The Ragged Edge of Night

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 40,658 ratings

Price: 21.88

Last update: 08-13-2024


About this item

For fans of All the Light We Cannot See, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, and The Nightingale comes an emotionally gripping, beautifully written historical novel about extraordinary hope, redemption, and one man’s search for light during the darkest times of World War II.

Germany, 1942. Franciscan friar Anton Starzmann is stripped of his place in the world when his school is seized by the Nazis. He relocates to a small German hamlet to wed Elisabeth Herter, a widow who seeks a marriage - in name only - to a man who can help raise her three children. Anton seeks something too - atonement for failing to protect his young students from the wrath of the Nazis. But neither he nor Elisabeth expects their lives to be shaken once again by the inescapable rumble of war.

As Anton struggles to adapt to the roles of husband and father, he learns of the Red Orchestra, an underground network of resisters plotting to assassinate Hitler. Despite Elisabeth’s reservations, Anton joins this army of shadows. But when the SS discovers his schemes, Anton will embark on a final act of defiance that may cost him his life - even if it means saying goodbye to the family he has come to love more than he ever believed possible.


Top reviews from the United States

Constant
5.0 out of 5 stars Could It Happen
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2024
Occasionally it is good to be reminded of the dark days of our collective history and the possibility of light at the end of the tunnel. "The Ragged Edge of Night" is a well-written fictional account of a brave man filled with angst over his inability to save children that were in his care. His memories haunt him as he struggles to leave his old life behind and begin a new. The backdrop is Nazi Germany and the horrors of WW2. The place of action a small village. The undercurrent resistance. All woven together to provide an engrossing read and a lesson of history we must never forget. The White Rose maybe needed again. Thank you Olivia Hawker for shining the light on this piece of history. Recommend this read.
Gary Moreau, Author
4.0 out of 5 stars A crowded genre but a unique lens here
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2019
The Nazi genre is a fairly crowded one but it deserves to be and this book takes a somewhat different angle to the period. The setting is a small rural German town and the characters are virtually all German, some of whom resist, a few of whom support the Reich, but most of whom are just trying to survive the war and come to grips with the atrocities they know their government is committing.

It is well written and an easy read. Perfect for those looking for a good story and a bit of distraction but who don’t want to plunge into the psychosis of the war. More than anything it is an exploration of the inevitable human question of when to make a stand against what we know is wrong and when to protect ourselves and those around us. Inevitably, that becomes an exploration of guilt and how to cope with it.

The protagonist, a former friar, loves music and ultimately uses music to protect the youth of his village from Nazi indoctrination. And in the process he offers some wonderful insight into both the beauty and power of music. It is, in its way, more powerful than poetry and literature, although they have their unique powers as well.

There is a romantic thread, as is inevitable, and it is more than predictable, if not clichéd. I think that’s understandable, however. This is a book of historical fiction although it is built upon a real life story and romance, in real life, is always a bit clichéd at this point.

All told, it is a poignant story, well told. If you like a good read that doesn’t press you too hard, I believe you will enjoy it.
NewYorker
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful story set in ugly times
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2019
I didn’t expect to love this book but I did. My thought upon reading the summary was, “Not another WWII book,” as others have shared. But it isn’t. It’s an inside glimpse into the thoughts and trials of good people caught in a nightmare, the Germany Hitler tried to eradicate. The story centers around a former friar who decides to marry a widow with three young children as his personal atonement for not being able to stop the deaths of other children. Through him, we learn of the struggles of people trying to lead a good life in impossible times as well as life in a small village in Germany during the war. The writing is beautiful, the thought processes of the main character deeply moving and provocative, and all the characters, even bit players like the landlady muttering to herself as she walks along, really come alive. The book is worth reading just for the musings of the main character about how Germany wound up in this situation, being ruled by a madman and tyrant. The themes of the book are poignant, the dilemmas of the times real. Yes, at times it does seem to come together a bit too neatly, but under hardship some things do. I read the one star reviews after I read the book and was amused to see that most commented on the political views the author expressed in the afterward rather than on the book. Rate the book, reviewers, not the author’s politics. Everything one-star reviewers disliked, I relished: the way in which the protagonist’s mind worked, access to his inner thinking, the vivid descriptions of food, scenery, music, sounds - these are the poetry of good writing and made the story come alive in vivid colors. And, while I do agree with her political views and share her concern about the direction in which our country is going, my review is based on the book and she shares her views because they inspired her to write this book. I especially enjoyed learning that this historical fiction is based on the real story of her husband’s family and that she has collaborated with the descendants of the family that this book centers around. That was a real bonus!
Amy A
5.0 out of 5 stars well written, serious, but fun read
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
I enjoyed the reader of this story. I enjoyed the fun elements the author incorporated. It was interesting to me to learn of how there were towns that were not completely ravaged by the nazi’s. It was good to hear that for such a horrific war.
Melissa
4.0 out of 5 stars Love wins! Good prevails.
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
Love wins! Love will always be the light among the deepest darkest times. Ms. Hawker weaves a true story of love among the hate filled and cruel time of World Word 2 Germany. "The Ragged Edge of Night" is a true story about patience, love, family, community, persistence, and resistance. A historical novel for everyone.
Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Loved the story, not the author!
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2021
I didn’t know until the end of the book that it was based on a true story. It was a slow start for me but I did enjoy the story. I liked all the main characters. I felt the way Anton and Elisabeth met and why they wanted to get married was strange since they both were Catholic and knew that marriage was a lifetime commitment. Two weeks is not enough time to know what you may be getting into, especially when there are children involved. The children were charming and believable. Most WWII books are based on other countries being attacked by the Nazis. This book was very different because it takes place in a small town in Germany.

One of the ongoing thoughts of the book was how did the old Germany let this crazed Nazi Party take over their country. How? By taking away guns to begin with and then freedom of speech. Then all other freedoms were taken away but to compare this with the 2016 election is hogwash. It is now January 2021 and by the looks of things we Americans are on our way to having our freedom of speech taken away by a political party, main stream media and big corporations. The author’s remarks tainted the story for me. I find artists, authors, and actors seldom can see clearly what is in front of their own faces. They live in their own little utopia.

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