The extraordinary story of Bep Voskuijl, Anne Frank's closest friend during the 761 days the Frank family spent in the Secret Annex. Bep was just twenty-three years old when the Franks went into hiding and risked her life to protect them, delving into the black market of Amsterdam under the eyes of German soldiers and Dutch spies to supply food and medicine. In these confined spaces, Bep's friendship with Anne blossomed. This edition reveals that while she shared meals with Anne, Bep's sister, Nelly – whose name was removed from Anne’s diary – was collaborating with the Nazis. The book, written by Bep's son, "The Last Secret of the Secret Annex" combines her story with that of Anne and Nelly, offering a unique perspective on the Secret Annex. We follow Bep after the war as she tries to build a life in the shadow of her past, unable to overcome the loss of Anne and the unsettling suspicion that she was betrayed by her own family.
With an emotional mother-son relationship at its core, the book explores how historical traumatic experiences are passed down from generation to generation and how sometimes keeping a secret hurts more than unveiling a shameful truth.
‘Gripping…’ according to the Daily Telegraph. ‘Devastating, riveting’ notes the Daily Mail. ‘Structured, personal, absorbing, and moving’ mentions Booklist. ‘Heartbreaking… damning. Must be read for their own stories, not for Anne Frank's extraordinary fame’ according to the TLS. Pages: 288, Publication Year: 0608, Dimensions: 15.3x15.3cm.
