The Keeper of Hidden Books

A Novel

By: Madeline Martin

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER—for fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz!

A BookBub Pick for Best Historical Fiction of Summer 2023

A heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw, by the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.

All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.

But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left - literature.

“Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they are transported…with Madeline Martin's vivid and inspiring characters.” —Kelly Rimmer, author of The Warsaw Orphan

"Madeline Martin immerses us in the expertly rendered and fascinating worlds.” —Natasha Lester, author of The Riviera House

Don't miss Madeline Martin's next heartwarming historical novel, The Booklover's Library!

Also by Madeline Martin:

• The Librarian Spy
• The Last Bookshop in London

The reality of sacrifice

This book gave me even more love for literature than I knew humanly possible. Reading about the sacrifices men and women made to save so many books from being destroyed set a new fire in me to read as much as I possibly can. If we are not continuing to read and love and value books, their lives were lost in vein.

Keeper of Hidden Books

This was a very informative and touching book. A different prospective than most books about WWII. I strongly recommend it!

lovely story

interesting story. I haven't read many WWII stories set in Poland. very interesting prologue. The sadness of time in the world. the book does not dwell on this though.

Powerful!

The book was beautifully written, and told such a powerful story. Thank you Madeline Martin!

Historical fiction

Engaging story and helped me learn a bit more about Polish history. I have also read a number of nonfiction memoirs of People who survived the Nazi occupation of Poland, and this book seemed to accurately reflect the era.