The Schoolteacher of SaintMichel in..., Sarah Steele
The Schoolteacher of SaintMichel in..., Sarah Steele
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The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel: inspired by true acts of courage, heartwrenching WW2 historical fiction

Author: Sarah Steele

Narrator: Natalie Pela

Unabridged: 12 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Review

Published: 06/24/2021


Synopsis

The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel is a heartrending and deeply moving story of love and hope in World War II from the USA Today bestselling author of The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon.

The war taught her to fight. The children taught her to hope...

Inspired by real acts of bravery and resistance, The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel is a heartrending and deeply moving story of one woman's courage and sacrifice during World War II, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Missing Piece of Nancy Moon.

This exquisitely beautiful novel is perfect for readers of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, The Postmistress, Lilac Girls and The Girl from Vichy.

'A beautifully worked tale of bravery, woven into the reality of a time we can't forget' Mandy Robotham, author of The Berlin Girl

'An emotional, beautifully constructed read. I loved the way the clues from the past and present slowly knitted together, answering the questions that had been missing their answers for so long' Sunday Times bestselling author Jill Mansell

'Gripping, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting, I found this beautifully written novel impossible to put down' Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Fforde

'My darling girl, I need you to find someone for me . . .'

France, 1942. At the end of the day, the schoolteacher releases her pupils. She checks they have their identity passes, and warns them not to stop until the German guards have let them through the barrier that separates occupied France from Free France. As the little ones fly across the border and into their mothers' arms, she breathes a sigh of relief. No one is safe now. Not even the children.

Berkshire, present day. A letter left to her by her beloved late grandmother Gigi takes Hannah Stone on a journey deep into the heart of the Dordogne landscape. As she begins to unravel a forgotten history of wartime bravery and sacrifice, she discovers the heartrending secret that binds her grandmother to a village schoolteacher, the remarkable Lucie Laval . . .

'An engaging tale of courage and friendship. A triumph!' Gill Paul

'Evocative writing and the storytelling is masterful. It really draws the reader in' Felicity Hayes-McCoy

(P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Limited

About Sarah Steele

Sarah Steele trained as a classical pianist and violinist before joining the world of publishing as an editorial assistant at Hodder and Stoughton. She was for many years a freelance editor, and now lives in the vibrant Gloucestershire town of Stroud.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Tripfiction on January 19, 2022

Dual timeline novel set in the DORDOGNE This is the latest novel from the author of The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon, which took the reader on a delightfully picaresque meander through Europe. This time the author focusses on the Dordogne, inspired by the setting – as she says at the end – when she w......more

Goodreads review by Zoe on September 26, 2022

Beautiful, captivating, and heart-tugging! The School Teacher of Saint-Michel is predominantly set in France during 1942, as well as present day, and is told from two different perspectives; Hannah, a young woman who journeys to France after her grandmother’s death to unravel the secrets of her past,......more

Goodreads review by May on August 13, 2022

Beautifully told story of WWII. Old photos, old letters, old cookbooks and old, imperfect memories are pieced together to allow a contemporary school teacher uncover the story of a courageous school teacher during the German occupation of St Michel, France. The Author’s notes enhance an excellent pie......more

Goodreads review by Kerry on March 19, 2022

4.5 stars. This is a beautiful story of love and sacrifice set across two timelines. One timeline takes place in Saint-Michael during world war 2 and the other is The present day following Hannah’s journey uncovering her beloved grandmothers secret. Hannah has suffered the loss of her mother, sibling......more

Goodreads review by Sandra on January 15, 2023

Weet niet zo goed wat ik van dit boek moet vinden vandaar 3 sterren. Ik had hoge verwachtingen van dit boek en toch wel wat teleurgesteld. Positief: mooi historisch verhaal beeldend omschreven Negatief: (te) veel personages, langzame verhaallijn.......more


Quotes

An emotional, beautifully constructed read. I especially loved the way the clues from the past and present slowly knitted together, answering the questions that had been missing their answers for so long

Gripping, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting, I found this beautifully written novel impossible to put down

An engaging tale of courage and friendship. The setting in the French countryside is lush and summery. A triumph!

I gorged on cherries and slices of rich history in this beautifully worked tale of bravery, woven into the reality of a time we can't forget

The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel really draws the reader in. The storytelling is masterful, as are all the subtle touches that convey the sense of place; and, as with Nancy Moon, the bedrock is Sarah's nuanced, unsentimental portrayal of warm, compassionate female friendships