“There are two kinds of people in this world: those who can’t live without a garden, and those who have no idea what they’re missing.”
— Caroline Ferriday reflects on the importance of her garden at The Birches.
Archivist's Choice
Lilac Girls
Martha Hall Kelly (2016)
Genre
Historical Fiction
Reading Time
10-12 hours
Key Themes
See below
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Three women—a New York socialite, a Polish resistance courier, and a German doctor—find their lives connected by the horrors of Ravensbrück and the fight for justice after WWII.
Synopsis
The novel follows the lives of three women during and after World War II: Caroline Ferriday, a New York socialite; Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager turned resistance courier; and Herta Oberheuser, a German doctor. As war begins, Caroline helps French orphans and later Ravensbrück survivors. Kasia's youth ends when she and her family are arrested for resistance work and sent to Ravensbrück, where they endure horrors, including medical experiments by Herta. Herta, seeking a career, becomes a willing participant in camp atrocities.
After the war, Caroline learns about the 'Rabbits'–Polish prisoners who had experimental surgery at Ravensbrück–and works to bring them to America for treatment and justice. Kasia, traumatized, struggles to heal while wanting revenge. Their paths meet as Caroline champions the Rabbits' cause, leading to a confrontation with Herta during the Ravensbrück trials. The novel explores resilience, the search for justice, and the lasting effects of war. It ends with the Rabbits' journey to America and the connection between Caroline and Kasia.
Reading time
10-12 hours
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Somber, Inspiring, Resilient, Historical
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy meticulously researched historical fiction about World War II, focusing on the experiences of women and the fight for justice post-war.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer lighter reads or are sensitive to graphic descriptions of concentration camp atrocities and medical experimentation.
Plot Summary
Caroline Ferriday's Pre-War Life
In 1939, Caroline Ferriday is a busy New York socialite and former Broadway actress, working at the French consulate. She is committed to supporting France, organizing relief, and raising funds. Her personal life includes a complicated relationship with Paul Rodierre, a married French diplomat. Caroline's world is one of privilege and purpose, but she is aware of the growing Nazi threat. She reads newspaper reports about the invasion of Poland and the worsening situation in Europe, feeling a strong desire to help those affected by the coming conflict.
Kasia Kuzmerick's Entry into the Resistance
In Lublin, Poland, sixteen-year-old Kasia Kuzmerick lives with her mother, father, and younger sister, Zuzanna. As German occupation tightens, Kasia and her boyfriend, Pietr, join the Polish underground resistance. Kasia, initially naive, quickly learns the realities of covert operations, acting as a courier, delivering messages and supplies. Her commitment to the resistance is driven by a desire to protect her family and country, even as risks increase and Lublin becomes more oppressive under Nazi rule.
Herta Oberheuser's Medical Ambition
Herta Oberheuser is a young, ambitious doctor in Germany, struggling to establish herself in a male-dominated field. She feels overlooked. When she sees an advertisement for a government medical position, she applies, hoping for a career opportunity. She is hired at the Ravensbrück concentration camp, a camp for women. Initially, Herta believes this position will allow her to practice medicine and gain recognition, but she soon discovers the horrific nature of her duties, which involve cruel medical experiments on prisoners.
The Arrest and Journey to Ravensbrück
One day, while Kasia is delivering a resistance message, she is intercepted by the Gestapo. In a raid, Kasia, her younger sister Zuzanna, and their mother, Helena, are arrested from their home in Lublin. Their father is also taken, to a different camp. The three women endure a terrifying train journey to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp in Germany. The experience is traumatic, marking the end of their civilian lives and the beginning of suffering and dehumanization within the camp's walls.
Life and Survival in Ravensbrück
Inside Ravensbrück, Kasia and Zuzanna, along with their mother, face daily atrocities. They endure brutal labor, starvation, and constant fear. Kasia, known as a 'rabbit' (lapin) by the Germans, becomes one of the Polish prisoners on whom Herta Oberheuser performs horrific medical experiments, specifically bone and muscle regeneration surgeries. Kasia sees many fellow prisoners die, including her mother, and struggles to protect Zuzanna. The bonds formed with other prisoners, such as the French resistance fighter Genevieve, become important for their survival.
Herta's Complicity and Experiments
Herta Oberheuser's role at Ravensbrück changes from hopeful doctor to willing participant in Nazi atrocities. Under Dr. Gebhardt's command, she performs cruel and often fatal experiments on the Polish 'rabbits.' These experiments involve infecting wounds, breaking bones, and testing new drugs, causing immense pain and permanent disability. Herta justifies her actions as scientific duty and a way to advance her career, suppressing any lingering conscience. She becomes desensitized to the suffering she inflicts, solidifying her involvement in war crimes.
Caroline's Wartime Efforts and Concern
As the war continues, Caroline Ferriday works tirelessly for French relief, now helping refugees and concentration camp survivors. She becomes concerned about the fate of women prisoners, especially after learning about Ravensbrück. Through her network, Caroline gathers information about the camp and the experiments. She feels a strong moral duty to help these victims, foreshadowing her future dedication to seeking justice for them.
Liberation and Post-War Trauma
As the war ends, Kasia and Zuzanna, severely emaciated and traumatized, are part of a death march before being liberated by Allied forces. They return to a devastated Lublin, finding their home destroyed and their father gone. The sisters, especially Kasia, bear deep physical and psychological scars from the experiments and the camp's brutality. Kasia struggles with survivor's guilt, nightmares, and an inability to reconnect with her former life and loved ones, including Pietr, due to her changed self and the horrors she endured.
Caroline's Fight for the Rabbits
After the war, Caroline Ferriday learns more about the Ravensbrück experiments and the surviving 'rabbits.' Appalled, she dedicates herself to bringing these women to the United States for medical treatment and rehabilitation. She faces bureaucratic hurdles and public indifference but relentlessly fundraises, lobbies, and organizes the complex logistics. Caroline's determination is driven by empathy and a desire to provide these women with the dignity and care they deserve, ensuring their stories are heard.
The Ravensbrück Trials and Herta's Fate
Herta Oberheuser is arrested and tried for war crimes at Ravensbrück. During the trials, several of the 'rabbits,' including Kasia, testify against her, recounting the experiments. Kasia's testimony is a powerful moment, forcing Herta to face her victims. Herta claims innocence, saying she was following orders, but the evidence leads to her conviction and imprisonment. This trial is a partial victory for justice, though the scars for the survivors remain.
The Rabbits Arrive in America
Through Caroline's efforts, a group of Polish 'rabbits,' including Kasia and Zuzanna, arrive in the United States for medical treatment at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. This journey is a step towards their recovery. Caroline meets them, offering comfort and support. The women receive surgeries for their injuries and begin to process their trauma in a supportive environment, marking a new chapter of healing and hope, made possible by Caroline's compassion.
Caroline and Kasia's Enduring Connection
Caroline Ferriday and Kasia Kuzmerick develop a lasting connection. Caroline continues to advocate for the 'rabbits' and remains a presence in Kasia's life. Kasia, despite her trauma, finds a path towards healing and purpose, becoming a symbol of resilience. Their relationship goes beyond initial benefactor-victim roles, becoming a friendship built on respect. Caroline ensures the stories of the Ravensbrück survivors are not forgotten, and Kasia finds a voice and a champion in Caroline, solidifying their shared legacy of courage and compassion.
Principal Figures
Caroline Ferriday
The Protagonist
Caroline evolves from a socialite focused on French cultural preservation to a tireless advocate for concentration camp survivors, finding her true purpose in humanitarian work.
Kasia Kuzmerick
The Protagonist
Kasia transforms from an innocent, spirited teenager into a deeply traumatized but resilient survivor who ultimately finds her voice and purpose in bearing witness.
Herta Oberheuser
The Antagonist
Herta descends from an ambitious but morally ambiguous doctor to a culpable war criminal, refusing to acknowledge the full extent of her monstrous actions.
Zuzanna Kuzmerick
The Supporting
Zuzanna matures from a frightened young girl into a resilient survivor, finding her own strength while remaining connected to her sister.
Paul Rodierre
The Supporting
Paul remains largely static, serving as a catalyst for Caroline's emotional growth and her realization of her own worth beyond romantic entanglements.
Helena Kuzmerick
The Supporting
Helena's arc is cut short by her death in Ravensbrück, but her memory serves as a lasting source of strength and motivation for her daughters.
Genevieve de Galard-Terraube
The Supporting
Genevieve remains a steadfast symbol of resistance and solidarity, offering hope and friendship to Kasia throughout their imprisonment.
Dr. Gebhardt
The Mentioned
Dr. Gebhardt remains a static, villainous figure, embodying the institutionalized cruelty of the Nazi regime.
Themes & Insights
The Resilience of the Human Spirit
This theme is shown by Kasia and the other Ravensbrück 'rabbits.' Despite torture, starvation, and abuse, they find ways to survive, protect each other, and maintain hope. Kasia's determination to save Zuzanna, their shared acts of defiance, and their will to testify and rebuild their lives show an extraordinary capacity for endurance. Even after liberation, their struggle to heal and find purpose shows the strength of the human spirit in overcoming trauma, as seen when Kasia begins to speak about her experiences.
““They thought they could break us. They thought they could break our spirits. But they didn’t. We lived.””
The Banality of Evil
The novel explores how ordinary people can become perpetrators of horrific acts, most notably through Herta Oberheuser. Herta is not a simple villain but an ambitious doctor seeking career advancement, who gradually compromises her ethics. Her justification of her actions as 'following orders' or 'scientific duty' shows how pressure and a desire for personal gain can lead to participation in atrocities without acknowledging the full moral weight. This is clear in her detached descriptions of the experiments and her inability to empathize with her victims, even during her trial.
““I was a doctor. I was doing my job.””
The Power of Compassion and Advocacy
Caroline Ferriday shows the power of compassion and advocacy. Her dedication to the 'rabbits' of Ravensbrück, from securing their passage to the U.S. for medical treatment to ensuring their stories were heard, is a central force for good. Her actions demonstrate how one person's empathy and determination can make a difference in many lives, offering hope and justice to those who had been forgotten. Her fight against indifference shows the importance of actively supporting the vulnerable.
““We can’t forget them. We must not.””
Memory and Bearing Witness
The novel emphasizes the importance of remembering historical atrocities and giving voice to survivors. Both Kasia's struggle to tell her experiences and Caroline's mission to publish the 'rabbits'' stories highlight the weight and necessity of bearing witness. The survivors' testimonies at Herta's trial, and later their willingness to share their stories with Caroline, are acts of courage that ensure the horrors of Ravensbrück are not forgotten. This theme underscores the need to learn from the past and honor those who suffered.
““Tell them what happened. Tell them everything.””
The Long Shadow of Trauma
The novel shows the lasting psychological and physical impact of trauma on survivors like Kasia. Her struggles with PTSD, survivor's guilt, nightmares, and her inability to connect with her former life and loved ones illustrate that liberation does not mean immediate freedom from suffering. The physical scars from the experiments are a constant reminder of her past, and her emotional wounds run even deeper. The slow, difficult process of healing, often needing support and a safe environment, is a central part of Kasia's post-war journey, showing that trauma's effects can last a lifetime.
““The camp was gone, but it was still inside her.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Multiple Perspectives
The story is told through the alternating viewpoints of three women from different backgrounds.
