The motto of the American Library in Paris is “Atrum post bellum, ex libris lux” (“After the darkness of war, the light of books”) a more appropriate motto never existed.

I may have been overly hasty when I suggested in my review of ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ two months ago that it was undoubtedly my book of the year. Along came ‘The Paris Library’, a book for lovers of “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr.

It’s 1939 and Odile has obtained her dream job at the American Library in Paris, but then the Nazis take over the city and her world changes, along with that of her brother, her parents and eventually the library. Even the smallest decision has huge  consequences, a single word can mean betrayal and punishment.

Fast forward to Montana 1983, Odile is living amongst strangers, barely acknowledging their existence. This is her story, but it’s also the true story of the amazing staff and volunteers at the library whose shared love of books helped to change the world for a group of people.

Today The American Library continues its work, as the largest English language lending library in continental Europe. This story brings to life its past and that of the real life WWII heroes who worked there and risked their lives to bring small moments of happiness to their regulars.

This is a superbly researched and moving book which, although largely written from the author’s imagination, is based on fact.

I finished reading it this afternoon and have already started rereading it.

*“After the darkness of war, the light of books”.