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Published Mar 2023
384 pages
Genre: Biography/Memoir
Publication Information
New York Times bestselling author and master of nonfiction spy thrillers Larry Loftis writes the first major biography of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch watchmaker who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during WWII—at the cost of losing her family and being sent to a concentration camp, only to survive, forgive her captors, and live the rest of her life as a Christian missionary.
The Watchmaker's Daughter is one of the greatest stories of World War II that readers haven't heard: the remarkable and inspiring life story of Corrie ten Boom—a groundbreaking, female Dutch watchmaker, whose family unselfishly transformed their house into a hiding place straight out of a spy novel to shelter Jews and refugees from the Nazis during Gestapo raids. Even though the Nazis knew what the ten Booms were up to, they were never able to find those sheltered within the house when they raided it.
Corrie stopped at nothing to face down the evils of her time and overcame unbelievable obstacles and odds. She persevered despite the loss of most of her family and relied on her faith to survive the horrors of a notorious concentration camp. But even more remarkable than her heroism and survival was Corrie's attitude when she was released. Miraculously, she was able to eschew bitterness and embrace forgiveness as she ministered to people in need around the globe. Corrie's ability to forgive is just one of the myriad lessons that her life story holds for readers today.
Reminiscent of Schindler's List and featuring a journey of faith and forgiveness not unlike Unbroken, The Watchmaker's Daughter is destined to become a classic work of World War II nonfiction.
"The courageous life and deep religious faith of WWII Dutch resistance member Corrie ten Boom are recounted in this immersive biography from bestseller Loftis (The Princess Spy). ... A well-researched and often captivating portrait of a remarkable woman." - Publishers Weekly
"Loftis, bestselling author of nonfiction spy thrillers, ... turns up diaries and letters from others in ten Boom's circle as well as a trove of photographs that enable him to tell a detailed, moving story. ... A story of unbelievable suffering and courage that deserves to be told." - Kirkus Reviews
"Astounding ... An intimate, detailed portrait ... The extraordinary bravery of Corrie Ten Boom is eclipsed only by her ability to find faith and hope in utter darkness. Perfect for readers of biography and history." - Booklist
"A haunting and inspiring tale of moral courage." - Library Journal
"Through impeccable research and exquisite attention to detail, Larry Loftis brings readers the incredible true story of Corrie ten Boom, the first licensed female watchmaker in Holland, who risked everything to provide sanctuary for Jews and refugees during Nazi occupation in World War II. The Watchmaker's Daughter is an emotional and inspiring account of resistance that ultimately offers lessons in the power of faith and forgiveness, and reminds us all that out of darkness comes light." - Jack Carr, Navy SEAL Sniper and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Terminal List
"An inspiring World War II story of courage and daring. ... Loftis deftly interweaves ten Boom's compelling tale with of two young women living just miles away—Anne Frank and Audrey Hepburn—to drive home the peril, grief, and spirit of resistance that surged through the occupied Netherlands. A well-researched, vivid, inspiring book that reminds us both of the power of resistance, and of the capacity of good people to stand up against evil in history's darkest hours." - Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars
"Like Larry Loftis's other bestsellers, The Watchmaker's Daughter brims with intrigue, derring-do, and narrative thrills. Corrie is a heroine for the ages: brave, intelligent, and shining with a spiritual light that never falters, even in the darkest of times." - Neal Bascomb, New York Times bestselling author of Faster and The Winter Fortress
"Like a skilled archaeologist, Larry unearths little-known fragments of Corrie Ten Boom's story. By mining everything from historical records to family mementos, he's exposed fresh facets of Corrie's remarkable ministry. If you loved The Hiding Place, read this book!" - Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family
This information about The Watchmaker's Daughter was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Larry Loftis is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and internationally bestselling author of the nonfiction spy thrillers The Princess Spy, Code Name: Lise, and Into the Lion's Mouth. A two-time winner of the Florida Book Award, his books have been translated into numerous languages and can be found in Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy, Serbia, Czech Republic, Taiwan, India, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the UK.
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