The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy is a mesmerizing love story that is inspired by the Allach Porcelain factory, and the exquisite statuettes that were created there. Allach was acquired by Heinrich Himmler in 1936 and was located near the Dachau concentration camp.
Freethy expertly weaves two time periods together. Clara Vogel is 52 and is searching for her father’s identity. It is 1993 and she has traveled from London to a small auction house in Cincinnati to purchase several Allach figurines she believes could connect her to her father. Clara’s mother, Bettina Vogel, passed away without revealing her father’s identity. Clara discovers a photograph in Cincinnati that’s dated 1941. Bettina is featured with three men in the studio at Allach. Two of the men appear to be wearing concentration camp uniforms under their loose white work coats. This photograph is the fuel Clara needs to continue her search.
Max Ehrlich and Bettina Vogel meet in Germany in 1925 and are drawn together by an intense mutual attraction and their love of art. Max is a skilled architect. He is Jewish and has left behind his wealthy family in Vienna. Bettina is an avant-garde painter from a German farming family. Her family disapproves of Max, and they are not proud of Bettina’s paintings, even though her popularity as an artist is soaring. Max understands the risk of living in Germany and from 1932 on begs Bettina to leave with him. She repeatedly declines and in 1937 the couple must separate. Max is lucky to get a false identity and a menial job at the Allach Porcelain factory. Bettina will live with her family near Allach and continue seeing Max secretly.
Freethy’s characters are fascinating, and the dual plots move quickly. Max and Bettina’s plight remind the reader that life, like fine porcelain, is both beautiful and fragile.

It began at a quaint countryside auction house. Clara Vogel had been informed that the Viking figurine she’d been searching for, would be auctioned. Clara already owned a Viking statuette. But she had an alterior motive for acquiring another piece. Clara wanted to find the owner of the figurine in hopes that the person would help her find and identify her father — The Porcelain Maker of Dachau…

The Porcelain Maker is one of the best historical fiction novels that I’ve read this year. It’s up there in the top five for me. Hard to believe that this novel is the author’s debut. I could swear that author Freethy has been writing historical fiction since forever.

The story unfolds between two timelines — the 1940’s and the 1990’s. Of significance is that the 1940’s was a tumultuous period with the German occupation of Europe. It was a time of uncertainty especially for people of non-German ancestry. And Freethy’s writing captured the heartwrenching essence of the period.

Fast forward to the 1990’s. Freethy expertly engages the reader with Clara Vogel in her search for any and all clues that would lead to the discovery and identification of her father as well as learning of her artistic mother’s past. The reader is led through a series pictures, interviews, and flashbacks to gain knowledge of her mother’s as well as father’s history. It was suspenseful and full of plot twists.

The characters in the novel are fully developed and fleshed out. I really got a sense of the stature, personality as well as appearance. And with any fully developed character, there are those characters you’ll hate and those other characters that you’ll love. There was a good mix of both in the novel.

I can’t say enough good things about this novel. Only that if historical fiction is in your wheelhouse, The Porcelain Maker is a must read. Five outstanding stars.

I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

It's 1993 and Clara Vogel has traveled from England to attend a small auction in Cincinnati where she purchases what appears to be a collection of low-value porcelain figurines. But while the maker's mark of "SS'' reveals a provenance that is tragic, the items could lead Clara to uncover the identity of her father. The dual-timeline story switches to 1925, Weimar, Germany where the love story between Austrian Jewish architect Max Ehrlich and Christian German artist Bettina Vogel begins. As life in Germany becomes more oppressive and restrictive, Bettina and Max realize that their relationship has put them in danger. The couple relocates and Max, under a new identity, gets a job as a sculptor at the Allach Porcelain Factory, which is owned by the SS. A second factory is later opened at Dachau, where Max is eventually sent. Clara, aided by her daughter, starts to unravel the mystery of her father, whose identity had been hidden from her.

Author Sarah Freethy, in an impressive debut, has written a well-researched, interesting and moving story. Told through fictional characters, The Porcelain Maker is set in one of the most horrific death camps of WWII and the porcelain factory was an actual place. The story did a good job detailing the changing environment in Germany as the Nazi Party deemed all modern art, including those in the Bauhaus Movement, as degenerate forcing Bettina to change her art style. The love story and the sacrifices each made for the other tugged at my heart. There are so many WWII-era books to choose from and as someone who has read many of them, I found this to be a unique one. I was very touched.

