The Last Train to London

A Novel

By: Meg Waite Clayton

Narrated by: John Lee

The New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Exiles conjures her best novel yet, a pre-World War II-era story with the emotional resonance of Orphan Train and All the Light We Cannot See, centering on the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe—and one brave woman who helped them escape to safety.

In 1936, the Nazi are little more than loud, brutish bores to fifteen-year old Stephan Neuman, the son of a wealthy and influential Jewish family and budding playwright whose playground extends from Vienna’s streets to its intricate underground tunnels. Stephan’s best friend and companion is the brilliant Žofie-Helene, a Christian girl whose mother edits a progressive, anti-Nazi newspaper. But the two adolescents’ carefree innocence is shattered when the Nazis’ take control.

There is hope in the darkness, though. Truus Wijsmuller, a member of the Dutch resistance, risks her life smuggling Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to the nations that will take them. It is a mission that becomes even more dangerous after the Anschluss—Hitler’s annexation of Austria—as, across Europe, countries close their borders to the growing number of refugees desperate to escape.

Tante Truus, as she is known, is determined to save as many children as she can. After Britain passes a measure to take in at-risk child refugees from the German Reich, she dares to approach Adolf Eichmann, the man who would later help devise the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question,” in a race against time to bring children like Stephan, his young brother Walter, and Žofie-Helene on a perilous journey to an uncertain future abroad.

Lest we firget

Meg Waite Clayton has given us a treasure which should be required reading in every high school and university.

Her historical fiction rings so true that one with a heart can scarcely get through this journey without tears. And yet there is also heart-warming hope though the real life and fictional heroines and heroes who stand in our midst even in a crooked and evil generation as we are still seeing today.

All of us must choose to be silent or to give voice to what is right when the innocent vulnerables are mistreated. This story may give assistance when those choices arise.

John Lee’s narration is gripping and perfectly matched to the depth of character in each one he voices.

Thank you both—author and narrator. As a Jewish Christian, a writer, a woman, and a human, I will never forget you and your haunting story.

Touching

This story was very touching and proves that despite all I have learned about WWII, there are still things I did not know. I like the story inspired by the true events as it makes it a more personal experience versus just the difficult facts.

Great story

I started crying at the end it was so sad. Overall a great story, #would read again

very worthwhile listen

probably not a book that would show up in my "recommended titles" but I enjoyed this book a lot

I REALLY WANTED TO LIKE THIS BOOK, BUT…

I read a lot of pre WWII books, and while this one was informative, I found I just COULD’NT seem to form any kind of attachment with the main characters. Of course, I felt deep sympathy and sadness for all those who needed friendship and understanding; for all the people who lost EVERYTHING — their CHILDREN, their homes, their businesses’; businesses that were often passed down from generation to generation. Most of all I feel so sorry for all those what the hands of those awful people.

I did learn a a LOT of history from this book about who the NAZI were and just how easy it was for otherwise perfectly “normal” people to be turned into the most evil version of themselves; how easily they adapted an attitude of pure hate against others with whom they were previously friends and neighbors.

The author obviously did lots of homework before. she began her book (unlike some authors who just hang out a book and call it done). The narrator did a fantastic job.

While this wasn’t my favorite book (it just wasn’t what I expected based on the book’s description), I would definitely recommend it to others who are interested in this period of our world’s history.