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The Paris Dancer

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The Paris Dancer

By: Nicola Rayner
Narrated by: Amy Noble
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner, read by Amy Noble.

'A sumptuous and gripping read... [Nicola] writes with humour, heart and humanity' - Kate Thompson

***

A heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of courage, friendship and resistance, inspired by the incredible true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during WWII, perfect for fans of The Paris Library.

Paris, 1938. Annie Mayer arrives in France with dreams of becoming a ballerina. But when the war reaches Paris, she's forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Then a fellow dancer offers her a lifeline: a ballroom partnership that gives her a new identity. Together, Annie and her partner captivate audiences across occupied Europe, using her newfound fame and alias to aid the Resistance.

New York, 2012. Miriam, haunted by her past, travels from London to New York to settle her great-aunt Esther’s estate. Among Esther’s belongings, she discovers notebooks detailing a secret family history and the story of a brave dancer who risked everything to help Jewish families during the war.

As Miriam uncovers Esther’s life in Europe, she realises the story has been left for her to finish. Grappling with loss and the possibility of new love, Miriam must find the strength to reconcile her past and embrace her future.

***
'Impressive and vibrant' - Independent

'Immaculately researched and exquisitely written... historical fiction at its best' - Louise Fein

'Beautifully written, these characters just turn the pages themselves. It's so easy to fall into the worlds that Nicola Rayner has cleverly created. A real treat.' - Mandy Robotham©2025 Nicola Rayner (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 20th Century Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Heartfelt War New York

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All stars
Most relevant
This book kept me interested for hours. The subject matter was absorbing and well told.

It was really interesting to hear the author’s summing up at the end and where she had sourced the ideas for the characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and completely recommend it.

Extremely well written

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I was hooked the minute this started, such a powerful story with so much packed in. Couldn't put it down and the story stayed with me a while after I finished it.

Captivating.

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The story changes between 2012 and war torn France in WWII. A journalist is left her great aunt's diaries from her experiences in Paris in and around the lives of people who danced the Can Can. Learning of her family's loss and trials during this period leads the journalist to confront her own losses.

This is a beautifully written story, with an excellent performance seamlessly switching between the narratives. It's also well researched, giving a sometimes harrowing and sometimes uplifting account of life in Paris during the time of the occupation as well as freaking with grief and acceptance in the modern age.

With such a heavy subject matter, it is still feels like an uplifting read, with humour and genuine emotion showing through. Highly recommended.

A beautiful dual narrative of love, loss and forgiveness.

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I loved the connection through dance between the present and the past, and the description of the passion of various dances

The relationship between the two sisters

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