Irene Nemirovsky´s Suite Francaise: Book Review

World War II was and still is the most deadly war of all time, leaving 60 million people dead and countless others injured. It involved several nations, but left an impression on almost all nations worldwide. One word that often resonates from the thought of World War II is “holocaust.” It is something that, to this day, is taught in schools and is an important, yet tragic part of history. There are multiple famous pieces of literature that capture just how horrendous this war was, and some of the most impactful pieces are the ones written at the time of the war from someone’s perspective. Readers are able to view Paris just as it was during World War II through Irene Nemirovsky’s Suite Francaise. This book depicts what life was like in France in the 1940s, and
The experience of evacuating the city was truly different for everyone, depending on what class they were in. It is evident that life was much easier for people of a higher tier than it was for people of a lower tier. Although nation-wide events occurred and had an influence on everyone, Suite Francaise reveals how life for those with money and power was much different than those who were not as fortunate. It is widely known that those with money and power are better off in life than those who are not. This higher “tier” of people have an advantage over others, even in times of crisis. In Suite Francaise, one character in particular, Madame Pericand represents the wealthier tier of Parisians. She is an extremely wealthy woman with a family who is beyond well off; they send their children to school, have two cars, and they have a working-class butler. When it comes time to evacuate when the German troops begin to invade France, Madame Pericand and her family are already prepared. Monsieur Pericand, her husband, exclaims,