4.25 stars.

While not quite what I was expecting, The Porcelain Maker is beautiful and sad. A wistful portrait of the cost of art in war, and what we do to protect even the chance of a future with those we love.
I’d known about some of the art that was produced in various camps in WWII, but I hadn’t been aware of the prevalence of porcelain as a collectible among the Axis powers, so that part was fascinating.
Overall I’d recommend this one to fans of historical fiction and others who are curious about the history of art produced in wartime.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own and a review was not required.

Bettina and Max are at the start of their careers. Max is an architect and Bettina is a painter. Their love is strong and powerful and it shows in their work. But, with the rise of Nazism, their lives are forever changed. Max is taken away to Dachau and Bettina is forced into a marriage to an SS officer.

I love the dual timelines. The author creates such a great family mystery. This story begins with Clara trying to find out who her real father is. Her mother has kept this a secret her whole life. Since her mother has died, Clara is left to try and put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The story flashes back and forth between Bettina’s struggle to escape the Nazis and save Max and Clara’s struggle to find the truth. And it all boils down to the unique porcelain figurines that Max created in Dachau’s porcelain factory.

The narrator, Kristin Atherton, is amazing. She hit all the right intonations and emotions. This book could not have been narrated any better.

Need a powerful tale which will have your emotions all over the place…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This story toggles between two timelines. In the 1990s, Clara is searching for the identity of her father, which was kept a secret from her. During World War II, Max and Bettina struggle to stay together as a family as Nazi Germany is on the rise. 

This book is beautifully written with rich details and a creative storyline. The author truly has a way with words.  It's also apparent it's well researched.  For me, though, it didn't hit the mark.  It was hard for me to connect with the characters or stay interested in the story.  It was something I struggled to pick up and finish.  I powered on to see if it would get better.  I think part of what was lost on me was that there was almost no point in telling the earlier storyline because you were able to figure out what happened already in the more present timeline pretty easily.  I also found the timeline with Clara a little more interesting.  I just could not get interested in Max and Bettina's love story.  It seemed more boring than epic. The author shows a lot of promise, and this is decent for a debut novel. If you're interested in a slower paced romance about World War II, then give this one a try.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Absorbing, sincere, and expressive!

The Porcelain Maker is a rich, engaging tale predominately set in Germany from the mid-1920s through WWII, as well as 1993, that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Bettina Vogel, a young woman who, through determination and resilience, uses her artistic talents to help the resistance and stay as close to the one she loves as she possibly can; and Clara Vogel, a middle-aged mother who, after her mother’s passing decides with the help of her daughter to embark on a journey to discover the true identity of her father who seems to have had a connection to the acclaimed porcelain maker of Dachau.

The prose is eloquent and well-turned. The characters are lonely, strong, and brave. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel seamlessly into a heartfelt saga of life, loss, secrets, surprises, separation, heartbreak, betrayal, desperation, tragedy, survival, danger, friendship, the horrors of war, and enduring love.

Overall, The Porcelain Maker is an evocative, sentimental, moving debut by Freethy with compelling characters that I devoured from start to finish and one which I highly recommend for anyone who loves a well-written WWII time-slip tale.

DNF This book was just not for me. I've read lots of books set during WWII , but this just made me feel uncomfortable even before the war or any of the concentration camp actually started. Again, I have read books that have a lot of sadness and details about the camps, so I do enjoy this era just not this book.

Sarah Freethy's beautifully written, powerful, and moving debut, THE PORCELAIN MAKER, is a heartbreaking story of love, loss, courage, betrayal, and art of two lovers caught at the crossroads of history. Meticulously researched and inspired by an actual porcelain factory in Dachau.

Germany, 1929 We meet two young artists, Max Ehrlich, a skilled Jewish architect from Austria, and Bettina Vogel, a celebrated avant-garde artist.

Their romance begins and leads them to Berlin. They are madly in love. They do not want to be apart when the threat of the Nazis is looming and the rise of Adolf Hitler.

Max is arrested and sent to a concentration camp at Dachau. While there, he uses his talent for making exquisite porcelain figures.

