The Heart of the Ritz by Luke Devenish

I didn’t immediately engage with this historical fiction, but that may have had something to do with it being the first few days of level 4 lockdown in the Covid-19 national emergency.

The Heart of the Ritz is a story about the resistance movement and the occupation of Paris; beginning in 1940 and ending four years later with its liberation. The novel follows the people who live in the Hotel Ritz; the families, the high ranking Germans, the collaborators, the resistance fighters, the Jews, the women with secrets to hide and people to protect, and it is also about love.

Polly is a 16 year old orphan at the beginning of this story, and is being sent from Australia to live with her Aunt Marjorie in Paris after her Father dies. When her aunt dies suddenly the guardianship of Polly is handed over to Marjorie’s three friends: Comtesse Alexandrine, a converted Jew; Zita, a film star; and Lana Mae, a rich American. They take Polly to live with them in the palatial Hotel Ritz. All are keeping secrets from Polly about themselves and Marjorie. When the Nazis invade Paris and take over most of the Hotel Ritz the four women’s lives are changed as they adapt to sharing a room in the hotel and learn to interact with the high ranking Germans. Polly befriends Tommy, a Hungarian Jew, and illegitimate son of Alexandrine’s husband. Tommy is being hidden as a bar attendant at the Ritz by Alexandrine, to try to keep him safe. Together Tommy and Polly, with the help of a blind girl Odile, start quietly taking action against the occupiers. They call themselves the freedom volunteers. Overtime their escalating and more daring missions come to the notice of the Gestapo, suspicions and accusations are beginning to surface. Innocent people are being taken away, never to be seen again. As the Nazis and French police begin rounding up Jews, the guardians take action to protect the ones they love.

The story builds to dramatic acts of resistance and courage, as more resistance operators at the hotel are revealed. Collaborators and spies for the Nazis show their true colours. Alexandrine, Lana Mae, Zita and Marjorie’s secrets are told. The story finally ends with the liberation of France and the Hotel Ritz.

At the end of the book, the author Luke Devenish tells us The Heart of the Ritz was based on real life events. The characters in this story were based on people who showed courage, resilience and sacrifice for the greater freedom of France.

At the beginning of this novel, I compared the occupation to our own lockdown with queuing for food, and restrictions of movement. I was wrong, the occupation and reality of war in France far outweighed anything we are enduring. We are being kept safe, while they were never safe.

The Heart of the Ritz is an enjoyable read for lovers of historical fiction. Score 3.75 out of 5.

Reviewed by Lynette 

Catalogue link:  The Heart of the Ritz