Venus, Vanishing

by Rebecca Birrell

A blisteringly passionate and page-turning story of desire, art, and the stories lost to the darkness of history – for readers of Sarah Waters, Yael van der Wouden, and Alice Winn.

Berlin, 1928. Hannah is new to the pleasures and freedoms of the city. An artist, a runaway, she is building a new life, loving without boundaries and sketching with a cutting edge.

But the party is ending. Hannah begins a recklessly consuming affair with a powerful man’s wife and it soon threatens to do more than ruin both of their reputations. People are disappearing. The shadows of something unspeakable are growing darker. Her art could be the thing that secures her survival – or will deny her any chance of escape.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Historical, Fiction, Adult, Lesbian

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Rebecca Birrell grew up in Southport, and currently lives in Cambridge. She studied English Literature at UCL, followed by Women’s Studies at the University of Oxford. She has occupied curatorial positions at the Jewish Museum London, the Department of Prints and Drawing at the British Museum and at the Charleston Trust. In 2018 she undertook a fellowship at the Yale Centre for British Art. She recently completed her PhD at the Edinburgh College of Art. For the next year she will be Assistant Keeper of Paintings, Prints and Drawings at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1927, we find Jewish Hannah Sherman to be a reluctant seamstress in her parents workshop on Grenadierstrasse, Berlin. This is not the life she wants, indeed, she wants to be an artist and so she slips away to find a new life but her freedom comes at a cost. As her finances become strained like many others by 1928, she seeks out a former customer of her parents, Elke Grese, who she has always admired and she resumes her seamstress duties for her. She becomes obsessed with her patron, who enables her passion to be an artist. However, dark days are ahead and Hannah will need all her resources in order to survive.

This is a beautifully written and exceptionally well researched historical novel, combining the themes of art, politics, sexuality, friendship and love which is set in a changing Berlin. There’s a fantastic sense of place, Berlin before 1932 alongside the rise of the Nazi party and the emergence of a New Germany and what that means to Hannah, her partner Saul and her friend Charlotte. There’s increasing dread of the dawning of a new reality and what that may cost them
In more ways than one. The dynamics between them all are fascinating and constantly in flux, particularly those in relation to Elke. All the characters are portrayed with clarity.

The art element is excellent with Hannah and her paintings of Venus rising and then vanishing. This is combined with growing attitudes to artists that are seen by the Third Reich as degenerate. The Berlin of before is vibrant, alive, colourful and very well described and contrasts darkly with the growing oppression and lack of freedom of expression, as well as attitudes towards bisexuality.

There’s palpable pain in the writing, the losses, the betrayals and the need for bravery in order to live. It becomes very emotional and the authors afterword is like a knife to the heart.

Overall, this is a well paced novel which is meticulously researched and I like the angle it takes. I find it a fascinating read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan, Picador for the much appreciated only copy in return for an honest review.

[cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was interesting to read but I feel like it lulled at some points. The storyline was a little bit repetitive and the book felt longer than it needed to be. The historical aspect of this was super interesting to me and i am glad the ending focused more so on that. I think this book spent too much time focusing on little events and then would reserve only one sentence for huge plot points leaving the book feeling a bit disjointed. Overall I did enjoy it but this book is definitely not for anyone who wants something fast paced.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venus, Vanishing offers readers a view into an aspect of Nazi propaganda, in the years leading up to the second world war, that I knew very little about. It specifically explores the theft of art created by Jewish women and its subsequent modification into German nationalist pieces that could be used as propaganda to promote the ideals of the Nazi state. The original artists not only had their work stolen and modified into pieces that promoted the extinguishing of their race, but they were also erased as artists, with the creation of these works then being attributed to German men, who didn’t even exist.

‘Most work by artists murdered by the regime was lost or destroyed, with a small fraction entering museum stores and private collections, hidden from public view.’

Through Hannah’s emancipation from her family, Rebecca Birrell creates this world in which Jewish artists, performers, and academics all intermingled in a bohemian lifestyle of creative expression and free love. She writes about desire and longing, intimacy and love, with such a beautiful fluency. Likewise, she conveys the dread and fear, as life began to change, and the Nazi regime asserted itself and made its intentions clear and all encompassing.

