The Goddess of Warsaw

A Novel

By: Lisa Barr

Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer

Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

“Utterly gripping. . . a transformative and immersive story so powerful and captivating that I could not put it down. . . . Truly one of the best books I’ve read.”—Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Lisa Barr's new historical fiction, The Goddess of Warsaw, gifts the reader with jaw-dropping moments worthy of a Tarantino film, a story that could not be more timely, and a heroine whose ferocity and valor knows no bounds.”—Natalie Jenner, author of the instant international bestseller The Jane Austen Society

The Goddess Of Warsaw is an enthralling tale of a legendary Hollywood screen goddess with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. When the famous actress is threatened by someone from her past, she must put her skills into play to protect herself, her illustrious career, and those she loves, then and now.

Los Angeles, 2005. Sienna Hayes, Hollywood’s latest It Girl, has ambitions to work behind the camera. When she meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous Golden Age movie star, Sienna sees her big break. She wants to direct a picture about Lena’s life—but the legendary actor’s murky past turns out to be even darker than Sienna dreamed. Before she was a Living Legend, Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a Polish Jew whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis.

Warsaw, 1943. A member of the city’s Jewish elite, Bina Blonski and her husband, Jakub, are imprisoned in the ghastly, cramped ghetto along with the rest of Warsaw’s surviving Jews. Determined to fight back against the brutal Nazis, the beautiful, blonde Aryan-looking Bina becomes a spy, gaining information and stealing weapons outside the ghetto to protect her fellow Jews. But her dangerous circumstances grow complicated when she falls in love with Aleksander, an ally in resistance—and Jakub’s brother. While Lena accomplishes amazing feats of bravery, she sacrifices much in the process.

Over a decade after escaping the horrors of the ghetto, Bina, now known as Lena, rises to fame in Hollywood. Yet she cannot help but be reminded of her old life and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who escaped justice after the war. Her power and fame as a movie star offer Lena the chance to right the past’s wrongs . . . and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had.

A gripping work of one of history’s most heroic uprisings and an actress whose personal war never ends, The Goddess Of Warsaw is filled with secrets, lies, twists and turns, and a burning pursuit of justice no matter the cost.

©2024 Lisa Barr (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

The story was amazing

Loved all the characters! Loved the story the entire time captivating, exciting, emotional, and rewarding!

Engaging and thoughtful

I love this period of history. I am aware that history tends to repeat itself. I understand through many books how the Jews were misled to believe their ultimate demise. When they did understand the struggle to fight for their own freedom and survival, yet also the hero’s that risked everything for others. I ask myself what would I do?
This book was engaging and informative, with real emotions of love, hate and compassion. I recommend

Goddess of Warsau

The audio was a compelling listen! Unputdownable!! I highly recommend to fans of WW 2 !

Captivating.

A story of tragedy, pain and heroism. A reminder that hate still prevails in todays world. It seems like humanity never learns life’s lessons. The characters were rich and full of life. The authors prose makes you feel like you are living this journey. A superb read!!!

Powerful woman

Loved the main character, she was fierce and tenacious. Enjoyed the historical references and the overall storyline.

Absolutely fantastic novel!

The story and the characters were riveting, and I was on the edge of my seat for this very important novel. This book depicts a very different aspect of the terrible atrocities of World War II against Jewish people.

Complex and Rich

This story was extremely well written. It was emotional and heart wrenching as the reader is taken on a journey of loss, love, and courage. The main character is a complex and nuanced protagonist and serves as strong female character. A relevant story for the Jewish community in these tough times.

Survival and Heroism

A grand account of survival amidst horrific events during WW2. The story brings you intimately close to life of a Jewish community and their resistance against Nazi oppression. Characters show bravery and heroism as they fight, scheme, grieve, grow, love, and find hope in their quest for survival. It is an intimate look at the atrocities of this time, but also at the strength of human spirit.

The story, the writing, the characters, the human component.

Couldn’t put this book down Riveting an so well written. This book with stay with me for a long long time.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana
Very well written story of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and the atrocities of the Nazis during the reign of the Third Reich. Listen to it from beginning to end. You won’t be disappointed.