THE new book from Doug Gold…
The dressmaker & the hidden soldier
‘The Dressmaker & The Hidden Soldier’ is based on a true love story of a young dressmaker whose curiosity leads to the discovery of an escapee solider, a New Zealand prisoner of war.
On sale September 5th
Set in Nazi occupied Greece, ‘The Dressmaker & The Hidden Soldier’ is based on an epic love story set against a backdrop of betrayal, torture, retribution and the harsh oppression of Hitler’s brutal regime.
Peter, the soldier, falls for the young dressmaker – and she for him – but neither will reveal their true feelings because both are certain nothing can come of it.
After the war, with Thalia committed to her childhood sweetheart and Peter almost 12,000 miles away in New Zealand, what hope is there for any future together? Was this destined to become yet another story of unfulfilled wartime love?
WATCH THE TRAILER
CHARACTERS
Peter Blunden is a New Zealand soldier who fought in the ill-fated Battle of Crete, was captured and sent to a holding camp in Thessaloniki. With his friend, Patrick Minogue, he escapes by jumping from a speeding train on the way to his permanent POW camp.
At Patrick’s insistence, they head back to Thessaloniki where Patrick has a resistance contact who will hide them for a few days.
Thalia Christidou is a beautiful young dressmaker – an apprentice - who is hired by a Mrs Tasoula Paschilidou. Unbeknownst to her, Mrs Tasoula is a resistance fighter who provides safe refuge to escaping Allied soldiers. Her curiosity leads to the chance discovery of Peter Blunden and Patrick Minogue.
As Peter and Thalia grow closer, Thalia is confused by her feelings for Peter.
Mrs Tasoula advises her to forget the New Zealand soldier, warning her that wartime romances seldom endure and that nothing will ever come of it.
Tasoula Paschilidou is a Greek resistance heroine who, along with her son Thanasis, harbours Allied soldiers on the run. She hides both Peter and Patrick for what they think will be a few days but turns out to be ten months.
She is aware that the Nazis are closing in on her and, two days after Peter escapes, she is arrested, tortured and sentenced to death. Thanasis is also arrested and sentenced to five years of hard labour.
Patrick Minogue
Patrick (Paddy) is an Australian soldier who befriends Peter at the holding camp for Allied POWs in Thessaloniki.
Quite reckless and full of bravado, he escapes by strolling through the main prison gates unchallenged. He is hidden by Tasoula but finds that the Greek escape network has been compromised – infiltrated by the Gestapo - and he is recaptured.
He and Peter hatch a plan to escape by jumping from the train taking them to their permanent POW camp. Patrick insists that they return to Thessaloniki to warn Tasoula and her resistance colleagues that the Nazis are now in control of the escape route.
Other Characters
Other characters include John Haycroft, another Australian soldier with whom Peter finally escapes from Greece; Uncle Giorgos, Tasoula’s boisterous and ebullient brother-in-law; Peter’s brother, Arnold; and Mac West, Peter’s friend and confidant.
READ THE FIRST CHAPTER
Gallery
Praise For ‘The Note Through The Wire’
“…unforgettable…can’t RECOMMEND it ENOUGH”
Heather Morris, The tattooist of auschwitz
“Gold Sets a brisk pace and vividly describes the landscape of war-torn Europe. This WWII love story enthralls”
Publishers Weekly USA
“The book is sensational – an absolute page turnER”.
- The Australian women’s weekly
“Well-researched and pieced together, the book will appeal to fans of wartime love stories and resistance tales in general… A memorable and uplifting work”.
Kirkus
“This real-life love story is worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.”
- Brisbane Courier Mail
“The story is gripping and, ultimately, uplifting…”
- Sunday star times
“As World War II non-fiction novels go, it’s as gripping as it gets…The book is full of brave deeds, betrayals, suspenseful near misses and horrendous atrocities…”
- north and south magazine