The remarkable debut novel from acclaimed prize-winning short fiction writer Michelle Wright, author of Fine.
May, 1940: After a bitter tragedy, young Australian woman Lucie and her French mother Yvonne are forced to leave home and seek help from the only family they have left-Lucie's uncle, Gerard.
As the Second World War engulfs Europe, the two women find themselves trapped in German-occupied Paris, sharing a cramped apartment with the authoritarian Gerard and his extremist views.
Drawing upon her artistic talents, Lucie risks her own safety to engage in small acts of defiance against the occupying forces and the collaborationist French regime, where the authorities reward French citizens for denouncing so-called 'traitors' in their community.
Faced with the escalating brutality of anti-Jewish measures, and the indifference of so many of her fellow Parisians, Lucie must decide how far she will go to defend the rights of others.
About the Author
Michelle Wright is an award-winning writer who brings to life a remarkable range of characters, winning many awards, including The Age short story competition. Her collection of short stories, Fine, was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript and published in 2016.
Industry Reviews
'A beautifully intimate portrait that celebrates the courage and resilience of the human spirit.' Jane Harper, author of The Survivors
'Historical fiction of the highest order ... An engrossing, deeply-satisfying read, one of the year's outstanding, not-to-be missed debuts. ' Melissa Ashley, author of The Birdman's Wife
'A powerful and elegantly wrought story of women's resistance. This is required reading for our times.' Myfanwy Jones, author of Leap
'. . . a gripping, meticulously researched novel, and a nuanced, poetic and deeply serious exploration of the difference that individual choices can make in a society crumbling physically and morally. Wright recreates occupied Paris with immediacy and with melancholy tenderness . . . This is a book to savour and treasure.' Lee Kofman, author of Imperfect
'Small Acts of Defiance is a deeply moving evocation of war-torn 1940's Paris. It's a brave, beautifully written novel about what it means to be human in the face of brutality, and why it matters. Put simply, it's magnificent.' Laurie Steed, author of You Belong Here
'Michelle Wright has deftly combined a sweeping history of a city under occupation with the tiniest details of family life and the tenderness of friendship. Small Acts of Defiance asks questions from the last century that we're having to ask all over again: When is it no longer possible to look away? Is it right to risk the safety of loved ones, the prospect of a secure life, in the interests of the greater good? The skill of Wright's storytelling is in the empathy it demands of the reader. What would I have done here? And here? This is not just a recounting of well-known history, but an escalating series of moral challenges built around impressive research.' Jock Serong, author of The Burning Island
