The Hiding Place [Mass Market Paperback]

Corrie Ten Boom (Author), John Sherrill (Contributor), Elizabeth Sherrill (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: October 1, 1984 | ISBN-10: 0553256696 | ISBN-13: 978-0553256697 | Edition: Reprint

“I pray that God forgive them...”

Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner. “Oh, the poor woman,” Corrie cried. “Yes. May God forgive her,” Betsie replied. And, once again, Corrie realized that it was for the souls of the brutal Nazi guards that her sister prayed.

Both woman had been sent to the camp for helping the Jews. Christ’s Spirit and words were their guide; it was His persecuted people they tried to save—at the risk of their own lives; it was His strength that sustained them through times of profound horror.

Here is a book aglow with the glory of God and the courage of a quiet Christian spinster whose life was transformed by it. A story of Christ’s message and the courage woman who listened and lived to pass it along—with joy and triumph!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Nadia May does great credit to the writers of this true story....Her emotional control makes the tension and horror of the family s plight more real and hideous....The listener is left with a story of extraordinary humanity, goodness and overwhelming love. --AudioFile

Reader May has the right tone and accent to convey Corrie s middle-aged presentation. The soul searching and questioning that Corrie expresses comes out clearly through the reader. --Kliatt

A story of hope and faith. Its conversational style makes it especially effective in audio. -- Indianapolis Star. Narrator Nadia May provides an authentic and engaging vocal presentation of this fine work. -- Library Journal. --. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner."Oh, the poor woman," Corrie cried."Yes. May God forgive her," Betsie replied. And, once again, Corrie realized that it was for the souls of the brutal Nazi guards that her sister prayed.

Here is a book aglow with the glory of God and the courage of a quiet Christian spinster whose life was transformed by it. A story of Christ's message and the courageous woman who listened and lived to pass it along -- with joy and triumph!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Books; Reprint edition (October 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553256696
• ISBN-13: 978-0553256697
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (646 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > History > Europe > Netherlands
  • #21 in Books > History > Europe > Germany
  • #42 in Books > History > World > Jewish > Holocaust

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

220 of 223 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLY MOVING SAGA OF HEROIC DUTCH FAMILY DURING WW II September 5, 2001

By Lawyeraau HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is an absolutely extraordinary book. Never have I read a book in which the spiritual beauty of the author so resonated throughout the story. The purity of heart that manifests itself in this inspiring saga of a heroic, Dutch family in Nazi occupied Holland during World War II is stunningly beautiful.

This is the true story of the Ten Boom family who, during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, upon seeing what was happening to their Jewish neighbors and friends, asked themselves this age old question "If not us,...who; if not now,...when?" They answered it, ultimately at great cost.

The Ten Booms were devoutly Christian and lived a simple life. The patriarch of the family ran a watch shop that had been in his family for a century. Some of the family members, the author among them, worked there, selling and repairing clocks and watches. They also lived in the house in which the shop was located.

When the Nazis occupied their country, the reality of what it meant slowly dawned upon them, as they saw the treatment given to their fellow Dutch citizens of the Jewish faith. Moved by their plight, the author at the age of fifty, together with other members of her family, including their father who was nearly eighty, became active in the Dutch underground.

When it became clear to the Ten Booms that Jews were being targeted for deportation and death, they had a false wall constructed in the author's bedroom, thereby creating a secret room. There, they would hide the terrified Jews who were staying with them, in the event of a Nazi raid upon their home.

Eventually denounced by someone to the Nazis, the Ten Booms were arrested and their home raided and torn apart by the Gestapo, in their search for the Jews they believed to be hiding there.... At the time of the raid, the Ten Boom home was filled to capacity with Jews in hiding. So well concealed was the hidden room that had been created by the erection of the false wall, that these poor, terrified Jews managed to escape detection.

The Ten Boom family did not fare so well. It was upon their arrest that they learned first hand of man's inhumanity to man, and their faith was put to a test that they had never dreamt possible. It was faith, however, that sustained the author in what was to be her darkest hour of deepest despair. To find out what happened to the Ten Booms, read this book. It is the story of an incredible family, who had the courage to put their convictions to the test.