Desperate to save Max, Bettini risks it all to rescue him and escape Germany. All the while, his parents are still living in Vienna, not sure what to do. Both find themselves doing something they are not passionate about to survive. Germans disliked Bettina's unusual art. Max is doing what he can and hopes they can reunite.

America, 1993 (Dona, Cincinnati): A daughter's search for the truth in search of her father to unlock her past.

Clara Vogel-Erlich, Bettina's daughter, embarks on a journey to trace her roots and determine the identity of her father. Her mother has kept this from her, and she does not understand. After her mom passes, she is determined to find her father. She knows he made porcelain in a factory near Dachau. She must find The Viking.

The narrative consists of dual timelines from the two main characters' POVs, Bettina and Clara, starting in 1929 and ending in the summer of 1994, Munich (Epilogue).

The author transports us to the darkness of Nazi Germany as Clara digs further, questioning why her mother chose to leave the truth of her past behind.

THE PORCELAIN MAKER is a captivating story that spans decades from WWII to 21st-century America. The author seamlessly weaves two timelines for an unforgettable journey, uncovering acts of loss, love, courage, talent, and survival.

At the center of the novel is art— from secrets, loss, romance, and mystery. GRIPPING! A stunning debut for fans of historical fiction.

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook, narrated by Kristin Atherton, and her voice was utterly captivating!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advanced reading and listening copy.

Blog Review posted @
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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 7, 2023
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I honestly had a very hard time getting into this book. I usually love split fiction but was unable to follow this story line. I don’t know if it was me or the writing because this is my usual type of book. I finally finished it yesterday and I honestly don’t even remember the ending right now. I really struggled with this review. I wouldn’t be turned off from trying other books by this author but this book was a swing and a miss for me.

I saw it on a front display at barnes and noble yesterday so hopefully it will win for someone else.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I struggled with the book's writing style. I did not connect with the two lovers (Bettina, a modern German painter, and Max, an Austrian Jew studying architecture). Their romance felt forced. Their lives were overturned by the Nazi takeover of Germany. I thought their story would be more cohesive without the added search in the 1990s by their daughter's attempt to identify her father and his fate. I would have enjoyed it more if the characters of Bettina and Max had been given more depth and centred entirely on their struggles and their outcomes.

I found the art history very interesting, especially the Bauhaus movement for clean lines in architecture and design, and how modern emotionally influenced painting styles became labelled degenerative in favour of the romantic realism of the Nazis. The porcelain factory in Allach, Germany, later using slave labour from the Dachau concentration camp, was fascinating. The art and architecture, including the porcelain figurines, sent me searching for photos and more information on the internet. Himmler's obsession with Allach porcelain made the figurines desired by the Nazi regime, and they command very high prices today.

I thought the story worked very well when it focused on the art, and that part was of great interest to me. The evil and terror of the Nazi regime and how it destroyed or ended the lives of countless people,
I felt was better done in other non-fiction and historically-based fiction books I have read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC. The Porcelain Maker is due to be published on November 7.

This work of historical fiction uses alternating timelines to tell its story. The first begins in 1925 Germany from Berlin to Dachau, where two artists (Bettina and Max) fall in love and try to survive. Then 1993 and a daughter desperately seeking a father she never knew. Her only clues are to follow their artwork left behind.
An actual porcelain factory in Dachau is the setting where Jewish artists would churn out pieces of art favored by the Nazi command. As I knew little of this it put a different slant on the history.
This is an emotional debut novel where so many sacrifices were made for love. Yet art somehow shines a light through the horror. Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press.

I loved this! Sarah Freethy writes so beautifully it felt like I was reading an old black and white movie, which was so endearing and really put you in that time period with them. I stayed up way too late at the end, putting it down wasn’t an option. This is her first novel and I hope it’s not her last! Thank you to @stmartinspress, @sarah.freethy and @netgalley for my copy!

4 interesting history stars

Did you know there was a porcelain factory at Dachau? I had no idea, and I learned that porcelain figurines were highly coveted by the top Germans and bestowed as gifts. The factory capitalized on the labor of camp prisoners.

There are two timelines in this one. The earlier one features Bettina, a talented artist, and her love story with Max, a Jewish architect. The pair hopes that the political situation will resolve and that they can continue their art and romance. As you might predict, that was not meant to be, and Max is sent away, landing at Dachau and the porcelain factory.

