The Wartime Nanny
The Nazis are everywhere now. We must leave Vienna. It might be that soon our letters won’t get out anymore. Can you help, dear sister? Please, ask for us. Send news, and quickly. Please.
London, 1936. Sixteen-year-old Natalie Leeman takes the heart-breaking decision to leave her family behind in Vienna and travel to England to join her cousin Leah in service. Natalie is placed with a wealthy suburban family, the Caplins, as a nanny to their energetic six-year-old.
At first, Natalie is delighted by the huge house and beautiful gardens, but things aren’t as perfect as they seem. While Natalie dotes on their child, she is increasingly wary of Mr Caplin, whose gruff manor and fascist politics scare her. And then there are those still waiting at home – Mama and her two sisters, as well as a blossoming romance with her English tutor that had only just begun.
But when Vienna falls under Nazi rule, Natalie begins to fear for her family, especially her vivacious, tomboy little sister Libby. Then rumours of a possible escape route from mainland Europe called the kindertransport begin to swirl – can Natalie help her family escape the Nazis before it’s too late?
A heartbreaking wartime novel – emotional and unforgettable. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Before We Were Yours.
What readers are saying about The Wartime Nanny
‘I am in pieces! There are many books about the Holocaust, but I have never read a book from this perspective… There are some incredibly poignant scenes (I cried!) and also moments which caused me to suck in my breath because of parallels between that period and the present day… I have loved all of Lizzie Page’s books, but this might be my favourite.
Goodreads reviewer
‘Absolutely loved it, of course! Another beautifully written and profoundly moving novel by Lizzie Page. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!’
Sunday Times bestselling author Jill Mansell
‘An absolutely brilliant read that I devoured in one sitting. If like me you love war time sagas then this book is for you.’
Goodreads reviewer
‘Love Lizzie Page books and this once exceeds. If you enjoy family saga and wartime you will love this. A page-turner, very emotional in places.’
Goodreads reviewer
‘I loved this book. I loved the characters… I was captured from the beginning and read the book in two days. I had a hard time putting it down. The ending was perfect. I would definitely recommend this book.’
Goodreads reviewer
‘If you read and enjoy family wartime sagas you will love this book. Lizzie Page writes such wonderful, moving stories with great characters.’
Goodreads reviewer
‘What a unique story, told from a different perspective, I truly enjoyed every page of this book, fantastic storyline and characters. I will be recommending this book.’
Goodreads reviewer
‘Lizzie Page has done a brilliant job of writing a unique historical fiction story, and it’s emotional, heartbreaking, and poignant and I gave it five stars.’
Goodreads reviewer
Approximately 20,000 young Jewish women left Germany and Austria in the 1930s to work, mostly as domestic servants, in the UK. I wanted to explore being a refugee here and British anti-Semitism, and I chose to do so through the eyes of a 16-year-old nanny: Natalie Leeman and her more worldly cousin and cook, Leah. I first heard about these refugee women when I saw the fabulous film The Remains of the Day, later, I discovered friends with family who had come to England under similar circumstances.
Research included a trip to Vienna and much reading! In keeping with my habit of including real-life women in my books, there is a walk-on part by acclaimed child psychologist, Anna Freud.
This is perhaps my most personal book so far.