The Watchmaker’s Daughter
by Larry Loftis
The Hiding Place, the original popular story of Corrie ten Boom, written with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, was released in 1971 and made into a movie in 1975. Corrie, skilled in watch repairs, and the rest of the ten Boom family saved many Dutch—both Jews and non-Jews—from being sent to prison, concentration camps, and labor camps by German Nazis in World War II.
Although The Hiding Place was a landmark book in telling the story of this remarkable Christian lady, Larry Loftis has gone even further in writing The Watchmaker’s Daughter. His research into the background of the World War II setting of the book sets the reader up to better understand the times culturally and politically and the invasion of Holland. His research includes examining photos and original small books by Corrie ten Boom along with memorabilia that are archived in the Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton College. Corrie ten Boom did not keep a diary, but Loftis sought out many other primary sources including journals and letters from survivors who had been hidden in the ten Boom home.
Corrie and her older sister Betsie were interned in Ravensbrück Concentration Camp for their crimes of hiding Jews. There these Christian sisters had a ministry within the barracks, holding secret Bible studies and encouraging the other women to hold strong despite the horrible conditions and continuous threat of execution. Upon release, Corrie began a ministry of traveling internationally with a message of forgiveness and established 3 different centers, one in a transformed concentration camp, to meet the physical and emotional needs of survivors. Betsie had a vision of the centers while they were still in the camp at a time when the fulfillment of her vision seemed impossible. Corrie’s story is an amazing one showcasing the love of God and the power of forgiveness.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Biography, Nonfiction, Christian, History
Notes: Even if you think you know the story of Corrie ten Boom, I encourage you to read this book. Corrie’s story is unforgettable, and her courageous life of dependence on God extended way past the events in Ravensbrück. Loftis’ research and writing along with Corrie’s life and faith make this book remarkable.
Publication: 2023—HarperCollins
Memorable Lines:
This was the hardest part—the hatred. Over ensuing days Corrie tried to be nice to the woman, but to no avail. “She seemed to be entirely devoid of human feeling,” Corrie recalled, “and altogether hard, hostile, and wicked…Why should they always snap and snarl at us? I always greeted them with a pleasant ‘Good morning,’ but everything seemed to glance off their impenetrable armor of hate.”
“My sister died here,” she told Tiny. “She suffered so much. I, too, have suffered. But Jesus is always with us. He did a miracle in taking away all my hatred and bitterness for my enemies.”
For more than fifty years the Beje had been her own hiding place, her refuge. But Ravensbrück had taught her that this magnificent home—with all of its memories—was but a shadow; her true hiding place was Christ.
education pathways 
It does sound like an amazing and important book. I went through a phase when I was an avid World War II reader, and read all the historical fiction I could find about that era. Thanks for the review Linda~
Jenna
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There is a lot of WWII historical fiction already published and writers keep creating more. I like to insert them among the less serious books.
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It’s like God put the sisters there to make things better for others. I love this story, thank you Linda!
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I didn’t have a sister, but I love watching the close bond my granddaughters have with each other.
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Corrie ten Boom was an amazing Christian lady and this sounds like a wonderful account of her life. I do have a bit of a problem with titles that relegate amazing women to being someone’s wife or daughter. Surely what they have done allows them to stand on their own and not as merely an appendage to some man. Great review.
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Interesting comment. I hadn’t looked at it from that perspective. In this case it may actually be appropriate because one of the themes is this father’s impact on the spiritual lives of his children and how that had been passed down for several generations. Their relationship with God, of course, gave them the heart to stand up for Jesus and for the people the Nazis were persecuting. It was not just Betsy and Corrie in the family who showed courage in caring for others. The father, Opa, was also arrested. He was an old man and was given the opportunity to say he wouldn’t engage in hiding Jews again to obtain release. Instead he said the he would again welcome anyone in need into his home. He was sent to a concentration camp and died about a week later.
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I agree, it is probably appropriate here, just a bit of a bugaboo with me. 😊
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I’ve always loved history, and books like this sound like they’d be right up my alley! I’ve been doing some thinking over the last little bit as I have some down time listening to the air duct cleaners in the next room over. I want to get back into reading and I always loved historical books. Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll be stopping by my library to grab a copy!
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I’m glad the review inspired you to move back to reading. We all have seasons with more time and inclination, but reading has been my comfort zone over the years.
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The Hiding Place is one of those books that I have recommended often. Interesting that my minister referenced the sisters in one of her sermons last month and I was able to recommend it to some people who hadn’t read it. I am not interested in this one to learn more about her. Great review, Linda.
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Thanks, Carla. I think you would enjoy this since you enjoy delving into the history of some of the books you read. This book references The Hiding Place, but goes so much further into her story. Of course, neither is fiction.
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