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Secretly Inside
In the Dutch countryside the war seems far away. For most people, at least. But not for Ed, a Jew in Nazi-occupied Holland trying to find some safe sanctuary. Compelled to go into hiding in the rural province of Zeeland, he is taken in by a seemingly benevolent family of farmers. But, as Ed comes to realize, the Van 't Westeindes are not what they seem. Camiel, the son of the house, is still in mourning for his best friend, a German soldier who committed suicide the year before. And Camiel's fiery, unstable sister Mariete begins to nurse a growing unrequited passion for their young guest, just as Ed realizes his own attraction to Camiel. As time goes by, Ed is drawn into the domestic intrigues around him, and the farmhouse that had begun as his refuge slowly becomes his prison.
- GenresLGBT
99 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2006
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9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 10, 2025
"Secretly Inside" by Hans Warren is a novel that delves into the complexities of human relationships during the fraught period of Nazi-occupied Holland. The book is set in the Dutch countryside during World War II, providing a backdrop of tension and uncertainty. It explores the experience of a Jewish man, Ed, forced into hiding and the precariousness of his situation. The novel examines the nuances of human behavior, revealing that appearances can be deceptive. The family that shelters Ed is not as uniformly benevolent as they initially seem.
It deals with themes of hidden desires and suppressed emotions, particularly in the context of a restrictive and dangerous environment. The book also touches on the psychological impact of war and the ways in which it can distort and intensify personal relationships. It also contains themes of homosexual relationships and the complications that those relationships had during that time period.
The interactions between Ed and the family members are central to the narrative, with shifting alliances and hidden agendas. The book explores the emotional turmoil of the characters, including grief, desire, and fear. In conclusion, "Secretly Inside" offers a nuanced portrayal of life under Nazi occupation, focusing on the intimate experiences of individuals rather than grand historical narratives. It is a story that brings to light the hidden emotions that people hold and how those emotions can effect their actions.
I found it to be a compelling novel that blends historical fiction with psychological depth, offering a thought-provoking exploration of human nature in a time of crisis.
It deals with themes of hidden desires and suppressed emotions, particularly in the context of a restrictive and dangerous environment. The book also touches on the psychological impact of war and the ways in which it can distort and intensify personal relationships. It also contains themes of homosexual relationships and the complications that those relationships had during that time period.
The interactions between Ed and the family members are central to the narrative, with shifting alliances and hidden agendas. The book explores the emotional turmoil of the characters, including grief, desire, and fear. In conclusion, "Secretly Inside" offers a nuanced portrayal of life under Nazi occupation, focusing on the intimate experiences of individuals rather than grand historical narratives. It is a story that brings to light the hidden emotions that people hold and how those emotions can effect their actions.
I found it to be a compelling novel that blends historical fiction with psychological depth, offering a thought-provoking exploration of human nature in a time of crisis.
June 11, 2013
SECRETLY INSIDE by Hans Warren, The University of Wiscinsin Press, 2006, hc,
'Secretly Inside' is a translation from Dutch, one of Hans Warren's novels. It is an extremely short novel. Of the 99 pages, 26 consist of an introduction by Jolanda Vanderwal Taylor setting the story in its historical background. This is important because if the reader does not know what happened in Holland during the Second World War then much of the story's impact is lost. 'Secretly Inside' is a simple tale, stark and beautifully written, but without the introduction I would not have grasped all the nuances.
The story tells of a young Jewish man who has to hide from the occupying Germans, not only because he is a Jew but also because he has been involved in some form of resistance. He has to hide far from the city on a farm among strangers. He's a fish out of water, in the midst of a dysfunctional family, in a village of people who do not understand what hiding a partisan really involves. Our hero is a troubled young man, but he does escape the inevitable German descent on the farm.
The main point of the story is that the history the Dutch made for themselves after the war, that of fierce resistance against the Germans, was not true. It must be a difficult story to read if you were brought up on tales of the brave Dutch Resistance. Those of us reading the story as a piece of history, are given a clear idea of the 'on the edge living' it was for those trying to hide. But it also shows how those involved in the hiding were not the courageous heroes we imagined or were told about. They were just ordinary people in an intolerable situation; some cracked, some gave in and some held out. Just as we would have done.
This novel is well worth reading for the historical details.
'Secretly Inside' is a translation from Dutch, one of Hans Warren's novels. It is an extremely short novel. Of the 99 pages, 26 consist of an introduction by Jolanda Vanderwal Taylor setting the story in its historical background. This is important because if the reader does not know what happened in Holland during the Second World War then much of the story's impact is lost. 'Secretly Inside' is a simple tale, stark and beautifully written, but without the introduction I would not have grasped all the nuances.
The story tells of a young Jewish man who has to hide from the occupying Germans, not only because he is a Jew but also because he has been involved in some form of resistance. He has to hide far from the city on a farm among strangers. He's a fish out of water, in the midst of a dysfunctional family, in a village of people who do not understand what hiding a partisan really involves. Our hero is a troubled young man, but he does escape the inevitable German descent on the farm.
The main point of the story is that the history the Dutch made for themselves after the war, that of fierce resistance against the Germans, was not true. It must be a difficult story to read if you were brought up on tales of the brave Dutch Resistance. Those of us reading the story as a piece of history, are given a clear idea of the 'on the edge living' it was for those trying to hide. But it also shows how those involved in the hiding were not the courageous heroes we imagined or were told about. They were just ordinary people in an intolerable situation; some cracked, some gave in and some held out. Just as we would have done.
This novel is well worth reading for the historical details.
November 19, 2011
The story that is there is well-written, but I just felt like it was incomplete, like this very short novel was actually the first part - the lead-up, if you will - to a longer work. The author does such a good job of creating these in-depth characters, and then all of a sudden the climax of the story is here, and the story is over. I enjoyed what was there, and the introduction, which tells of the author's own war-time experiences, makes me want to read more of his work.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews