The Paris Dancer

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner, read by Amy Noble.

'A sumptuous and gripping read... [Nicola] writes with humour, heart and humanity' - Kate Thompson

***

A heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of courage, friendship and resistance, inspired by the incredible true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during WWII, perfect for fans of The Paris Library.

Paris, 1938. Annie Mayer arrives in France with dreams of becoming a ballerina. But when the war reaches Paris, she's forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Then a fellow dancer offers her a lifeline: a ballroom partnership that gives her a new identity. Together, Annie and her partner captivate audiences across occupied Europe, using her newfound fame and alias to aid the Resistance.

New York, 2012. Miriam, haunted by her past, travels from London to New York to settle her great-aunt Esther’s estate. Among Esther’s belongings, she discovers notebooks detailing a secret family history and the story of a brave dancer who risked everything to help Jewish families during the war.

As Miriam uncovers Esther’s life in Europe, she realises the story has been left for her to finish. Grappling with loss and the possibility of new love, Miriam must find the strength to reconcile her past and embrace her future.

***
'Impressive and vibrant' - Independent

'Immaculately researched and exquisitely written... historical fiction at its best' - Louise Fein

'Beautifully written, these characters just turn the pages themselves. It's so easy to fall into the worlds that Nicola Rayner has cleverly created. A real treat.' - Mandy Robotham

Critics Review

You’ll be swept away by the story of Annie, Esther and Miriam in a rich, moving and beautifully written piece of historical fiction
The Guardian (fiction to look out for in 2025)
Impressive and vibrant
The Independent
A beautifully written, heart wrenching read which had me hooked from the very first line
S. E. Lynes, author of Amazon #1 best seller, The Housewarming
I drank in this beautiful novel in just a few sittings, always having to read just one more, then another, and another, chapter. Nicola writes with such compassion and depth of feeling, it is impossible not to be moved by her evocative writing. Not only is this story an exploration of pain and grief, hope and forgiveness, but it is also a celebration of the power of dance, the importance of self-expression and finding love for oneself, as well as for others. Immaculately researched and exquisitely written, this is truly historical fiction at its best
Louise Fein
The Paris Dancer is a beautiful story, exploring love and friendship, grief and fortitude and the healing power of dance. Inspired by a true story set in World War II, Nicola Rayner weaves a heartbreaking tale through wonderfully drawn characters and evocative prose. I was gripped from the moment I started reading
Jenny Quintana
A jewel of a novel, based on the true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer hiding in plain sight in Paris in WWII. Rayner explores the complexities of love, friendship, family and quiet heroism, with grace and compassion. I absolutely devoured it!
Louisa Treger, the author of The Paris Muse
What a sumptuous and gripping read! I absolutely loved it. Nicola is such a gifted writer, exploring the dark and complex issues of persecution, grief, memory and trauma, with such a deft and assured hand. She writes with humour, heart and humanity. I’ll definitely be reading whatever she writes in the future!
Kate Thompson
A love story about the sustaining force of female relationships in their many forms, crossing generations and continents. Nicola Rayner takes a true story and brings it to life with vivid authenticity. It's a story that wears its research like a spritz of French perfume - enticing a reader to lean in, but never overpowering. Beautiful, powerful, heartbreaking but ultimately full of hope.
Claire McGlasson, author of 'The Misadventures of Margaret Finch'
This gorgeous book swept me up in melodies of wartime France and modern-day New York. A story that will break your heart but send it soaring too.
Cass Green, Sunday Times bestselling author
Beautifully written, these characters just turn the pages themselves. It's so easy to fall into the worlds that Nicola Rayner has cleverly created. A real treat.
Mandy Robotham
From the very first page I was immediately immersed in the world of The Paris Dancer. Nicola Rayner writes with searing vividness and honesty, describing the lives of those in war-torn Paris and modern-day New York with such an accuracy and ease that you feel you’re standing next to the characters. I haven’t enjoyed a book so much in ages. Inspired by the true tale of a dancer who used her fame to work for the Resistance, The Paris Dancer is about friendship, loss, love and self-expression. A stunning story beautifully told. The very best of historical fiction.
Eleni Kyriacou, author of The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou
It was wonderfully atmospheric, alive, and tender. Against the backdrop of such painful history, it also felt like a very finely calibrated exploration of deeply intimate love and grief. Immaculate research shone through its elegant, beautifully crafted lines
Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton, winner of the Costa First Novel Award 2019, streaming on ITVX and Britbox
A hopeful tale of resilience, courage and family from the author of The Girl Before You
My Weekly magazine
This is such an emotionally charged read... I was in bits reading it
Bishop's Stortford Independent
This beautifully written tale, based on a true story, will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Gilbert, as it brings the worlds of dance and wartime France alike vividly to life.
The Observer
Captures the magic of dance...It is a sweeping historical novel about the healing power of art, and the courage and vulnerability it takes to step beyond grief
Historical Novel Review
A beautifully emotional and compelling novel which was inspired by the true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during the Second World War
LoveReading
Nicola writes so naturally and movingly about dance (not for nothing was she deputy editor of Dancing Times for many years) that you feel as if you are watching it – no matter whether you know a thing about ballroom or not.
The Guide

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