This book is a masterpiece. The reader is sure to be captivated by the goodness and spiritual beauty contained within its pages. Read more ›

97 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ****** 6 STARS, PLEASE! April 8, 2007

By Lynette A. Alexander

Format:Paperback

This book stands so far above the pack that five stars is not a high enough rating.

Of all the books I've ever read, this is the one that has remained in my mind and my heart for many years. Corrie Ten Boom is a real life super-hero. This unforgettable lady survived the horrors of life in a concentration camp and went on to write a book that has reached out and touched hearts and souls around the world. I do not know or care if this book is "well written" because it is what she has to tell you that matters. You will weep as you read this book, you will look at your world with new eyes and you just may find the light of your faith rekindled. If you want a book that touches your very soul and just may change your life, read this one.

90 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Inspiring Story Of A Real Family April 14, 2001

By Judith Miller VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've been aware of this book for a number of years, and finally read it when my friend Ann said I was missing a great story. Now, after reading it, I'm encouraging everyone to do the same.

The story begins in 1937 when a Dutch family is preparing for the 100th birthday of the family shop, Ten Boom: Watches. Flowers are being delivered and friends are calling to help celebrate the day. The conversation centers around Germany and the Jews who are coming to Holland for asylum. The Ten Boom's and their guests could not have foreseen what was to come. Their world had changed.

This is the autobiographical story of Corrie Ten Boom and how she and her family worked for the Dutch underground movement during World War II. The family were Christians and took a very strong stand against the Nazi persecution of the Jews. Corrie's father, a kindly, religious man, summed up his thoughts on the Nazis by saying, "I pity them Corrie. They have touched the apple of God's eye."

Corrie and her sister, Betsie were two ladies aged 45 and 52 years of age, respectively. They are the unlikely heroines of this story. Never married and rather innocent of the world, they proved the old saying that "you can't tell a book by its cover." Both sisters risked everything they had including their lives to save people they didn't even know.

In today's world of "me first", it's so encouraging to read a story of a family that truly lived their faith and practiced the Golden Rule.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Hiding Place September 27, 2004

By E. Dian Moore

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The ultimate "Hiding Place" is within God. Such a short and simple statement, that holds great power. This simple fact was divinely revealed during the Holocaust for Corrie Ten Boom and her family, and in this book, HIDING PLACE, she shares what happened.

Corrie, a native of Holland in her early 50's, became involved in the underground movement to hide Jews and others persecuted by the Germans. Holland was invaded by the Germans which made it very difficult to hide the refugees, as well as hide Corrie's role in their protection. While hiding several refugees in a false room in her bedroom, Corrie and her sister Betsy, as well as their aged father are taken prisoner by the Germans.

Corrie is ill, while Betsy has suffered from an ailment since childhood and has always been frail. They are separated and do not see each other for quite some time.

While being moved to another prison, the sisters are reunited and Betsy, by example only, helps Corrie cement her faith in God as well as learn to rely on him and trust solely in him.

Again and again, Corrie is able to hide her small bible that a kindly nurse was able to slip to her. She hid it through numerous, supervised showers and naked inspections. God's Hiding Place was in action.

Fleas that disgusted the guards became another thing to thank God for, as they created a "Hiding Place" for Corrie and Betsy as they revealed God's word to other captives and were able to give new life and hope in God.

The sisters endure many humiliations and hardships that no human being should ever have to even dream about. Throughout all, their faith in God is strengthened and the book gives example after example of how this faith is met by God....

I wept while reading this book, and I was ashamed that I complain about small things: Whether or not my neck hurts today, or I'm put out because my favorite TV show isn't on. I fear that I would have died a very bitter person if I were in that circumstance. If I am faced with tribulation, I hope that I would not, but that I would instead remember and be inspired by Corrie's story.

Recommended

Yes

Pros

Honestly and humbly, reveals God's power in the worst of circumstances.

Cons

None

The Bottom Line

Get this book and read it. Buy multiple copies and give them to everyone. We should all be so humble and take refuge in the Hiding Place. Read more ›