The German Heiress
Clara Falkenberg, once Germany’s most eligible and lauded heiress, earned the nickname “the Iron Fräulein” during World War II for her role operating her family’s ironworks empire. It’s been nearly two years since the war ended and she’s left with nothing but a false identification card and a series of burning questions about her family’s past. With nowhere else to run to, she decides to return home and take refuge with her dear friend, Elisa.
Narrowly escaping a near-disastrous interrogation by a British officer who’s hell-bent on arresting her for war crimes, she arrives home to discover the city in ruins, and Elisa missing. As Clara begins tracking down Elisa, she encounters Jakob, a charismatic young man working on the black market, who, for his own reasons, is also searching for Elisa. Clara and Jakob soon discover how they might help each other—if only they can stay ahead of the officer determined to make Clara answer for her actions during the war.
Propulsive, meticulously researched, and action-fueled, The German Heiress is a mesmerizing page-turner that questions the meaning of justice and morality, deftly shining the spotlight on the often-overlooked perspective of Germans who were caught in the crossfire of the Nazi regime and had nowhere to turn.
Reviews
“The kind of novel we need now more than ever...The German Heiress
achieves what the best historical fiction can, asking us to see the
past, and then pushing us to see ourselves in that past, demanding: Who
would you have been then? What would you have done? Unflinching and
absorbing, The German Heiress does not let you look away.” (Sarah Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Postmistress and The Guest Book)
“Anika Scott’s riveting novel, The German Heiress, compellingly explores the nature of innocence and guilt, and the human desire for redemption. A terrific book with historical detail skillfully woven into the fabric of the story. An absolute must-read for all fans of World War II fiction!” (David Gillham, New York Times bestselling author of City of Women and Annelies)
“Meticulously researched and plotted like a noir thriller, The German Heiress tells a different story of WWII— of characters grappling with their own guilt and driven by the question of what they could have done to change the past.” (Jessica Shattuck, New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the Castle)
“Anika Scott’s epic novel offers a captivating tour through the reckoning years that followed WWII when clarifying identities, unearthing truths, and facing judgements was the only way to rebuild a life. The novel’s heroine, Clara, marches along the razor’s edge between the leviathan of the past and a future full of mine shafts. I will never forget her unending struggle to rise above the dark lineage thrust upon her and her battle to stay connected to the deep binds of love, responsibility, and compassion.” (Devin Murphy, nationally bestselling author of The Boat Runner)
“What a great debut! I loved this book, especially since it looks at the aftermath of war from a rare perspective: the appalling suffering that Germans faced in their devastated cities after 1945, and the guilt of those who’d followed the Nazi rules. It still haunts me, days after finishing it.” (Liz Trenow, New York Times bestselling author of The Poppy Factory and The Silk Weaver)
"Anika Scott's finely drawn characters in The German Heiress bring to life not only the struggle to rise from the ashes of war, but also the depth of resolve often required to gain redemption. Illuminating and beautifully rendered."--(Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War)
“While reading, I felt as though I was walking through the rubble of Essen and shivering in the bitter cold right alongside Clara Falkenberg. In this haunting and atmospheric novel, Anika Scott delivers a nuanced and emotional look at the often un-talked about side of WWII––the devastation of German towns and cities and the weight of conscience on those who remain. The German Heiress is a powerful reminder that no one gets out unscathed.” (Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of The Lieutenant's Nurse)
"I loved [The German Heiress]. It’s a special novel that opens one's mind to aspects of history we on the "winning" side have given little thought to, and a moving story of courage and everyday heroism rising to meet unbearable challenges." (Alex Marwood , international bestseller and Edgar and Macavity Award winning author of The Wicked Girls)
"Scott transports readers back to Germany in the aftermath of this war, showing both the heartbreak and heroism of a once powerful businesswoman known as the Iron Fraulein. Clara Falkenberg’s confusion and compassion, the courage and corruption of those she loved—all of it resonated deeply and led me to ask, what would I have done if I were forced into her tragic position? It’s impossible to know, of course, but this remarkable novel made me dig even deeper, longing to be resilient like Clara in the face of evil...a story that will stick with you for a lifetime!"
(Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass)
ANIKA SCOTT
Anika Scott grew up outside Detroit, Michigan and has a BA in International Relations from Michigan State University and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University in New York. She worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Chicago Tribune before moving to Germany in 2001. Since then she has freelanced for US and European media including Deutschlandfunk, and taught journalism at the Technical University in Chemnitz. She now lives in Essen with her husband and two daughters.
