While Paris Slept Audiobook By Ruth Druart cover art

While Paris Slept

A Novel

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection of titles.
Yours as long as you’re a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for $8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

While Paris Slept

By: Ruth Druart
Narrated by: Luke Thompson, Frazer Hadfield, Jane Collingwood, Heather Long
Try Standard free

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $28.79

Buy for $28.79

One woman must make the hardest decision of her life in this unforgettably moving story of resistance and faith during one of the darkest times in history.

Santa Cruz, 1953. Jean-Luc is a man on the run from his past. The scar on his face is a small price to pay for surviving the horrors of Nazi occupation in France. Now, he has a new life in California, a family. He never expected the past to come knocking on his door.

Paris, 1944. A young Jewish woman's past is torn apart in a heartbeat. Herded onto a train bound for Auschwitz, in an act of desperation she entrusts her most precious possession to a stranger. All she has left now is hope.

On a darkened platform, two destinies become intertwined, and the choices each person makes will change the future in ways neither could have imagined.

Told from alternating perspectives, While Paris Slept reflects on the power of love, resilience, and courage when all seems lost. Exploring the strength of family ties, and what it really means to love someone unconditionally, this debut novel will capture your heart. Action & Adventure Historical Fiction 20th Century Heartfelt Tearjerking Inspiring Jewish Literary Fiction World Literature Genre Fiction

Critic reviews

"As writers, some stories keep us up at night with the need to get them down on paper. Ruth Druart has one such tale. We met in 2006, and I read pages of her story then. She never let go and never gave up. Thanks to this tenacity, her heartbreaking debut will be published in several languages. It will appeal to fans of The Light Between Oceans as well as to readers fascinated by novels set in World War II. While Paris Slept delves into eternal questions: how far will we go to protect our child? Is love holding tightly or letting go? The characters -- and readers -- must choose between what is right and what is best in this mediation on love and sacrifice."—Janet Skeslien Charles, Author of The Paris Library and Moonlight in Odessa
"While Paris Slept made me think and cry and rage and smile at mankind's capacity for both beautiful, selfless love and terrible, heartbreaking cruelty. It is at once a story of wartime courage and desperation, and of the many ways in which war reverberates through people's lives for years after the fact. Prepare to question yourself and the characters in the novel, to wonder what you might have done in their place; in short, prepare to be thoroughly engrossed in this compelling book in which four adults and one child grapple with the true meaning of love and family."
—Natasha Lester, Author of The Paris Secret
"What a book . . . emotional and heartrending . . . absolutely phenomenal. I was on tenterhooks throughout. A wonderful achievement."—Jill Mansell, New York Times bestselling author of And Now You're Back
"While Paris Slept is a powerful and poignant debut from a brilliant and bold new novelist. Expertly weaving together multiple storylines, author Ruth Druart fills each page with thrilling suspense, uncommon emotional depth, and fascinating characters. Fans of historical fiction should not miss this one."—Imogen Kealey, Author of Liberation
"Both epic and intimate, this unexpected story of two couples' sacrifices in war-torn France had me completely and utterly enraptured. You'll have your heart in your mouth and tears on your cheeks as it reaches its rich, life-affirming conclusion."—Louise Candlish, Author of Our House
"Good people coping with an impossible situation are at the heart of Druart’s [debut] . . . The author succeeds in keeping things moving, particularly in the action-packed first half of the novel . . . Ethical questions raised by the narrative suggest this may do well with book clubs."—Publishers Weekly
Compelling Narrative • Emotional Depth • Historical Perspective • Complex Moral Dilemmas • Unique Storyline

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
This book is gorgeous! I have read/listened to 150+ WWII historical fiction novels and this is among the best. Heart wrenching, brought me to tears numerous times. I also appreciate the narrators, and having more than one narrator. A bad narration can really kill and otherwise good book. This book was exceptional— I would put it in my top 10/150+. Brava Ruth!!!

Wow! Loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved this story and the narrators were amazing!! Would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Loved It!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was so good. I could not stop listening. The performances were wonderful, and I became truly invested in the people of the story. While I know it isn’t true, it certainly felt as if it was. Incredibly touching, sad, uplifting, devastating… could not put it down.

I rarely leave a review…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I read a ton of WW2 historical fiction and this may have been one of my all time favs. Wonderfully written and characters and storyline well developed. Read this book!

Outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have enjoyed this story from the beginning to the end. The characters felt like family members. The person reading this was perfect. Thank you!

Fabulous

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews