The Cut Out Girl cover art

The Cut Out Girl

A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found: Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award

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The Cut Out Girl

By: Bart van Es
Narrated by: Bart van Es
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*** WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018 ***

WINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE 2018

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Cut Out Girl written and read by Bart van Es.

'A masterpiece of history and memoir' Evening Standard

'Superb. This is a necessary book - painful, harrowing, tragic, but also uplifting' The Times

Little Lien wasn't taken from her Jewish parents - she was given away in the hope that she might be saved. Hidden and raised by a foster family in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation, she survived the war only to find that her real parents had not. Much later, she fell out with her foster family, and Bart van Es - the grandson of Lien's foster parents - knew he needed to find out why.

His account of tracing Lien and telling her story is a searing exploration of two lives and two families. It is a story about love and misunderstanding and about the ways that our most painful experiences - so crucial in defining us - can also be redefined.

'Luminous, elegant, haunting - I read it straight through' Philippe Sands, author of East West Street

'Deeply moving. Writes with an almost Sebaldian simplicity and understatement' Guardian

'Remarkable, deeply moving' Penelope Lively

 20th Century Judaism Military Modern War Western Europe Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Fostering Holocaust
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Critic reviews

Astonishing. Van Es has created a masterpiece of history and memoir, concluding on a note of reconciliation, hope and great love
An extraordinary, harrowing story of loss, survival and love
Deeply moving, this is a remarkable memoir
Powerful . . . extraordinary
Brought to life with family photographs and diary entries that add further impact to Lien's harrowing memories and testimony - this deeply affecting and fascinating story is guaranteed to haunt you
Remarkable - the story of one traumatic childhood, deeply moving, and told with great dexterity, allowing the wisdoms of today to run parallel with the absorbing narrative of wartime events
Compassionate and thoughtfully rendered, the book is both a memorable portrait of a remarkable woman and a testament to the healing power of understanding. A complex and uplifting tale
A nuanced, moving, and unusual "hidden child" account
Superb. This is a necessary book - painful, harrowing, tragic, but also uplifting
Fascinating, beautifully written. Van Es carefully salvages Lien's story and creates a deeply moving and complex book about war, atrocity and human suffering
All stars
Most relevant
Historical human story highlighting the best and worst of humanity. Growing up myself in the Hague born from parents who were teenagers during the war it really resonated with me.

The pace of the book was just right and being dyslexic the audible version of the book was perfect for me.

Highly recommended.

Fantastic human story

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I struggled to get started with this book. Time is what I didn’t have. I preferred to sit and watch my favourite tv shows as a way to unwind. I needed to get this book finished so we could meet up and discuss. I am so glad I decided to join audible as I’ve. Not put it down it’s only take. 3 days (not full day of course) to get it started and finished.
What a powerful read. Tears were always in my eyes when listening which was embarrassing as i was doing so whilst at my clients house cleaning!!!
It was brought to life even more so by listening rather than me reading it!

I’m ever hopeful it will become a film?!

Congratulations for a superb read and enlightening me to the horrors of that time. X

This was a book my friend chose for us to read in our Book Club

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Loved this book! Such a rich history that though an uncomfortable experience, needs to be told! Narrator made it for me! Such a deep warmth helped me connect with this as if I was holding a book.

A true story that will never leave me.

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This author has done the world some service.
A wonderful exploration of family, humanity and relationships. As fine a book as I have read.

Glorious

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At first there is a thought that it is a straight forward historical investigation, but soon turns into something much richer and more layered. Simply, it gets better and better and better, and makes you think about your own family and forbears.

It keeps giving and giving

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