Plot Summary

The Women in the Castle

Jessica Shattuck
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The Women in the Castle

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017

Book Brief

Jessica Shattuck

The Women in the Castle

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017
Book Details
Pages

356

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Germany • 1940s

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck is a historical novel that follows three women, the widows of men involved in a failed plot to kill Hitler, as they navigate the post-World War II aftermath in Germany and confront their collective guilt and personal traumas. Set in a ruined castle, the story spans from the war's end to decades later, exploring themes of complicity and redemption. Topics include sexual violence, war trauma, and suicide.

Mysterious

Melancholic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.0

77,341 ratings

70%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Jessica Shattuck's The Women in the Castle offers a compelling exploration of post-WWII Germany through the lives of three widows. Praised for its rich historical context and complex characters, it weaves their intertwined stories with emotional depth. Some readers, however, find pacing issues and a predictable plot. Overall, it’s a poignant narrative on resilience and reconciliation.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Women in the Castle?

Readers who relish historical fiction, particularly about World War II, will find The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck compelling. Comparable to Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See, it appeals to those interested in resilience, female friendships, and moral complexity amidst war.

4.0

77,341 ratings

70%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

356

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Germany • 1940s

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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