‘I was afraid, and my fear had become buoyant and persistent, it no longer subsided with sleep or reassurance as it had before.’

Theft and erasure are the key themes of this novel, and it explores them deeply and with great emotion. In the author note at the end, Rebecca Birrell expressed that she had ‘hoped to write a novel primarily about Jewish life, not Jewish death’, and I think she has achieved that. This novel serves as a counter-narrative to what is usually represented in contemporarily written historical fiction. It’s a beautifully written story, recommended to fans of literary history fiction and lovers of art history.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

4.5 ⭐️

[Lindsay Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this. The research that has gone into this is evident. I am eager to read it again, but alas, I have already promised my proof copy to somebody I hope will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender and profound novel that will stick with you

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 (4.75 stars)

Review follows really soon. But honestly, this was such a great book!! I’m speechless

[Kate Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, a heart wrenching yet hopeful (bisexual) historical fiction tale of a Jewish artist in Berlin during the rise of the Nazis.

It’s 1928 in Berlin and Hannah has run away from home to avoid an unwanted marriage. She is building a new life for herself, devoting time to her art and falling in love. An old client from her time working as a seamstress with her mother admires her art and commissions further work from her. She becomes enamored with the woman, to the annoyance of her lovers Charlotte and Saul. But as Hannah’s time with Elke becomes more charged, she forgives more than she should, including Elke altering her paintings and displaying them under a false name. As Elke’s powerful position in the changing landscape of their country becomes clear, Hannah must take steps to ensure her safety, and the safety of the owe she loves.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this book is big

[Eavan]

Just got this in the mail thanks to a LibraryThing giveaway... Thank you and yippee!

[Barclay Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't give 5 star reviews willy nilly, but I feel like 5 stars were warranted by this book. It was clearly written by an art historian (I learned a lot!), yet the prose was wonderful and evocative and stirring. I felt carried along by the book, it was almost effortless to read it. I read the first half in one sitting and the second half in two long gulps. There's a lot of sex in this book, which is a thing to be aware of, if that bothers you (or you like it); queer sex, straight sex, and, well, other. Not to spoil anything.

Within the past few months, I happen to have read a couple other very closely related books. Most resonant with Venus, Vanishing was Crooked Cross, which was set in the same time frame, set in Bavaria, but written (in 1933!) from the perspective of a gentile German woman engaged to marry a Jewish man. The contrast in the emotional reactions depicted in this versus Venus, Vanishing was interesting. In Crooked Cross, we chiefly see careful acquiescence and quiet dread on the part of the protagonist's fiancé and his father. In Venus, Vanishing we see much stronger feelings and reactions described: Admonishing loved ones to stay home as riots and pogroms erupt. Waiting until too late to try to leave the country; desperate visits in vain to consulates trying to get visas to escape. And worst of all, the requirement to separate from a spouse to travel separately to avoid detection. Denial was a common thread through both books.

The other related book was Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto. Denial was no longer on display in the events described. This book had the same personal passion that Venus, Vanishing had, with similar, deeply moving, afterwords listing folks who were murdered in Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, and other death camps. If you enjoyed Venus, Vanishing, then these other two books will possibly appeal to you as well.

I received a review copy of this novel from a giveaway on LibraryThing.com.

[Jackie]

A sobering fictional historical perspective of a young woman leading up to Hitler’s atrocities. In 1928, Hannah Sherman leaves home to continue her passion for art even though she needs to work as a seamstress to live. Her mother was arranging marriage for her and it did not suit her zest and thirst for a different lifestyle.

Here in Berlin, the city life beckons her to engage in all sorts of pursuits…clubs, friends, lovers, and more importantly the immersion into the art form that she loves. A wealthy benefactor supports her while she creates portraits that are exceptional. The benefactor, however, has a devious plan to display her work which gives her no credit.

