The Collector of Burned Books

Author: Roseanna M. White
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction
Pages: 368
Release Date: July 15, 2025
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

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Reviewer: Winnie Thomas

“. . . the only way to ever truly defeat your enemies . . .was to make them your friends.” 

Talented author Roseanna M. White has once again taken a little-known piece of history and built an intriguing and fascinating story around it. The Collector of Burned Books is the tale of exiled writers from Germany who founded a library in Paris of books that had been banned in Germany. When the Germans took over Paris, they also took over The Library of the Burned Books.  

Professor Corinne Bastien had made use of the library for years but lost access of it and some secret books she had hidden there. German professor and booklover Christian Bauer was forced by German army officers to relocate France’s libraries, including The Library of the Burned Books. I liked Corinne’s courage, compassion, and willingness to stand for freedom to express ideas. Christian was also courageous and helped others the best he could under trying circumstances. I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow and change as they got to know each other. 

“Was it better to speak up and be permanently silenced or to work silently, doing what good he could?” 

Filled with intrigue, suspense, history, and a touch of romance, this book also had inspiration to give it depth and added meaning. I recommend this book to those who enjoy well-researched and well-written historical fiction. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Tyndale. All opinions are my own. 

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White is a powerful WWII historical novel that places readers in Paris, France during the Nazi invasion of WWII.

Christian Bauer is a German professor forced to wear the Nazi uniform when Goebbels selects him to oversee the “relocation” of France’s libraries. He is to sort through books and ban them if they do not exemplify the ideals of the Nazi party. He is also charged with hunting down German writers who were exiled from Germany for their opinions or their heritage. However, he doesn’t hold the same values as the Nazis and wants to save as many books and people (most of them friends he knows) as he can. 

Christian meets Corinne Bastien, whose library he has taken over. She scrambles to save her beloved books. Books that have secret messages in them she was passing on to the Allies.

Their relationship is interesting because they are enemies, yet they have the same goals and ideals. And when they let their guard down, they discover they have much more in common than just books.

I loved absolutely everything about this novel. I loved the faith element and the emphasis on how important books are in broadening one’s understanding of the world and how words can change a mind. It was powerful, emotional, riveting and incredibly relevant to the times we are living in. I could not miss the parallels of Nazi Germany with the current situation in the States.  

If you enjoy WWII fiction, then you will love The Collector of Burned Books. 

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Jeanette Durkin

Wow! More than 5 stars! Roseanna White has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I think this book is her best so far! This book took me on a journey of good vs. evil. How sometimes evil overcomes good and other times good overcomes evil. 

The Library of Burned Books provided more than just books. It held secrets and ideas. These secrets and ideas presented a problem for the Nazis. The setting of Paris during this time is not glittering lights and romance, but one of a weary city. Its citizens subdued and withdrawn.

Corinne is amazing! She’s brave, quick thinking, compassionate and not afraid to speak her mind. She loves the books and the authors that wrote them. The books also help her send coded messages. Messages that she hopes will push the Nazis out of her beloved city. 

Christian is a complicated man. He loves literature. Unfortunately, his assignment from the German army is to determine which books are “allowed” to stay in Paris. He has many secrets and often has to pretend that he’s following orders, even when it contradicts everything within him. He is a merciful man, and he offers mercy to many “undeserving” recipients. Soon, he and Corinne work together to save not only books but human lives.

My heart was touched when the priest prayed over Christian. The blessing, the protection, and the covenant. Words of healing and words of hope.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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