33 Place Brugmann
The residents of an apartment building in Brussels are living their ordinary lives when the Nazi invasion disrupts their routines. The author brings us into the lives of these diverse characters as we walk the halls, drop in on conversations, observe the comings and goings, listen at doors, and peek around corners. Is it possible to put the pieces together and really know what is going on in these characters’ lives and what motivates them? Some could be deceptive and engaging in questionable activities; some could be admirable and involved in heroic acts.
Walk in the front door, and there is the Everard family’s apartment; Mr. Everard is a notary. Head to the second floor, on the left is 2L, vacant after the death of widow Boudrot, and soon a Nazi sympathizer will move in; on the right the squawk of a saxophone comes from 2R where Dirk, the unlikeable schoolmate of Charlotte in 4L, lives alone after the death of his parents. Walk up another flight. In 3L is retired Colonel Warlemont of the Belgian Armed Forces, and in 3R is the busy-body Miss Hobart. Another flight up, Charlotte Sauvin is an art student living with her architect father in 4L. Across the hall in 4R are their friends, the Jewish Raphaël family – art dealer Leo, his wife Sophia, and children Julien and Esther, who will soon secretly escape to safety. In the fifth-floor former maid’s room is Masha, a seamstress and Charlotte’s mentor and confidante.
Each resident has their say in revolving chapters with Charlotte as the standout character and a central storyline. As we piece together relationships, actions, and conversations, we see betrayals and bravery; failures and victories; secrets revealed and sacrifices made in this original, engaging narrative of ordinary people living through difficult times.
