33 Place Brugmann

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An extraordinarily accomplished debut novel—a love story, mystery, and philosophical puzzle—unfolds through the unique voices of residents in a Beaux Arts apartment building in Belgium in 1939. As the specter of occupation looms over Brussels, life for the inhabitants of eight apartments at 33 Place Brugmann is about to change irrevocably. Art student Charlotte Sauvin, daughter of a prominent architect in apartment 4L, intimately knows the building and its residents, including her dear friend Julian Raphaël, the eldest son of an art collector's family in 4R. However, the familiar world of Charlotte and her neighbors begins to unravel as the reality of Nazi occupation sets in. The Raphaëls vanish, becoming refugees, nurses, soldiers, and reluctant heroes. Masha, the seamstress on the 5th floor, embarks on a perilous affair with a wartime companion of Colonel Warlemont in 3R, revealing depths of character far beyond appearances. In the face of this new, dangerous reality, each resident confronts their true selves. Faced with the choice to submit to the regime or resist at great personal risk, they discover what truly matters to them. This narrative is a deeply empathetic and hopeful exploration of love, courage, and the significance of art during times of crisis.