{"title":"K. J. Holdom","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the evocative storytelling of K. J. Holdom, an author renowned for weaving rich tapestries of historical fiction that captivate readers with immersive narratives and meticulously researched backdrops. If you are a fan of stories that transport you to another time, K. J. Holdom's works will not disappoint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the standout novels in this collection is \u003cem\u003eThe End and the Beginning\u003c\/em\u003e. This book exemplifies Holdom's flair for bringing the past to life, presenting a narrative that is as educational as it is enthralling. Through detailed character development and a vivid portrayal of historical settings, Holdom offers a window into different eras, making history both accessible and engaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a dedicated history enthusiast or simply someone who enjoys a well-crafted story, K. J. Holdom's novels offer an unforgettable journey through time. Dive into these captivating tales and experience the drama, intrigue, and humanity that define historical fiction at its finest.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-end-and-the-beginning-9781668236925","title":"The End and the Beginning","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the start of the war, eight-year-old Max Bernot lives with his sister and parents in Lauterbach, Saarland, a narrow strip of territory between the French and German defence lines. His German father, Anton, and his French mother, Marguerite, do their best to shield Max and his sister, Anna, from Nazi violence. However, in late 1944, their beloved godfather is executed in their garden by the SS, and Max, now thirteen, is conscripted into the Volkssturm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLess than a month later, Max flees a Hitler Youth camp in Bavaria with his best friend, Hans. His mission: to return home and tell his mother the truth about his godfather’s murder. As he escapes, he sends postcards to his family that trace his fraught journey across a country in its death throes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnbeknownst to Max, his mother is trapped in the German interior, coerced into working for a fanatical Nazi officer. Desperate to escape and reunite her family, Marguerite must first protect Anna from the sinister attentions of their captor, who could hold information on Max’s whereabouts even as Allied planes circle closer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDeftly interweaving the wartime stories of Max and Marguerite, \u003ci\u003eThe End and the Beginning\u003c\/i\u003e maps the loss of innocence of a generation of children raised in the shadow of the Reich and follows the fate of one family, neither wholly French nor entirely German, who find themselves on the wrong side whichever way they turn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“A heartbreaking, beautifully told story... A sad, poignant tale of two young boys caught up in Hitler’s machine, risking their lives to get away from the panic of the last days of World War II. K. J. Holdom has crafted a stunning story of this time, brilliantly weaving dual time periods and the tragic consequences when families are torn apart.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e— HEATHER MORRIS\u003c\/b\u003e, #1 internationally bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Tattooist of Auschwitz\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“Tracing one family’s impossible quest to reunite amid the chaos and anarchy of the crumbling Third Reich, \u003ci\u003eThe End and the Beginning\u003c\/i\u003e is a tale of devotion and faith, of lost innocence and grit, proving ultimately that heroism is not only found on battlefields but in the hearts of ordinary children. In superb, cinematic prose, K. J. Holdom depicts the unforgiving cost of war but also our boundless capacity to endure, to remember, to hope. I adored every page.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e— ROXANNE VELETZOS\u003c\/b\u003e, internationally bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Girl They Left Behind\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe End and the Beginning\u003c\/i\u003e is a rare tale, beautifully told, of a chapter in history that had to wait its turn to be written. As German forces rolled over their presumed enemies, they rolled over their own people too, many of them innocent, many of them children. This is the story of a family shattered, never to be made whole again, either physically or emotionally. K. J. Holdom has given us a powerful—and today, especially contemporary, especially poignant—reminder that war has no victors. An extraordinary and brilliant achievement.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e— JOSEPH KERTES\u003c\/b\u003e, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for \u003ci\u003eGratitude\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47142878052588,"sku":"9781668236925","price":33.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/the-end-and-the-beginning-9781668236925_hr.jpg?v=1766536882"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/k-j-holdom.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}