Peter Grose's book stands out as a complete story about life on the Plateau during World War II. Peter uses only facts to tell us a true story. He is one of those rare raconteurs who can write a history book that reads like a novel.
Extraordinary.
Well written in a pleasant style and easy to read ... A fascinating and inspiring story.
The Association of Jewish Refugees Journal
There are numerous stories of individuals in occupied France sheltering Jews, but what makes this story different is that it tells the tale of a whole community taking collective action ... Peter Grose, in restrained prose that accentuates the sheer drama of the situation, delivers a salutary and resonant tale of a community rising to its best.
A fine book and a captivating and heartening story.
Peter Grose’s tale of the astounding ‘rescue village ‘ of Le Chambon is not what you think it would be: no sentimental yarn of deliverance of all those the Nazi regime had in their sights, but a tale of practically delivered salvage of the hunted. It is a story resonant in our days, the age of refugees, and a grand narrative in its own right, all told with absorbing narrative skill. A book to cherish and recommend!
Combines solid historical research with the tension of a spy novel. In the vein of Schindler's List , A Good Place to Hide is an inspiring account of the extraordinary courage of ordinary people.
Grose has written an ambitious book that covers, among other things, the history of French Protestantism and the policy of the Vichy government, It is, however, the individual stories that stand out ... Above all, this book depicts the mosaic of little tragedies behind the collective tragedy of death and deportation.
Peter Grose tells this story well. It reads like a thriller, but it is a well-researched book ... an excellent addition to history collections in all libraries.
Incredibly moving... Ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the most extraordinary circumstances. A book full of love for the region. Grose underlines underlines the role played by the brilliant forger, Oscar Rosowsky. A reminder of the best that humans are capable of, but also an inspiration.
The Times Literary Supplement
“Combines solid historical research with the tension of a spy novel. In the vein of Schindler’s List, A Good Place to Hide is an inspiring account of the extraordinary courage of ordinary people.”—Shelf Awareness
“An enlightening story. A fascinating account of how, in a time when decency was in short supply, on the plateau it triumphed.”—The American Jewish World
“This is a beautifully written tribute to their community and an outstanding contribution to Holocaust literature.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Peter Grose tells this story well. It reads like a thriller, but it is a well-researched book. An excellent addition to history collections in all libraries.”—The Jewish Book Council
2014-12-06 In his American debut, Grose tells a little-known story of a pacifist pastor and the heroic Huguenot population of a plateau in France. These are the ordinary people of a handful of parishes who saved thousands from the Nazis. Word spread quickly that the villages around Le Chambon-sur-Lignon would help not only Jews, but also illegal aliens and young men avoiding deportation to Germany's factories. Perhaps it was the Huguenot background of persecution that fostered a people who kept secrets, minded their own business and helped their fellow sufferers. When André Trocmé took over as pastor from Charles Guillon, he preached nonviolent resistance and love of one's enemies. The plateau was a popular summer vacation spot and had little other attraction. There were no minerals, agriculture or wine production, which a nation at war might requisition, so it was effectively a safe haven. As a vacation spot, it had a wealth of guesthouses and hotels. All the pieces fell into place for the plateau after Trocmé met a Quaker who convinced him to take in children released from prison camps. Guillon moved to Geneva, where he was able to channel cash from American Quakers into the area. Oscar Rosowsky, an 18-year-old Latvian typewriter repairman, was a master forger, and Virginia Hall, an American spy, arranged for parachute supply drops after D-Day. In addition, some of the most important players in this operation were the Boy Scouts. Trocmé and many of his guides were Scouts with survival skills, and they were able to lead escapees safely to Switzerland. Almost everyone in the region took in at least one refugee, and they were so discreet that few neighbors knew of the others' actions. The author ably narrates this inspiring story of "the courage and leadership of some remarkable men and women." In chronicling the daring activity that went on for years, Grose keeps readers on edge with a heartwarming story of ordinary heroes who just did what was required.