ANIKA SAYS: "On a personal note, writing is one of the things I love the most in this world. I am so grateful and privileged that readers are finally getting a glimpse into my dreams and daydreams. I write about the things I care about most: the secret parts of ourselves, our place in the big bad (or good?) world, the strength and troubles of family, children scarred by the world of adults, the lessons history can teach us.
The biggest thing I hope for my readers: Be entertained, definitely! But I also hope my stories inspire you to think even more about your place in this complex world, and the power you have to act in it for the good.
Oh, and if you want to discover more about Germany in the years of allied occupation just after WWII, check out my history blog Postwar Germany. I began building this resource as I researched and wrote Finding Clara / The German Heiress. It’s a fascinating and often overlooked period, so check out the blog for articles, books, photos, videos and more."
https://anikascott.com/
“Anika Scott’s riveting novel, The German Heiress, compellingly explores the nature of innocence and guilt, and the human desire for redemption. A terrific book with historical detail skillfully woven into the fabric of the story. An absolute must-read for all fans of World War II fiction!” (David Gillham, New York Times bestselling author of City of Women and Annelies)
“Meticulously researched and plotted like a noir thriller, The German Heiress tells a different story of WWII— of characters grappling with their own guilt and driven by the question of what they could have done to change the past.” (Jessica Shattuck, New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the Castle)
“Anika Scott’s epic novel offers a captivating tour through the reckoning years that followed WWII when clarifying identities, unearthing truths, and facing judgements was the only way to rebuild a life. The novel’s heroine, Clara, marches along the razor’s edge between the leviathan of the past and a future full of mine shafts. I will never forget her unending struggle to rise above the dark lineage thrust upon her and her battle to stay connected to the deep binds of love, responsibility, and compassion.” (Devin Murphy, nationally bestselling author of The Boat Runner)
“What a great debut! I loved this book, especially since it looks at the aftermath of war from a rare perspective: the appalling suffering that Germans faced in their devastated cities after 1945, and the guilt of those who’d followed the Nazi rules. It still haunts me, days after finishing it.” (Liz Trenow, New York Times bestselling author of The Poppy Factory and The Silk Weaver)
"Anika Scott's finely drawn characters in The German Heiress bring to life not only the struggle to rise from the ashes of war, but also the depth of resolve often required to gain redemption. Illuminating and beautifully rendered."--(Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War)
“While reading, I felt as though I was walking through the rubble of Essen and shivering in the bitter cold right alongside Clara Falkenberg. In this haunting and atmospheric novel, Anika Scott delivers a nuanced and emotional look at the often un-talked about side of WWII––the devastation of German towns and cities and the weight of conscience on those who remain. The German Heiress is a powerful reminder that no one gets out unscathed.” (Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of The Lieutenant's Nurse)
"I loved [The German Heiress]. It’s a special novel that opens one's mind to aspects of history we on the "winning" side have given little thought to, and a moving story of courage and everyday heroism rising to meet unbearable challenges." (Alex Marwood , international bestseller and Edgar and Macavity Award winning author of The Wicked Girls)
"Scott transports readers back to Germany in the aftermath of this war, showing both the heartbreak and heroism of a once powerful businesswoman known as the Iron Fraulein. Clara Falkenberg’s confusion and compassion, the courage and corruption of those she loved—all of it resonated deeply and led me to ask, what would I have done if I were forced into her tragic position? It’s impossible to know, of course, but this remarkable novel made me dig even deeper, longing to be resilient like Clara in the face of evil...a story that will stick with you for a lifetime!"
(Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass)
ANIKA SCOTT
Anika Scott grew up outside Detroit, Michigan and has a BA in International Relations from Michigan State University and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University in New York. She worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Chicago Tribune before moving to Germany in 2001. Since then she has freelanced for US and European media including Deutschlandfunk, and taught journalism at the Technical University in Chemnitz. She now lives in Essen with her husband and two daughters.
ANIKA SAYS: "On a personal note, writing is one of the things I love the most in this world. I am so grateful and privileged that readers are finally getting a glimpse into my dreams and daydreams. I write about the things I care about most: the secret parts of ourselves, our place in the big bad (or good?) world, the strength and troubles of family, children scarred by the world of adults, the lessons history can teach us.
The biggest thing I hope for my readers: Be entertained, definitely! But I also hope my stories inspire you to think even more about your place in this complex world, and the power you have to act in it for the good.
Oh, and if you want to discover more about Germany in the years of allied occupation just after WWII, check out my history blog Postwar Germany. I began building this resource as I researched and wrote Finding Clara / The German Heiress. It’s a fascinating and often overlooked period, so check out the blog for articles, books, photos, videos and more."
https://anikascott.com/
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