Meanwhile, Bettina is forced to create art that is found “more pleasing” and does her part for the resistance. She plots to escape Germany with Max.

The other storyline is more contemporary as Bettina’s daughter searches for clues about her unknown father and tracks down rare porcelain. As she unravels the past, we get the truth about what happened all those years ago.

This is the debut novel from this author, and I look forward to more historical fiction from her.

A story of great love and strong family bonds. Clara goes on a journey after the death of her mother to discover who her father is. It is told from the the voice of several characters and spans different eras. The setting spans Nazi Germany, 90’s America and Europe. The story is emotionally charged as Clara discovers all the hidden reasons her mother never disclosed who her father was. It is a great book to curl up on the couch with.

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy is a romance set in the unsettled world of Germany/Austria in the 1930’s. Bettina Vogal is an aspiring artist. She is in love with Max Ehrlich, a Jewish architect. As Germany falls increasingly under the influence of Hitler, Bettina and Max make plans to leave for America. When Max is arrested, a pregnant Bettina must do what is necessary as she waits the birth of her daughter and for the return of Max. She must find a safe haven for her and Max’s child. Meanwhile in 1993, the discovery of a photograph taken in 1941 takes the reader on an adventure of discovery with Clara, Bettina’s daughter and granddaughter, Lotte. Together they struggle to discover what Bettina’s life was like during that perilous time, what happen to the people in the photograph, who is the owner of a porcelain figure called Viking and the identify of Clara’ father. An interesting read. I would recommend this book.

This beautifully written historical fiction is set during World War II and the implementation of Hitler’s Final Solution. Two young and highly talented artists, Bettina and Max, meet and begin a whirlwind romance which inadvertently takes them into the mouth of the lion, the city of Berlin.
Bettina is safe, but Max is Jewish and it doesn’t take long for him to be reported and sent to Dachau. The only surviving grace for Max is his extraordinary talent with designing porcelain. Because of this, he’s allowed to work in the shop and survive slightly better than the other inmates.
Bettina pretends to move on with her life, when in reality she is doing whatever it takes to bring herself closer to Max, including marrying a German officer.
We follow these two, each as much in love as the day they met, while they do whatever little is possible to be close and survive the terrors of war. Tense, sensitive, and full of highs and lows, their love story could easily have happened in reality.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is November 7, 2023.

The Porcelain Maker
By Sarah Freethy

This is a story of love – a love which began in the early days of the Nazi takeover in Germany and the holocaust. Max Erlich is an Austrian Jew studying architecture in Germany. Bettina Vogel is a painter of German extraction, from a family of Nazi sympathizers. In fact, her cruel and sadistic brother became a member of the SS.

Max and Bettina met in artistic circles and fell deeply in love. As conditions in Germany deteriorated, they planned to escape the country, but were thwarted by Bettina's brother. Max ended up in Dachau, leaving Bettina alone and pregnant. The couple lived through many ups and downs while the 3rd Reich continued to perpetrate atrocities.

But the second part of the story revolves around Max and Bettina's grown daughter, Clara, and her daughter, Lotte, and their search for answers – and the truth about what really happened in the end. Finally they are able to locate the one person who can set the record straight. What they learn will leave them with as many questions as answers.

This is a very moving tale about the horrors during World War II. It is worth a reader's time to gain some understanding of the things that went on.

I really enjoyed this dual timeline book that started in 1993 when Clara Vogel went to an auction house in Cincinnati to buy porcelain figurines that came from a certain porcelain factory during World War II. The story then goes to Germany in 1925 where artist Bettina Vogel is starting to be known for her abstract artwork. Bettina meets Max Ehrlich and they fall in love. Max is Jewish and Bettina is not. Clara Vogel is a divorced mom who is on a quest to find out who her father is. Clara's daughter, Lotte, helps her mom search for the truth.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful story that kept me up way too late. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves WWII Historical Fiction.

For an author’s debut novel, I think she did well. As a person who reads a lot of historical fiction during the time of WWII, I came away expecting more. The storyline was original and enjoyable, but I think more character depth would have made it better, especially for Clara and Lotte. Overall, I do recommend it and look forward to reading more by Ms. Freethy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the complimentary copy of this book – coming out 11/7. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.