Whoever saves a soul, saves the world
“…a tale of the twentieth century that celebrates human resilience…” — Daniel Libeskind, architect; Founder Studio Daniel Libeskind
About the Book
A Parisian Count, a Moroccan arms smuggler, and an orphaned Spanish boy test the convictions and tug at the heart of Rifka Berg, a young Jewish corsetiere from Warsaw. The Corset Maker follows Rifka’s enthralling life leading up to, during, and after WWII.
Born into a pious Orthodox family, Rifka yearns to read forbidden literature and to explore the world beyond the confines of her small community. Her wishes come true, albeit harrowingly, when the tumultuous events of the 20th century take her on a journey for survival. Faced with life and death situations, Rifka must take immense risks. What decisions will she make? Or will circumstances choose for her?
The Corset Maker is written in honor of the author’s mother and her close friends, all women of immense courage and integrity. Rifka’s personal struggles and dilemmas go to the heart of the major ethical issues and challenges of our times.
Launched on 8 March 2022 – International Women’s Day
Interview with Annette Libeskind on blogtalk radio 13 March 2022
The Jewish Insider recommended books for March 2022
Podcast with Bob Cudmore on The Historians\
Maureen Langan Interview/podcast: Hangin’ With Langan
Yiddish Book Center, MA interview (audio file)
Book Q & A’s with Deborah Kalb
A timeless hero's journey. I loved following Rifka's story, and was touched that this book is inspired by the author's mother who was equally courageous in her own life.
– Jenn Vance
A beautifully written novel that showcases the resilience of the human spirit. Although this is historical fiction, this important story definitely has a resonance that still holds true today. A must read!
– Jackie
This novel was so special and moving! I really connected with Rifka and Bronka from the beginning of the story, and I loved that their friendship was a such cornerstone in the book. Even after the two women grew apart, they still shared a unique bond.
– Ellen Witfield
Very thought provoking! This is a page-turner that will also leave you pondering over philosophical questions, like: is it possible to fully hold onto your values and convictions during wartime? Well done!
– Marissa DeCuir
What a special read - I love that history behind this story, and how fitting to publish this in Women's History Month. I received an advance copy of this, and I'm so glad I did!
"The world has a lot to offer those willing to climb over mountains." This is just one of the gems that are spread throughout this tale. I really love how this story was written - the prose flows well, and you can feel the emotions throughout. I just want to say I really enjoyed this read, and hope you do too. If you enjoy history and especially strong women, I would definitely recommend this.
– Samantha
I sure hope all my female friends had a wonderful day celebrating their dignity and splendor on International Women's Day! What a joy to be a woman!
Also, what a perfect day to introduce this novel about an incredibly strong woman to the world! Annette Libeskind Berkovitz shares her character, Rifka, who is loosely based on her own mother, in this new historical fiction novel. I'm now really curious which parts were actually true!
This storyline is a well-thought-out and does give readers an idea of the tumultuous situation in many areas of Europe prior to, and during, WWII.
I appreciated learning more about the Spanish Civil War and how it overlapped with Hitler's regime. I didn't realize Franco was such a supporter of the Axis Powers. The author also motivated me to further research the Jewish-Arab conflict in Palestine.
TBH, though, I struggled a bit with this method of storytelling. I felt as though it was a very ambitious story that could have been pared down just a smidge. I also found it difficult to accept that both Rifka and Golda ended up in so many serendipitous situations, and some of the dialogue seemed somewhat contrived.
Those minor details aside, as a first novel, this is an impressive piece of work, and kudos to Ms. Libeskind Berkovitz for shedding so much light on historical events.
Many thanks to Iulia, @amsterdam_publishers for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
Also, just as an aside, her brother, world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, designed the cover of her book!
– Nel from mammasgottaread
his book follows the life of the main character, Rifka, throughout and after WWII. I really enjoyed the various settings and seeing the difference between life in different countries. I also liked how all the characters are complicated and change and mature over time. Despite all the heartbreak from the war, there is still a thread of perseverance and hope throughout the story. I particularly appreciated that this book was inspired by the author's mother.
– Kayla Tornello
This was an exciting read, especially if you like history! There's so many parts of WW2 that you can write about and Annette does such a great job weaving together multiple important conflicts of the 20th century into one story, and it works really well.
