Reviewed by Emma Crowley
France, 1942: As Kasia creeps out of the farmhouse in the dead of night to transmit an urgent message, her heart pounds in her chest. Gripping her radio tightly in her hand, she feels a terrible sense of dread. She knows that this message could be the one that finally leads the Nazis to her…
Crouching in the shadows, with trembling fingers she turns the dial on her radio and hears the familiar crackle of static. Shaking, she quickly taps out her message and, holding her breath, she waits in the darkness.
Suddenly, she sees a quick flash of light out at sea. Her message has been received by the Allied boats; now they know it’s not safe to come ashore tonight.
As she looks back towards the little farmhouse, her heart catches in her throat. Inside, the two people she loves most in this world are sleeping soundly. Because while Kasia knows her messages might save thousands of soldiers, she also knows that her radio signal could bring the Germans terrifyingly close, perhaps even straight to Hugo and Elodie…
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of All The Courage We Have Found to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
As with several of Carly Schabowski’s previous books, initially I found All The Courage We Have Found at times slow to get going but once it founds its rhythm it transformed into a marvellous, emotional and heart-breaking read. Given the subject matter and the role the lead female character, Kasia plays during the war, I presumed it would be heavily centred on specific details regarding events of the war, her movements and some sort of mystery that she must uncover or a major task she would engage in. Instead and I think this is what made me enjoy it all the more, it was more character driven and we really got to know the various personalities. The war at times and in a positive way became more of a backdrop for the passionate and touching story that unfolded.
The book is split into three distinct parts beginning in Vannes in France in 1942 and ending as the Americans arrive in the country in 1944. We are first introduced to Hugo who the residents of the town believe to be mad. He comes across as eccentric and lost in his own world. He has resisted taking in any refugees who fled to the village from Paris and to all intents and purposes he doesn’t care a jot about what is happening regarding the horrific events unfolding around him. Deep down he knows he should do more to help the resistance which operates within the village with the doctor Maurice at its centre working to help so many in need. He ensure the resistance network is kept going and that vital work is not disrupted where at all possible. But Hugo is lost in a word of his own, he has erected a shell around him that is very tough to crack. Yes Hugo does a little bit in terms of the black market but as for anything more detailed and extremely dangerous he has preferred to remain as if he knows nothing.
Hugo has let himself go but still likes to engage with a lady or two. He has lived on his own for ten years since his return from Paris preferring solitude and to let his mind stray to areas to where it shouldn’t venture as it causes him upset and anguish rather than finding some sort of resolution. The solitude within the walls he has erected for himself calm him and he prefers to spend his days in his farmhouse indulging in the wine created from his harvest. Politics or the war hold no interest for him as he curries favour with the Germans as his father was German but all that is about to change with the arrival of Kasia and a young girl they name Elodie. Hugo’s world is turned upside down and he is forced to face the realities of what led him to the point at which he exists today. The story becomes very personal with multiple layers rather than as with other books being superficial and barely scratching the surface. The author gets deep into the hearts and minds of her characters and this enables the reader to really engage with them too in a most meaningful way.
Kasia is a fantastic character whom we first meet as she works with a small group in Warsaw trying to get supplies into the ghetto. She is an absolute genius but I found her to be modest yet hardworking. Kasia has such a clever mind and is so resourceful and this superb qualities that she possesses will aid so many. She may be a small cog in a very big wheel but her contributions are worthy none the less. She is dedicated to the cause and would do anything to save those in peril and any actions she takes she always has others at the centre of everything she does. I could sense deep down there was something deeply motivating her to be so ardent in her quest to work with the resistance. Her brilliance at speaking many languages, cracking codes and taking risks for others has not gone unnoticed and soon she has caught the attention of the Special Operations Resistance Group. She is transferred to France and ends up in Hugo’s house who has reluctantly agreed to harbour here. She changes her name to Delphine and begins working alongside Maurice as his ‘nurse’ but really she is engaging in resistance work namely radio operations.
But Kasia has come with some extra baggage in the form of a young girl who has witnessed such terrors in Warsaw that has left her mute and without any family. Kasia gives her the name of Elodie and I loved how every so often there were chapters from Elodie’s perspective. Piece by piece her story is unravelled with the reader knowing things that elude both Hugo and Kasia. Elodie becomes the catalyst that inspires change within Hugo and in turn his backstory is revealed. This allows for heart-breaking and emotional moments to transpire and the story that transpired was beautiful, emotional and heartrending in equal measure. The connection/relationship that Hugo establishes with Elodie was so raw and beautiful. They were both suffering and needed each other in order to try and heal in any way shape or form. Be it big or small.
There were numerous twists and turns that emerged the further I delved into the story and the motivations of certain characters became clear. I admired Kasia’s resilience in the face of adversity. But all along I wanted to know what her driving force was and through delving back into the past these reasons become evident. She has her share of danger, anger and fear. Yet nothing seems to phase her and she puts others needs before hers and makes many sacrifices. I enjoyed how her story progressed and that some romance became apparent although it seemed so far from reach. Everything in the later half regarding the characters as the story weaved its way towards the climax was just perfect and you are constantly guessing as to what the eventual outcome will be and I love when that happens with a story.
Despite what I felt to be a slow first half or so the first chapter or two did bring us straight to the story with no unnecessary preamble I just felt after this juncture things moved at a slow pace before the real heart of the book began to emerge. But pushing this issue aside, overall All The Courage We Have Found is a very good read. I found to different from the vast range of World War Two historical fiction books that are currently out there. It was brilliant that the story was told from three different viewpoints as it also allowed the reader to analyse situations, actions and emotions from various perspectives. It meant I didn’t come down firmly or judge too quickly one character over another.
Carly keeps her readers guessing until the last possible moment with a very much unexpected plot twist although I did find it slightly abrupt and the ending seemed rushed. I would have loved one or two more chapters but perhaps that’s me being selfish and it shows how invested I had come to be in Kasia, Hugo and Elodie. This is a story highlighting bravery in the face of differing adversities. It sheds light upon so much courage and the many sacrifices brave and admirable people made during the war and it is certainly well worth a read.
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