The Librarian of Burned Books: A Novel

Hannah attends a party with Natalie and Patrice and learns that Deveraux has come to Paris to film a movie. Hannah and Patrice spend the night together, and Hannah wonders why Deveraux didn’t get in touch. She becomes increasingly worried about Otto, who grows distant under her concern. One day they’re out together and see Deveraux. They talk briefly, but Deveraux quickly leaves with a Nazi officer.

Viv returns to the banned books library and meets the librarian outside. She invites her to tea and asks her to speak about her experiences at her event against Senator Taft. She shares her own love for storytelling to convince the librarian to share her own. Viv reveals that she’s planning on inviting the reclusive author Althea James, which the librarian finds shocking and hilarious. The librarian agrees to appear, and finally introduces herself as Hannah Brecht.

Hannah arrives to collect Althea after she has been struck down by Diedrich. Once the women arrive safely home, Althea voices her concern for Hannah and Adam. Hannah admits she followed Adam one night to a high-profile meeting place of political leaders. She kisses Althea’s wrist, and Althea is finally able to admit her feelings for Hannah. They spend the night together. In the morning, Diedrich comes to Althea’s home and discovers them together.

Hannah makes inquiries about Deveraux and learns she has been “won over by the Nazis” (298). Natalie tells Hannah the hotel where Deveraux is staying, and conveys that Deveraux is sleeping with several officers and uses them to advance her career. Hannah takes Otto’s gun and goes to Deveraux’s hotel, where she finds her coming home drunk with a Nazi officer. Hannah follows them upstairs and confronts her at gunpoint. Deveraux invites Hannah onto the roof to talk.

Viv arrives at Althea’s hometown of Owl’s Head but learns the train station is several miles from the town itself. After she has been walking for a long time, a car arrives and offers her a lift. Viv tells the driver, Joe, about her purpose in the town; Joe reveals that he’s Althea’s brother. Viv joins him for lunch and tells him about her plan to battle Taft’s censorship. Joe takes her to Althea’s cottage, where Viv bravely knocks on the door. Althea answers and immediately rejects Viv’s advance, slamming the door.

Althea is taken away and brought to an interrogation room. Diedrich enters and berates her for humiliating him. However, he does not harm her, and Althea struggles to understand her situation. She is held prisoner for 11 hours, until finally they release her.

Hannah arrives to care for her but is confused by Althea’s lack of physical assault. Otto arrives, frantically telling them that Adam has been captured. Hannah believes that Althea’s healthy state means that she cooperated with the Nazis and revealed Adam’s location. Althea protests her innocence and suddenly understands that Diedrich intentionally set her up. Hannah and Otto leave her behind.

Viv stays in the village and continues going to Althea’s house each day. On the fifth day, Althea brings Viv a cup of coffee before shutting the door, which Viv takes as a sign she’s wearing down.

After eight days of trying, Althea finally invites Viv for a walk. However, Viv upsets her when she suggests Althea writes as a way to earn forgiveness. The next day, Viv meets Althea again and invites her to her event. Althea is hesitant, fearing unwelcome publicity, and they talk about their favorite books. Finally, Althea agrees.

Hannah holds Deveraux at gunpoint and asks her for the truth about Adam’s capture. Deveraux admits she turned Adam in, knowing he was already on a self-destructive path, to regain the Nazis’ trust. She explains that she became a spy in Berlin, and that many lives have been saved as a result of Adam’s sacrifice. Hannah is unable to forgive Deveraux, but finds she understands her perspective. However, she realizes that Deveraux couldn’t have known where to find Adam and determines that Otto was the true betrayer.