– Simone
Annette Libeskind Berkovits creates a vivid look into the life of Rifka, our main character, as she learns who she is in a world that is working against her in terms of both her gender and her religion. Rifka's journey to find her identity (an identity that actually changes for her own protection more than once), is compelling, and the struggles she faces feel very raw and authentic. There were moments that struck me deeply, and parts of the story that I am still dwelling on. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical fiction set during WWII that does not necessarily dwell solely on the war, but rather the people and their experiences.
– Miranda S. on NetGalley
First of all, I appreciate that this work of fiction was a passion project for the author. She shares in her Author’s Note that she has never written fiction, but has previously published several works of nonfiction. The author says this story is loosely based on the bits and pieces of real life events that her deceased mother reluctantly shared before her passing in 1980. So, I commend Annette Libeskind Berkovitz for stepping out into the unfamiliar terrain of historical fiction to preserve her mother’s legacy for future generations of their family. The story, the setting, and the general plot were intriguing to me because I have a soft spot for historical fiction novels set in WWII era Poland..
– Kansas C reviewer on NetGalley
Rifka Berg grew up in Warsaw, Poland in the 1920's. In her Orthodox Jewish home Rifka notices that women do not have as many opportunities as men and are only expected to get married and have children. Rifka breaks free from this mold and opens a corset shop with her best friend, Bronka. While difficult in the beginning, the two women succeed in business with their talent and charisma. However, with Hitler's rise to power and the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, danger is lurking. Rifka becomes worried about her sister Golda in Palestine and decides to travel to find her. In order to travel safely to Palestine, Rifka assumes a new name and becomes Raquela Bluestone. Upon entering Palestine, Rifka becomes entangled in the Jewish-Arab conflict and becomes part of events that will change her for a lifetime. After Palestine, Rifka cannot imagine going home and decides to travel to Spain. When arriving in Spain she becomes embroiled in the Spanish Civil War and watches over the orphans from the war. During Rifka's time in the orphanage, she becomes attached to orphan Manuel and takes him with her when she escapes to France. In France Rifka and Manuel face Nazi occupation, but with their skills, they join the French Resistance. Rifka once again changes her name, now Simone Bonheur, she is able to help others escape to freedom.
The Corset Maker is an epic story of bravery, survival and resistance. Loosely based on the author's mother, I can only imagine that she was an absolutely tremendous woman. Rifka's character captured me from the very beginning as she defended a neighbor. I was constantly amazed by her ability to question what was happening around her, stand up for what is right, and make choices for herself. While not all of her choices were for the best, she stood by her decisions and carried on. Through Rifka we are able to see the effects of three wars as well as the people who gave everything to fight in them. Rifka's story spans a long amount of time and while I was absorbed in the details of each period of her life, I wanted to know more about her feelings and connections during some of the more tense moments when we just got a play-by-play. Some of the time hops also took me by surprise as well as the switch in perspective between Rifka and Bronka. Bronka's story seemed to just be there to tie up loose ends instead of contributing to the story. I do wish there had been a fuller arc for her. As Rifka's journey landed in France, the suspense heightened with her involvement in the Resistance. I would have loved to have more details of her involvement with removing children from danger. Overall, a factual-based story of hope, resilience and adapting while keeping true to yourself.
– Stephanie H on NetGalley
In The Corset Maker readers meet compelling, realistic characters and follow a courageous protagonist as she matures in world torn by violence.
– Jo Schaffel, author, Somewhere Besides Denver; Tillson, New York
The Corset Maker is a tale of the twentieth century that celebrates human resilience. It is an enchanting, resonant novel inspired by the life of Dora Libeskind and seen through the eyes of Rifka. Berkovits weaves a story of a quintessential rebel in times of global crisis and war. Threads of Nazism, Anti-Semitism, and sexism make for a compelling, fast-paced narrative that sees a young heroine navigate the world in search of her destiny.
– Daniel Libeskind, architect; Founder Studio Daniel Libeskind; Author of a dozen books including Breaking Ground and Edge of Order; Berlin and New York
Annette Libeskind Berkovits has made central moments of twentieth century history come alive. An Orthodox Jewish girl rebels against her family and becomes an entrepreneur only to face anti-Semitism. She travels to Palestine and Spain and France, each time to survive more violence. Love and violence are at the core of this extraordinary novel. Berkovits fills history with romance.