With good friend (and later husband), Saul they plot revenge which can only mean danger in a world controlled by Hitler and his henchmen. Increasingly dangerous, yet defying the odds, they take risks. Now, survival is not guaranteed. Choices must be made which will affect their lives.

Venus, Vanishing: A Novel is a heartbreaking truth about the evils of one man. Hannah is a composite of many female artists whose work was destroyed during a reign of terror. Admittedly, the story is slow to start, but once engaged it is a testament to strength, survival, and passion.

Includes Historical Notes, List of Artwork, and (forthcoming) Acknowledgements.

4 1/2 stars.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Henry Holt and Company, and Rebecca Burrell for this ARC

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well researched story, I am particularly interested in this part of history, not just jews artists but Nazi looted works of art, having seen Woman in Gold film 2015, read woman on fire Lsa Barr and who has not watched The Monument Men 2014 film.

Hannah and her family, shows 1930s with jewish artists, actors, and eminent accademia through to the fear of the Nazi regieme.

This story tells of jewish women creating art which was stolen from them and at times changed to suit the german nationalists objects - used as proganda for Nazi gain. Jewish artists murdered and then thier work attibuted to Germans ( some fictious)

We will never know just how much was destroyed, and if any did survive we will never know who the artist was as they went into collections hidden.

It is a a really sad part of history but also fascinating also as we have seen on BBC Fake or Fortune.

Well written, well researched and a really good read.

Sadly not due for publication until July 9th 2026.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher: This was a very good read, so compelling I didn’t plan on reading it so quickly.

Unlike my usual reads, the tone is heavy, it’s a sad book in a sad time.
I really loved how the rise of fascism starts in the background and becomes more present as the story goes on. The author does a great job projecting the timeless anxieties.

The biggest hurdle for me was the sometimes
dreamy writing style, sometimes things were clear and literal, and other times it was less narrative more ambiance.
Warning: not a romance and doesn’t abide by the traditional HEA rules. and i’m not just talking about the poly. I was definitely drawn in with the queer and non-monogamous relationship elements that add to the emotional depth.

I didn’t mind the time skips, and the ending wrapped up a bit quickly compared to everything that came before, purposely giving us the sense of loss for those characters.

Overall, this is a really good book, just not an easy one to call a favorite on my list because of how heavy it is.

[Isobel Macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐
The book starts in 1927 and follows the life of Hannah, a seamstress living in Berlin who leaves home because she does not want to marry. She pursues her talents as an artist and this leads to her life becoming entwined with three very important and interesting characters - Saul, Charlotte and Elke.
As the book progressed I felt myself becoming more and more worried as the political landscape changed heading into the late 1930s - Rebecca Birrell said in her historical note this is a novel 'primarily about Jewish life, not Jewish death' and I really felt that. From the vibrancy of Charlotte, Saul and Hannah's lives, the way their love of the arts shapes the way they live and love. Venus Vanishing really highlighted the best and worst of humanity creating a very interesting and engaging book that made me care about the characters. Birrell's writing is wonderful and I really would recommend Venus Vanishing to anyone looking for impactful historical fiction.

Many thanks to the publishers for providing me with an advanced reading copy!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt beautiful, heavy, atmospheric, and quietly heartbreaking all at the same time. Venus, Vanishing follows Hannah, a young Jewish artist in 1920s Berlin, as she navigates art, queerness, ambition, complicated relationships, and the growing danger surrounding her as Germany begins shifting toward fascism.

The atmosphere in this book was honestly my favorite part. The art scene, the emotional tension, the messy sapphic relationships, and the constant feeling of dread underneath everything was done SO well. You know historically where things are heading, and that heaviness never fully leaves the story.

Hannah was also exactly the kind of flawed emotionally messy character I tend to love. She’s vulnerable, ambitious, frustrated, and constantly trying to hold onto herself while everything around her slowly changes. Her relationship with Elke especially kept me fully invested because it had that intoxicating but unhealthy energy that feels impossible to look away from.

