While much of the historical fiction centered around World War II deals with Germany, France, and England, the cataclysm was truly global, and many important events occurred in other countries. In her first adult novel, author Suzanne Nelson explores a lesser-known chapter in America’s involvement in that war. The Librarians of Lisbon is a fictional tale about a real program—American spies undercover in Portugal, a neutral country where Nazis and Allies slithered around each other for advantage. Nelson’s two heroines work undercover to help the Allies, but will love derail their missions?
By day, best friends Bea and Selene work as librarians in 1943 Lisbon, cataloging a vast array of information for the allies. By night, they are spies—Bea working with infamous double agent Gable to decode German messages, and Selene on the arm of Portuguese baron Luca, trying to find out which of his socialite friends is feeding information to the Nazis. Recruited separately, Bea and Selene keep their spy activities secret from each other, and grow apart as their adventures take them in different directions. But both women end up falling for the men they’re working with.
Librarians differs from most of the World War II fiction I read. It’s a slow burn, and the pacing doesn’t really pick up till three-fourths of the way through the book. There’s a subplot about the mining of wolfram and its uses that, while historically accurate, feels more intellectual than emotional. The women never seem truly in danger, and most of the tension is derived from the romantic relationships. There are parties, glittering gowns, and several explicit sex scenes. The mentions of concentration camps are few and far between. The book portrays a glamorous world of Mata Haris and James Bonds, not Ravensbruck.
I enjoyed the cameo of American born, French singer/spy Josephine Baker and other attempts that Nelson made in incorporating real events into her fictional account. But honestly, the action in the book felt very removed from the horrors faced by the Jewish, British, and French people. Readers who want to empathize with these populations may find the book isn’t what they’re looking for.
On the other hand, there’s something symbolic about reading about galas, operas, fancy ball gowns, and romances that are going on while millions of people are suffering. There are always people who will be able to profit from pain, and others who ignore it while going about their daily lives. We’re about to get a strong reminder of that. And this time, Americans won’t be the good guys.
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