– John J. Clayton, award-winning author of literary fiction and short story collections. His stories have won prizes in O. Henry Prize Stories, Best American Short Stories, and the Pushcart Prize anthology. Clayton's novels include Kuperman's Fire, What Are Friends For, and Mitzvah Man; Leverett, MA
“The Corset Maker” begins in the fall of 1930. Nationalism is surfacing as Europe teeters. In Warsaw Poland 12-year-old Rifka Berg asks her beloved Ultra-Orthodox father why girls don’t have bar mitzvas. His answer brings about an epiphany that changes the course of her life. Thus begins Rifka’s life’s journey: continents will be crossed, wars will be won, and others lost, there will be love and there will be unspeakable genocide. Even Rifka’s name and identity must change for her to survive, but Rifka’s search for the truth of experience, for the very meaning of life and her place in it will never wane.
Timely and more relevant to today than is comfortable. This is the journey of the hero in the truest sense of Joseph Campbell.
– Jim Cooper, advertising photographer and author, Funeral in Montauk; Mosfellsbær, Iceland
"The Corset Maker” is a compelling story of girlhood, war, survival - and against all odds, a story of finding out who you truly are. It is a beautifully written journey that weaves together the personal and the historical. I was gripped by this unique and courageous protagonist - and found myself alongside her throughout the book. It is without a doubt one of the most fascinating and meaningful books I have read.
– Rachel Arnow, visual and performance artist, author of Kinder Kalender, All the World From A-Z, and The Wild West; Berlin, Germany
This sweep of twentieth century European history seen through the eyes of a young Orthodox Jewish woman is a truly gripping read.
– Joanna Orwin, award-winning author with a strong focus on New Zealand and Maori history. Her latest novel is Shifting Currents, Christchurch, New Zealand
A vivid narrative that poses an urgent and universal question: how to survive as a woman while balancing personal responsibility, solidarity, and pacifist ideals. Readers first meet The Corset Maker as she rebels against her Orthodox Jewish upbringing in inter-war Warsaw, striking out for independence with her friend to open a corsetiere’s shop. The departure of her elder sister to join Jewish settlers in Palestine and the arrival of Nazism in Poland combine to send her on an odyssey through Israel and Europe during the cataclysms of the mid 20th century. As she encounters danger and suffering and the anguish of an impossible love she is plunged into political and personal conflict. She is constantly forced by circumstances to question and challenge her own deeply held principles, yet her resilience and commitment to the welfare of others continually shine through the darkest moments.
– Maybelle Wallis, physician and author, Heart of Cruelty; Wexford, Ireland
In “The Corsetmaker,” Annette Libeskind Berkovits gives us a fascinating novel, spanning decades of the history of Europe – from Poland to Spain and France – and Palestine, where the future State of Israel is being born. Through a unique friendship between two women, the author explores profound themes such as feminism and pacifism, while placing those ideas against the stark reality of 20th-century history: the Civil War in Spain or the rise of fascism and antisemitism. The story, set against the ever-present historical and political backdrop, can be read on many levels: the reader is drawn into the rich, powerful, and thoughtful narrative.
– Philip Jolly, journalist; London, United Kingdom
Rifka Berg, an intrepid, passionate woman, the protagonist of “The Corset Maker,” must reconcile her pacifism with the violence engulfing the world. To protect loved ones and emerge intact after WWII, she will have to rely on her wits and skill with a needle. Readers will be beguiled by her story.
– Sheila Grinell, author of Appetite and The Contract; Phoenix, Arizona
How does a woman live three different lives in four different countries without ever forgetting her roots? Discover how in this thrilling, action-packed, emotionally resonant novel, full of intense twists and turns.
The rise of antisemitism in Warsaw before WWII will propel Rifka to Paris, Palestine, Spain during the civil war and to the Argèles-sur-Mer concentration camp in southern France. Caught in the whirlwind of history Rifka will always act courageously, adhering to her convictions, and never denying her Jewishness. A truly exciting read taking place during a dramatic period of history that must not be forgotten.
– Jacques Cousin; Vence, France
In “The Corsetmaker” readers meet compelling, realistic characters and follow a courageous protagonist as she matures in world torn by violence.
– Jo Schaffel, author, Somewhere Besides Denver; Tillson, New York
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