describes her time in prison, her deportation to Germany, where for more than two years she endured a string of brutal labor camps, and the horror of discovering that seven of her friends were executed by a firing squad. But through the direst of conditions, and ill health in the labor camps, Humbert retains hope for herself, for her friends, and for humanity.
Originally published in France in 1946, the book is now translated into English for the first time. Résistance is more than a firsthand account of wartime France: it is the work of a brave, witty, and forceful woman, a true believer who refused to go quietly.
"More than 60 years after it was first published, Humbert's book . . . has finally been translated into English. It was worth the wait."The Washington Post
"An astonishing work, almost unbearable to read in places, yet ultimately inspiring."Literary Review (UK)
"She is such a fighter, such a character; you know that ten minutes of her company might well last you a lifetime, but you also know that she is one of those admirable women before whom men tremble and mountains shake”The Guardian (UK)
"An extraordinary story."The Spectator (UK)"You may think you've read stories like this before, yet hers is special. Originally published in French after the war and now available in English, Résistance was written by a woman of exceptional intelligence and courage. Her perceptions of the events and personalities she encountered are acute, honest and humaneeven toward the Germans."Newsday "Humberts meticulous eye for detail (even in chapters written after the fact) makes the book a compelling read . . . A vital historical document."Kirkus Reviews
Shortly after the conclusion of the war, Humbert, a middle-aged art historian and one of the founders of Résistance, the illegal liberation newspaper, published this compelling diary-memoir. Long referenced by World War II scholars, this book has never before been published in English. In vivid detail, she chronicles the fall of Paris, the Nazi occupation, her dangerous underground activities and alliances, and, finally, her arrest and imprisonment in a series of brutal German labor camps. In addition to being a passionate testament to all those who bravely struggled against seemingly insurmountable odds, this memoir also serves as a significant contribution to the history of women in warfare. Although not for the faint of heart, those who are compelled to read this inspiring true story will be amply inspired and rewarded.”Booklist"Humberts firsthand account of her work for the resistance in occupied Paris and her subsequent arrest and deportation to a forced labor camp in Germany is an invaluable addition to works highlighting the role of women during wartime . . . The indelibility of the human spirit is most fully revealed in Humberts account of her imprisonment, during which she retains her dignity amid the humiliating circumstances through small, individual acts of resistance such as sabotaging the work she does in the labor camps. She also provides heartfelt testament to numerous other women in the prison, many of whom were arrested for helping French and British soldiers escape.”Publishers Weekly
Review
"An astonishing work, almost unbearable to read in places, yet ultimately inspiring." -- Literary Review (UK)
"She is such a fighter, such a character; you know that ten minutes of her company might well last you a lifetime, but you also know that she is one of those admirable women before whom men tremble and mountains shake”-- The Guardian (UK)
"An extraordinary story." -- The Spectator (UK)
“Shortly after the conclusion of the war, Humbert, a middle-aged art historian and one of the founders of Résistance, the illegal liberation newspaper, published this compelling diary-memoir. Long referenced by World War II scholars, this book has never before been published in English. In vivid detail, she chronicles the fall of Paris, the Nazi occupation, her dangerous underground activities and alliances, and, finally, her arrest and imprisonment in a series of brutal German labor camps. In addition to being a passionate testament to all those who bravely struggled against seemingly insurmountable odds, this memoir also serves as a significant contribution to the history of women in warfare. Although not for the faint of heart, those who are compelled to read this inspiring true story will be amply inspired and rewarded.”—Booklist"Humberts meticulous eye for detail (even in chapters written after the fact) makes the book a compelling read. ... A vital historical document.”—Kirkus Reviews
"Humberts firsthand account of her work for the resistance in occupied Paris and her subsequent arrest and deportation to a forced labor camp in Germany is an invaluable addition to works highlighting the role of women during wartime. ... The indelibility of the human spirit is most fully revealed in Humberts account of her imprisonment, during which she retains her dignity amid the humiliating circumstances through small, individual acts of resistance such as sabotaging the work she does in the labor camps. She also provides heartfelt testament to numerous other women in the prison, many of whom were arrested for helping French and British soldiers escape.”—Publishers Weekly
"You may think you've read stories like this before, yet hers is special. Originally published in French after the war and now available in English, "Résistance" was written by a woman of exceptional intelligence and courage. Her perceptions of the events and personalities she encountered are acute, honest and humane - even toward the Germans." —Newsday
Review
“Thrilling…More than 60 years after it was first published, Humberts book…has finally been translated into English. I t was worth the wait: Barbara Mellor not only captures Humbert's reckless spirit but also her very Parisian sense of humor, at turns mordant and sarcastic.”—
Washington Post “A vividly and vigorously written document (part diary, part memoir)…Humbert never stops resisting. And she never loses her discerning, critical eye…Résistance reads like the raw material for an Alan Furst World War II novel, and what fine material it is.”—Houston Chronicle
Synopsis
A real-life Suite Française, this riveting diary by a key female member of the French Resistance in WWII is translated into English for the first time.
Agnès Humbert was an art historian in Paris during the German occupation in 1940. Though she might well have weathered the oppressive regime, Humbert was stirred to action by the atrocities she witnessed. In an act of astonishing bravery, she joined forces with several colleagues to form an organized resistance—very likely the first such group to fight back against the occupation. (In fact, their newsletter, Résistance, gave the French Resistance its name.)
In the throes of their struggle for freedom, the members of Humberts group were betrayed to the Gestapo; Humbert herself was imprisoned. In immediate, electrifying detail, Humbert describes her time in prison, her deportation to Germany, where for more than two years she endured a string of brutal labor camps, and the horror of discovering that seven of her friends were executed by a firing squad. But through the direst of conditions, and ill health in the labor camps, Humbert retains hope for herself, for her friends, and for humanity.
Originally published in France in 1946, the book was soon forgotten and is now translated into English for the first time. Résistance is more than a firsthand account of wartime France: it is the work of a brave, witty, and forceful woman, a true believer who refused to go quietly.
Synopsis
A real-life "Suite Francaise," this riveting diary by a key female member of the French Resistance in World War II is translated into English for the first time.
Synopsis
“You may think you've read stories like this before, yet hers is special…Résistance was written by a woman of exceptional intelligence and courage. Her perceptions are…acute, honest and humane.”—Newsday Agnès Humbert was an art historian in Paris during the German occupation in 1940. Stirred to action by the atrocities she witnessed, she joined forces with several colleagues to form an organized resistance—very likely the first such group to fight back against the occupation. (In fact, their newsletter, Résistance, gave the French Resistance its name.)
In the throes of their struggle for freedom, the members of Humberts group were betrayed to the Gestapo; Humbert herself was imprisoned. I n immediate, electrifying detail, Humbert describes her resistance against the Nazis, her time in prison, and the horrors she endured in a string of German labor camps, always retaining—in spite of everything—hope for herself, for her friends, and for humanity. Originally published in France in 1946, the book is now translated into English for the first time.
About the Author
Agnès Humbert was a distinguished art historian and a member of the Museé de lHomme group in the French Resistance. She survived the war and died in Valmondois, France, in 1963.
Barbara Mellor is a translator specializing in the fine and decorative arts, art history, architectural history, fashion, design, and all things French. During her research into a Resistance ambush of a German armored column in Aveyron, she stumbled across the 1946 edition of Résistance.