[abi slade · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

pros ✅
- some really beautiful prose
- a very interesting and emotional stimulus
- the volatile atmosphere of the final third made for (intentionally) unpleasant and fearful reading
- the various reveals, sneakiness and betrayal from elke to hannah did have me gobsmacked at multiple points
- i think if i had had the time & energy to properly focus on this, i would’ve enjoyed it more. not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination, just felt like a lot of effort

cons ❌
- at no point did i feel like i was into it. i never reached for it
- stodgy
- very obvious inspiration from ‘the safekeep’ and ‘the artist’
- extremely slow pacing, only felt like action kicked off in the final third. as a result, feel like the book could’ve been significantly shorter. because of how slow the book was, the expected emotional impact never properly landed

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the time period and setting of this book in the 20s and 30s. Hannah is a relatable character for me because she doesn’t follow the tradition of how a woman should live her life. I was excited at how she claimed her independence and went out into the world. The art galleries and clubs were interesting and I felt like I time traveled and was there myself. Of course Hannah’s love and appreciation of women is very admirable but nothing can go smoothly for her because of the times back then. With themes of empowerment, forbidden love, and great female characters I truly enjoyed getting lost in this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing to me that this is a debut novel by this author. Will have to keep an eye out for her future work. It's a brutal story, but so beautifully told. The author has the heart of a poet. I became so connected to these characters and felt I knew them.

I've read many books about the theft of art from Jewish owners by Nazis but this is the first time I've read of how the Nazi took art from women Jewish artists, changed the name of the artist to a German name, re-painted portions to use as Nazi propaganda. This is a fascinating telling of this historical time and so very heart wrenching. These characters will live in my heart for a long time.

Most highly recommended.

I won this book on LibraryThing. Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC.

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having just finished Venus, Vanishing and having read the Author’s Notes about wanting to write about what it was like to be Jewish in early 1930’s Berlin, I don’t feel that the book has enough tension and angst.

It’s an interesting book, dealing with a couple of interesting characters and several that are minor but frequent. I thought character development was mostly too light. I almost gave up around the halfway point but I am glad I stuck with it as the final part was well thought out and well delivered.

The Author’s Notes and historical information are well worth reading.
With thanks to the Publisher, the Author and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read and review.

[Gergely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Venus, Vanishing for its exploration of art through Hannah, a Jewish female artist working in 1930s Berlin whose work is stolen, reshaped, and absorbed into Nazi propaganda. Rebecca Birrell writes thoughtfully about art, ownership, and the way history distorts women’s work, and those ideas stayed with me long after finishing the book. At times, though, the novel felt repetitive and somewhat aimless, circling the same themes without enough narrative momentum. Even so, its central questions about memory, art, and appropriation made it a compelling read.

[B.J. Sikes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Netgalley.

I was very interested in the setup for this story: a Jewish queer artist in 1930s Berlin. While the historical research was obviously strong, the actual book was not written as well as I was hoping for. The first half was slow and aimless. It read like Violette Leduc fanfic, all vague yearning and sordid details. The story picked up but the MC was just not likeable so it was hard to care about her.

[Venneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An art museum curator spins a hell of a toxic lesbians story about a young female Jewish painter in Berlin in the 40s, the rich official's wife she falls into a toxic relationship with as she does a nude commission for her, and how her art is then used and warped by the Nazis. It's a hell of a dark story, but our main does manage to survive, even though she has to go to some very dark places, given the location and timeframe. Gorgeous read.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow. not usually big on historical fiction, however this was a marked exception. it's clear that a lot of research went into this, and it paid off. incredibly unique, gripping, and deeply emotional. really refreshing characters, and the exploration of their love lives was a high point. highly recommend.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Venus, Vanishing is a beautiful and bold story. It is unlike any WW2 book I have read.

Hannah is a suffering and needs to change to grow. As she does her story unfolds in new layers, we see different facets of life. Through art, self exploration and courage we watch this plot unfold.

Germany’s changing, she must find what helps her thrive.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can I say? Objectively this was a good book, just maybe not the book I needed to read right now.

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 - this was very impressive, if you like The Artist, make this your next read.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway. I will read and review at a different time.

[Sarah Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

To follow