Innsbruck, Austria, December 1944. The night is bitterly cold as a solitary black car moves silently through the snow-lined streets of the city. Behind the wheel is a Gestapo driver. In the back seat, two young boys huddle together. Brothers, aged four and two. Their destination- Wiesenhof, a Nazi orphanage. There they will be given new names, new identities, new lives. This ensures they will be almost impossible to trace. Berlin, Germany, One month earlier. Urlich von Hassell, former ambassador to Italy and a key member of the German Resistance, is executed for his involvement in an assassination plot against Hitler. As he goes to the gallows, he thinks of his daughter, ensconced in the ancestral castle of her Italian husband, and her two young sons. It is only a matter of time before the Nazis get to her. This is the extraordinary true account of a family ripped apart by persecution and war. When Fey von Hassell is arrested by the Nazis and her two sons taken away from her, she begins a terrifying journey into some of the darkest corners of occupied Europe and to the limits of human endurance. What follows is a heart-breaking tale of loss, betrayal, fortitude and one woman's determination to survive for the sake of her family.
Catherine Bailey Livres






A Castle in Wartime: One Family, Their Missing Sons, and the Fight to Defeat the Nazis
- 480pages
- 17 heures de lecture
"As war swept across Europe in 1940, the idyllic life of Fey von Hassell seemed a world away from conflict. The daughter of Hitler's ambassador to Italy, Fey lived with her Italian aristocrat husband in a castle on an estate in northern Italy. But with Fascism approaching its zenith, Fey's peaceful existence with her two young sons is threated [sic] when her father and husband make the difficult decision to resist the Nazis--a choice that maroons Fey alone in Nazi-occupied Italy and leads to a foiled plot to kill them F̈ührer, bringing the Gestapo to Fey's doorstep. Suffused with Catherine Bailey's signature atmospheric prose, 'A Castle in Wartime' tells the unforgettable story of the bravery and fortitude of one family who collectively and individually sacrificed everything to resist the Nazis from within." - page [4] of cover
Lincoln's Political Generals
- 320pages
- 12 heures de lecture
In this book, David Work examines Lincoln's policy of appointing political generals to build a national coalition to fight and win the Civil War. Work follows the careers of sixteen generals through the war to assess their contributions and to ascertain how Lincoln assessed them as commander-in-chief. Eight of the generals began the war as Republicans and eight as Democrats. Some commanded armies, some regiments. Among them were some of the most famous generals of the Union--such as Francis P. Blair Jr., John A. Dix, John A. Logan, James S. Wadsworth--and others whose importance has been obscured by more dramatic personalities. As the war proceeded, the value of the political generals became a matter of serious dispute. Could politicians make the shift from a political campaign to a military one? Could they be trusted to fight? Could they avoid destructive jealousies and the temptations of corruption? And with several of the generals being Irish or German immigrants, what effect would ethnic prejudices have on their success or failure? Work finds that Lincoln's policy was ultimately successful, as these generals provided effective political support and made important contributions in military administration and on the battlefield. Although several of them proved to be poor commanders, others were effective in exercising influence on military administration and recruitment, slavery policy, and national politics.
School’s First Day of School meets Good Night, Gorilla in this irresistible bedtime story about School getting ready to go to sleep!As the sun sets, a security guard arrives to help this sleepy little school get some rest. From tucking in chairs to checking all the locks to listening to the silverware snoring, she makes her moonlit rounds. One by one, the lights are turning off and everyone is turning in. Well, everyone except for the turtle from 2A. Will this escapee make it back to bed on time?Bailey's lusciously lyrical and dreamy story expertly peels back the curtain for the littlest readers who ever wondered what happens to school at night, making GOODNIGHT SCHOOL the perfect pick for early childhood educators, back-to-school, and, of course, bedtime.
Hustle Bustle Bugs
- 40pages
- 2 heures de lecture
"Different species of bugs contribute to their communities and ecosystems in their own unique ways"--
Black Diamonds
- 448pages
- 16 heures de lecture
Wentworth in Yorkshire was surrounded by 70 collieries employing tens of thousands of men. It is the finest and largest Georgian house in Britain and belonged to the Fitzwilliam family. This title tells the story of its demise: family feuds, forbidden love, class war, and a tragic and violent death played their part.
Black Diamonds: The Downfall of an Aristocratic Dynasty and the Fifty Years That Changed England
- 576pages
- 21 heures de lecture
Exploring the dramatic decline of a once-prominent English family, this true story reveals the intricate details behind their fall from grace. The narrative delves into the family's wealth, secrets, and the events that led to their downfall, offering a captivating glimpse into the complexities of aristocratic life and the forces that can unravel it. Through meticulous research, the author brings to light the personal and societal factors contributing to their decline, making it a compelling read for those interested in history and family sagas.
The Secret Rooms
- 480pages
- 17 heures de lecture
At 6 am on 21 April 1940 John the 9th Duke of Rutland, and one of Britain's wealthiest men, ended his days, virtually alone, lying on a makeshift bed in a dank cramped suite of rooms in the servants' quarters of his own home, Belvoir Castle, in Leicestershire.
Dinos Don't Do Yoga
- 32pages
- 2 heures de lecture
Everything in Rex's valley is rough and tough until Yogasaurus moves in, and although Rex insists dinosaurs do not do yoga his friends slowly drift toward the newcomer to try
The Secret Rooms
A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret
- 512pages
- 18 heures de lecture
Set against the backdrop of pre-WWI England, the narrative unfolds with a captivating blend of family secrets and aristocratic intrigue. It offers readers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the elite, exploring their hidden dramas and societal challenges. With a rich historical context, the story resonates with fans of Downton Abbey, providing a compelling portrayal of a world on the brink of change.
