Look After Her

by Hannah Brown

Fiction. Jewish Studies. Women's Studies. Finalist, 2019 INDIES Book of the Year Awards (General Fiction). Upon the death of their art-loving parents, two young Jewish adolescents are kidnapped by a family friend and taken to a brothel. There they are held captive by their shared shame and by the younger sister's forced addiction to morphine. Love and psychodrama gives them the courage to finally escape Vienna. Once in England, however, Hedy discovers her younger sister Susannah longs to be independent--and in Italy. But in 1938, despite the safety they each have found among the privileged, they return to Vienna just before Hitler arrives, putting their own lives and those of two children in danger. With the background of anti-Semitism and exploitation--of sex, love, art, and dramatic ruses--all during the terrifying rise of fascism in Austria and Italy, LOOK AFTER HER reveals this no matter how close we are to another human being, even a beloved sister, that's what we close. We all have our own secrets to keep.

Genres: Fiction

448 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2019

Reviews

[Carole Giangrande · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkable first novel, a compelling, and thought-provoking work of historical fiction. Prior to the First World War, two young Austrian-Jewish girls from a prosperous Viennese home suffer the loss of their parents, are kidnapped and taken to a brothel, and eventually escape into separate fates — ultimately, to confront together the chaos of the oncoming Nazi horror. Brown's background as a screen-writer shows in the pacing, crisp dialogue and cinematic vividness of every scene. Her scrupulous research is impressive and vast - so smoothly integrated into the story that it never gets in the way, giving the novel an impressive panoramic sweep. For me, the beginning of this book was full of foreboding, as if the salon-istas in the parents' home had to be using art and privilege to ignore a foul society that forced children into the sex trade. By instinct, I didn't like this artsy crowd, and I found myself asking if the decadence of their society made it easy for the Nazis to pretend to something better. I found that idea very troubling in that it speaks to our moment, also. It's quite an achievement for any novel - let alone a first one - to prod reflection in this way. Don't miss this page-turner. It's a super read.

[Alison Gadsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main characters, Hedy and Susannah are left to fend for themselves after the death of their parents in pre-war Vienna. They are immediately exploited by a so-called friend of the family and have no way of escaping forced sex work.
These girls, women, are strong, intelligent and unique. I loved spending time with them. Look After Her in an historical novel with current themes that you might think would be to deep to read in one sitting (well, I mean a few days...it's a big book), but the humour, real-life characters and the beautiful relationship between the sisters will keep you engaged from start to finish.

[Hannah Brown]

Look After Her by Hannah Brown is an amazing page turner, with a very sympathetic view of two sisters kidnapped in their early teens into a brothel. Their relationship is complicated as are the relationships they have with men, with insight and humour. The story reflects the tumult and danger in Europe between the first and second world wars, including the rise of fascism and anti-Semitism.

[Uwais Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast, compelling read

[Mel Pablos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful