The Award, Danielle Steel
The Award, Danielle Steel
23 Rating(s)
List: $9.99 | Sale: $7.00
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The Award

Author: Danielle Steel

Narrator: Adam Verner

Abridged: 7 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/01/2016


Synopsis

Capturing historical events, terrifying moments of danger, tragedy, the price of war, and the invincible spirit of a woman of honor, The Award is a monumental tale from one of our most gifted storytellers—Danielle Steel’s finest, most emotionally resonant novel yet.Gaëlle de Barbet is sixteen years old in 1940 when the German army occupies France and frightening changes begin. She is shocked and powerless when French gendarmes take away her closest friend, Rebekah Feldmann, and her family, and send them to a detention camp for deportation to an unknown, ominous fate.The local German military commandant makes Gaëlle’s family estate outside Lyon into his headquarters. Her father and brother are killed by the Germans; her mother fades away into madness and ill health. Trusted friends and employees become traitors. And by accident, Gaëlle begins a perilous journey with the French Resistance, hoping to save lives to make up for the beloved friend she could do nothing to help.Taking terrifying risks, Gaëlle becomes a valuable member of the Resistance, fearlessly delivering Jewish children to safety underneath the eyes of the Gestapo and their French collaborators. Then she is suddenly approached by the German commandant with an astonishing and dangerous plan to save part of France’s artistic heritage as the Germans withdraw. And once again, her life is on the line. Conducted in secret, flawlessly carried out, her missions for the Resistance change her life and mark her for years. She is falsely accused of collaboration at the end of the war, and flees Lyon in disgrace, orphaned and alone. She goes to Paris to put the war behind her and begin a new life, with the ghosts of the past always close at hand.Gaëlle’s life will take her from Paris to New York, from a career as a Dior model to marriage and motherhood, unbearable loss, and mature, lasting love. She returns to Paris to run a small museum, honoring victims of the Holocaust. She has never sought recognition for her courage during the war years she can never forget. Her label as a collaborator remains, until her granddaughter, a respected political journalist, is determined that past wrongs finally be made right, and her grandmother’s brave acts be recognized. Now a grateful nation will finally acknowledge this remarkable woman. At last, she is absolved and honored as the war hero she was.

About Danielle Steel

Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel was born on August 14, 1947 in New York. Her father was a descendant of the Lowenbrau beer family and her mother was the daughter of a diplomat. She studied both literature and fashion design, first attending the Parsons School of Design and then New York University, graduating in 1967. Danielle Steel is currently the bestselling author alive today, and the fourth bestselling author of all time with over 650 million copies of her books sold. Steel has written 129 books, 93 of which were novels, primarily romance. Every one of her novels has achieved best seller status. She has been published in 69 countries and in 43 different languages. She has had 22 of her novels adapted for television movies and two of those received Golden Globe nominations. Danielle releases three new novels a year and works on multiple books at a time, often as many as five at once.

Steel has been married five times and although she is currently divorced, she is a strong believer in marriage and family. An only child, she discovered the joys of a big family as a child through one of her friends. She has nine children (seven biological and two stepsons that she has always considered her own) that are her greatest accomplishment. Her joy in life is her children and she speaks of them frequently on her website and her blog. Many of her books have been dedicated to one or more of her children. She was based in California for most of her career and now lives in both San Francisco and Paris.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jason on June 07, 2024

Actually 1.5 Stars - I rounded up out of the goodness of my heart. Here's how I feel about my first Danielle Steel experience... This novel is proof that a potentially great plot can be destroyed by poor writing. Sorry to all the Steel fans out there who've bought 750 million of these things, but my......more

Goodreads review by Louisa on November 28, 2016

I wrote earlier that I was finished with Danielle Steel, but when I saw this I convinced myself to read just one more book, much like agreeing to have lunch with an old friend with whom I no longer have much in common. The book started out promisingly as Gaelle suffered through World War II and beca......more

Goodreads review by Suzzie on November 20, 2019

Beautiful story and not sure why my mind kept wandering. This type of book would usually be a one sitting read, like most of Danielle Steel books are for me, but honestly it didn’t hold my attention completely. However it was a moving story worth reading. Really good meaning behind this story.......more

Goodreads review by Joyce on November 10, 2016

This was one of Danielle Steel's better books. A beautifully told story With heart, depth for humanity, love of family and others and humility in Caring and serving. Gaelle de Barbet was sixteen when this story began And ends when she is ninety-five and receiving a hero's reward for what She did during......more

Goodreads review by lacy on February 06, 2017

Another very good and well polished book by Danielle Steel. We follow the life of Gaelle, a French girl, living in Lyon when the Germans invaded. We follow her as she joins the Resistance, gets branded as a collaborator, becomes a model, falls in love, the journey through motherhood and so much more......more