NPR's Book of the Day In this novel, the residents of a Brussels apartment building brace for Nazi invasion
Dec 18, 2025
Alice Austin, a debut novelist and playwright who draws from her experiences in Brussels, delves into her new novel set in 1939. She shares personal memories that inspired the story's setting and recounts the poignant, often humorous tales of her apartment building’s residents during Nazi occupation. The conversation highlights themes of personal responsibility and moral dilemmas faced by neighbors, exploring how survival often tests loyalties. Austin’s use of multiple narrative voices adds depth, creating a vivid tapestry of community under pressure.
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Personal Ties To The Real Building
- Alice Austin lived in the actual Brussels building and befriended elderly residents who shared occupation stories over tea.
- Their funny, heartbreaking, and suspenseful memories inspired characters and the novel's art-collection subplot.
A Sudden Departure Sparks Suspicion
- The Raphael family leaves overnight because Leo Raphael senses danger and gets his family out ahead of the invasion.
- Their abrupt departure and the missing paintings spark neighborhood speculation and tension.
Many Voices Build Suspense
- Austin used multiple narrative voices to inhabit each resident fully and let characters surprise her.
- The plurality of perspectives creates suspense and reveals varied human responses to looming crisis.