The novel uses a rotating third-person limited perspective, following Caroline Ferriday (American socialite), Kasia Kuzmerick (Polish prisoner), and Herta Oberheuser (German doctor). This device allows the reader to experience the war from vastly different angles: the humanitarian effort, the victim's suffering, and the perpetrator's complicity. It builds dramatic irony as characters are unaware of each other's fates and motivations, and creates a comprehensive, multifaceted understanding of the war's impact across continents and social strata, ultimately converging their stories for a powerful narrative climax.
Historical Interweaving
Fictional characters and events are woven into a meticulously researched historical backdrop.
The book skillfully blends fictional characters and their personal narratives with real historical events, figures, and facts from World War II. Caroline Ferriday was a real person, and the 'rabbits' of Ravensbrück, along with the medical experiments, are well-documented historical facts. This device lends authenticity and gravitas to the story, making the fictional elements feel more immediate and impactful. It grounds the emotional journeys of the characters in the brutal realities of the period, educating the reader while engaging them in a compelling narrative.
Symbolism of the 'Rabbits'
The term 'rabbits' symbolizes the dehumanization and vulnerability of the Ravensbrück prisoners.
The term 'rabbits' (Lapins) given to the Polish women subjected to medical experiments at Ravensbrück is a potent symbol. It highlights their complete dehumanization by the Nazis, reducing them to mere test subjects, devoid of individual identity or humanity, much like laboratory animals. This symbolism underscores their extreme vulnerability and the cruelty inflicted upon them. Conversely, their survival and eventual fight for justice transform the 'rabbits' into symbols of resilience and the enduring human spirit, reclaiming their dignity from a term of degradation.
Parallel Journeys
The independent lives of the three protagonists run parallel before converging and intertwining.
The novel initially presents three distinct, unconnected narratives: Caroline in New York, Kasia in Poland, and Herta in Germany. These parallel journeys gradually draw closer as the war progresses, eventually converging at Ravensbrück and then intertwining in the post-war pursuit of justice. This structure effectively builds tension and anticipation, allowing the reader to understand the individual contexts and motivations of each woman before their lives dramatically intersect, amplifying the emotional impact of their eventual confrontations and collaborations.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Some things, once you've seen them, you can never unsee.”
— Herta Oberheuser's internal thoughts on the atrocities she witnesses and participates in at Ravensbrück.
“Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman in a camp. But it’s also the only thing that keeps you alive.”
— Kasia Kuzmerick's reflection on the contradictory nature of hope in Ravensbrück.
“The world was a different place for the people who had been touched by war.”
— Caroline considers the lasting impact of World War II on individuals.
“You can’t just stand by and watch terrible things happen. Not when you have the power to do something.”
— Caroline's motivation to help the Ravensbrück survivors.
“Every single one of us has a story. And every single story matters.”
— A general theme reflecting the book's focus on individual narratives.
“Evil is not born, it is made. And sometimes, it is made by good people who do nothing.”
— A thought that could be attributed to the broader moral questions raised by Herta's character arc.
“There's a difference between being a victim and being a survivor.”
— Kasia's journey from being a prisoner to actively seeking justice and healing.
“History is not just dates and names. It's people. And what happened to them.”
— The author's approach to historical fiction, bringing personal stories to life.
“Some wounds never heal, but you learn to live with the scars.”
— Kasia's long-term struggle and eventual acceptance of her past.
“The smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference.”
— Instances of prisoners helping each other in the camp, or Caroline's initial efforts.
“Justice isn't always fair, but it's always worth fighting for.”
— The 'Lapin' girls' pursuit of compensation and recognition.
“You can never truly understand someone until you walk a mile in their shoes.”
— A general sentiment that underpins the multi-perspective narrative.
“The past is never truly past. It lives within us, shaping who we are.”
— The enduring effects of the war and the camp on all the main characters.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
The three protagonists are Caroline Ferriday, a New York socialite working at the French consulate; Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager involved in the underground resistance; and Herta Oberheuser, a young German doctor seeking career advancement. Their lives are initially disparate, set across different countries and social strata, before the war intertwines their fates.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
