For a Lost Soldier
For a Lost Soldier
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1986
Book Brief
261
Novel • Fiction
Netherlands • 1940s
1986
YA
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Set in 1944 and 1945, Dutch ballet choreographer and author Rudi van Dantzig’s semi-autobiographical historical novel, For a Lost Soldier (1986), tells the story of Nazi Germany's occupation of Amsterdam during World War II and a sexual relationship that forms between an 11-year-old boy based on van Dantzig and an adult soldier in the First Canadian Army.
Melancholic
Romantic
Nostalgic
Emotional
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
542 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Rudi van Dantzig's For a Lost Soldier poignantly explores themes of love and loss during WWII through the eyes of a young boy. Critics praise its lyrical prose and emotional depth, though some find its controversial subject matter unsettling. The narrative's sensitive portrayal of complex relationships remains both compelling and thought-provoking.
Who Should Read For a Lost Soldier?
Readers who appreciate poignant tales of war, identity, and forbidden love will find For a Lost Soldier by Rudi van Dantzig compelling. Fans of Call Me by Your Name and The Book Thief will connect with this emotive, introspective novel that explores complex human emotions against a historical backdrop.
542 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
261
Novel • Fiction
Netherlands • 1940s
1986
YA
18+ years
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