The Lady in the Harbor

Book excerpt: This novel tells the story of a young Danish Naval lieutenant caught up in the turbulent times of the German occupation of Denmark in World War Two. As their peaceful nation is invaded, Danes at first adjust to the new order but ultimately respond in kind to the brutal treatment at the hands of their hated captors. The Danish lieutenant is an eyewitness to, and sometimes a participant in, the dangerous acts of defiance carried out by ordinary citizens and members of the outnumbered Danish military. When the German occupiers begin the deportation of the Jewish population to death camps, the Danes undertake a truly remarkable strategy in an attempt to save their coutrymen. Almost alone in continental Europe in their resolve to stand against the repugnant Holocaust, the Danes risked it all in the name of human decency and moral courage. A moving love story is entwinced with the gripping action and historical events of this fascinating and fast-paced novel.