The Librarian of Burned Books: A Novel

Content Warning: The source text and this section of the guide discuss antisemitism and suicide.

Shortly after receiving word of her husband Edward’s death in battle, Viv receives a final letter from him. He tells her of the monotony of waiting to fight, and about a new project that supplies books to soldiers to read. He got a copy of Oliver Twist, which reminds him of his brother Hale. Viv takes comfort in the thought of Edward and his fellow soldiers reading and sharing stories.

The following year, Viv sneaks into a luxury restaurant in preparation to confront her nemesis, Senator Taft. She sits down at his table and shows him a number of novels that will soon be banned from the Armed Services Editions literature program as a result of Taft’s proposed censorship law. Taft argues that he’s only trying to restrict books with an overt political agenda. Viv tries to appeal to Taft’s humanity, arguing that the books bring soldiers hope. Taft, however, is unmoved.

The young American writer Althea James has just arrived in Berlin and is utterly enchanted. She has been invited as part of a cultural initiative that brings American writers of German heritage to Germany.