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Esther's Children

Caroline Beecham

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Apr 26, 2022 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-read, historical-fiction, won, arc, aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, reviewing-by-request, uncorrected-proof, 3500-2022, 2022-release

It was 1936 when Esther Simpson journeyed once again from Britain to Vienna, in her quest to rescue Jews who were beginning to feel pressure from the Nazis. Esther worked for a British company called the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning, where they contacted and helped people who were most in need. And at that moment it was the Jewish people who needed help. Esther was a Quaker and had dedicated herself to pacifism; her empathy and need to protect people ran through her veins. ...more

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Sep 29, 2022 Helen rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy-from-publisher

This is a beautifully written story and it tells the story of Esther Simpson, the woman who worked tirelessly for a British Organisation, The Society for the Protection of Science and Learning to save as many at risk academics, scientists and scholars throughout Europe from the growing anti-Semitic and Fascist regimes, a truly remarkable story.

It is 1936 and things are getting dangerous throughout Europe, Esther decides to visit Austria to see if she can meet academics in need of getting out of This is a beautifully written story and it tells the story of Esther Simpson, the woman who worked tirelessly for a British Organisation, The Society for the Protection of Science and Learning to save as many at risk academics, scientists and scholars throughout Europe from the growing anti-Semitic and Fascist regimes, a truly remarkable story.

It is 1936 and things are getting dangerous throughout Europe, Esther decides to visit Austria to see if she can meet academics in need of getting out of Europe and heading to England to make new lives and help with working in the universities there. Esther meets Harry Singer a talented musician as well as a physicist when she tries to talk to his father about taking refuge in England.

Esther is also a violinist as is Harry and soon they are getting very close, but he will not leave without his parents, and Esther returns home but does not stop doing what she can to save Harry and his parents. With war getting closer in 1938 Harry comes to England, hoping his parents will follow soon he and Esther get closer and their love grows amid bombings in England, Harry is working at a college until the British government decided to intern the aliens.

Esther never gives up on getting him and the many other hundreds of refugees out of the camp and finally it happens but Harry has found out his parents have made it to America and he wants to be with them but he also wants to marry Esther, what will Esther do leave the work that she loves and her family behind for Harry or stay and help many more needy refugees?

This story takes in so much that happened in this terrible time and shows what a strong, caring and loving woman Esther Simpson was, she referred to all of the people she helped men and woman as her children and become friends with so many of them, I loved learning about her and her life, this is a story that I would highly recommend to any reader who loves some fact and fiction added together and turned into a beautiful story.

My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.
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Apr 20, 2022 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc-are, provided-by-publisher

Apr 27, 2022 Christy marked it as to-read

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