Bérénice 1934-44: An Actress in Occupied Paris

By Isabelle Stibbe

The winner of nine literary awards in France, including the Prix Simone Veil, celebrating a woman of action, B r nice 1934-44: An Actress in Occupied Paris is Isabelle Stibbe's poignant debut novel. Now translated into English by Zack Rogow and Ren e Morel, B r nice 1934-44 reveals a young woman's struggle to fulfill her career aspirations while concealing herself in war-torn France.

B r nice yearns to become an actress, but her parents insist that career is not proper for a girl. She defies her Jewish family to become the leading younger actress in the Com die-Fran aise, France's most renowned theater, right when the Nazis occupy France. B r nice hides her true identity and last name to avoid detection. Living in a world without tolerance and torn between two lovers, B r nice must choose between her passion for the stage, and her allegiance to freedom and to her Jewish heritage.

Critical Praise for the Original French Edition:

"This is an amazing first novel."--Le Nouvel Observateur

"Isabelle Stibbe blends real history and fictitious characters in this well-researched first novel, with an impeccable classic style."--Le Monde

"Her novel doesn't just document a slice of French cultural life under the Occupation--it also communicates the passion and fervor of its author."--Livres Hebdo

"B r nice 1934-44 is Isabelle Stibbe's first novel, but it feels to the reader like the work of a seasoned writer, particularly in her masterful blending of fiction and historical fact."--Le Figaro

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1433167050
• ISBN13: 9781433167058
• Release Date: June 2019
• Publisher: Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publi
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.9"