From Product Description:

From Amazon.com Review:

The Invisible Bridge <br /> <br />An historical novel of a little known story of Hungarian Jews under the axis rule. A passionate love story, a tale of fraternal love and the triumph of the human spirit. The story grabbed me, then the history grabbed me. Finally, I realized I was propelled by a wonderful writer. <br /> <br />Highly recommended. I only buy books that I've already read and loved. This is one.

To say Orringer's dramatic sweeping novel, set amidst the backdrop of World War II, is stunning may be an understatement. Unique as told from the perspective of a young Hungarian Jew sent to pre WWII Paris on an architecture scholarship the novel encompasses forbidden love and socioeconomic class distinctions amidst the injustice of the growing and increasingly rabid anti-Semitism of a world at war. Orringer has expertly researched the novel and delivers exceptional character development throughout. The unique fact that Hungary fought alongside the Axis powers which delayed judgment for its Jewish population makes for interesting sub plots that weave throughout the majestic storyline like a viper in the green fields of summer. Resolute in its scope this novel is sure to horrify and delight readers.

The Invisible Bridge is an epic story of love and loss that unfolds before and during World War II. In 1937, Andras Lévi leaves his family in Hungary to pursue a degree in architecture in Paris at the prestigious École Spéciale d'Architecture. As he pursues his studies, Andras discovers an unlikely love and, as a Jew, gets tangled in ever-increasing prejudices and hostilities leading up to the war. <br /> <br />Over the novel's 600+ pages, Andras's story traces the grim path suffered by many European Jews during the war. The World War II years feature prominently in many historical novels, but The Invisible Bridge sets itself apart in its focus on a family from Hungary, a country often overlooked by the period's fiction. Further, Orringer's obvious love (and extensive knowledge) of architecture adds gorgeous detail to the settings populated by her well-drawn characters. Without ignoring the brutal horrors of the war, The Invisible Bridge retains a sense of hope and buoyancy throughout, largely due to Orringer's portrayal of the enduring power of love and family.

I picked up this book on a friend's recommendation, not knowing the topic. When I learned it was about WWII Europe and the Holocaust, I doubted it would capture my interest, as I'd already read much about the era. <br /> <br />I was wrong. This is a gripping tale of a Hungarian Jewish family and what it was like to live, adapt, sacrifice and survive, from the relatively good pre-war years, when anti-Semitism was an omnipresent obstacle but not necessarily life-threatening, to the institutionalized terror of the Nazi occupation of Europe. <br /> <br />Most impressive was the level of detail, providing insight into the various themes and backdrops such as classical architecture, wartime politics, and the frayed psychology of the Hungarian people, given their uncertain alliances with Nazi Germany and their Soviet enemy/saviors. Of course they are neither, their only authentic identity being Hungarian, prefacing the upcoming tension in the Soviet satellite countries in the war's aftermath. <br /> <br />The central theme is the love story that ties it all together, but I found the historical background and lesser characters and plots more interesting and compelling. It was also a great history lesson - Hungary's experience in WWII - and I was introduced to some intriguing historical figures, such as the heroic General Vilmos Nagy. <br /> <br />I'll withhold one star as it could have used some editing around the early middle, but once the war starts the concise vignettes in each chapter really propel the reader onward. <br /> <br />An impressive first novel, well researched. Given her apparent young age, we can look to Ms. Orringer as a promising source for engaging, worthy fiction. <br />

this book is realy worthwile to read! the writer describes in detail this families story and the horible times they lived thru and survived!