Release of the landmark book: The Forgotten Hostages by Linda Bastide
An untold story of American and British civilian prisoners in France during the Occupation

Paris, January 28, 2025 – French author and poet Linda Bastide, laureate of the "Académie Française", uncovers a poignant and little-known chapter of history in her book The Forgotten Hostages (Les Otages Oubliés in French), published by Rencontre des Auteurs Francophones Editions.
This biographical work, based on true events, sheds light on the plight of American and British civilians, the majority of whom were Jewish, imprisoned in France during World War II.

A forgotten story brought back to life
During the Occupation, these men, women, and children were interned in French camps, often for years, to eventually be used as bargaining chips in prisoner exchanges with the Germans. Linda Bastide uncovered this deeply personal and universal story in a bag filled with documents preserved by her mother-in-law.
These archives, entrusted to her with the instruction, “Do not open until after my death,” revealed the story of her husband Bernard, who survived these harrowing trials as a young child.

A unique documentary book
The result of two years of research and writing, The Forgotten Hostages draws on hundreds of authentic documents, most of which have been entrusted to the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris to ensure the preservation of this memory for future generations. With a cinematic approach and a captivating narrative, Linda Bastide recounts with precision and emotion the lives shattered by war.

A work beyond history
The Forgotten Hostages serves as a tribute to the forgotten victims of the war and as a bridge between historical memory and contemporary literature.
Prefaced by Jean-Noël Cordier, the book is a must-read for understanding this overlooked aspect of World War II.

Book Details
• Title: The Forgotten Hostages (Les Otages Oubliés)
• Author: Linda Bastide
• Publisher: Editions Rencontre des Auteurs Francophones
• Available Languages: English and French
• Length: 400 pages, enriched with 150 photos and archival documents
• Genre: Historical Biographical Novel

Availability
The book is available worldwide via the Rencontre des Auteurs Francophones online bookstore:
https://www.rencontredesauteursfrancophones.com/product-page/the-forgotten-hostages-imprisoned-american-and-british-civilians-in-france

For more information or to arrange an interview with Linda Bastide, please contact our press team at: [email protected]