The Memoirs of André Trocmé
The Pastor Who Rescued Jews
by André Trocmé
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Pub Date 23 Sep 2025 | Archive Date 23 Sep 2025
Plough Publishing | Plough Publishing House
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Description
A unique addition to the literature of ethical action during the Holocaust. . . . Trocmé’s story, available in English here for the first time, teaches us how to act when we are sure of nothing. —Kirkus Reviews
André Trocmé is famous for his role in saving thousands of Jews from the Nazis as pastor of the village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, France, a story celebrated in literature and film. But who was the man behind the legend, and the how did he become an international hero and uncompromising advocate of nonviolent resistance? Appearing in English for the first time, his private memoirs give a colorful and honest account of a person determined to stay true to his faith and convictions, who despite his quirks was ready to stand his ground when world history came knocking.
Written for his children in the 1950s and first published in French in 2020, these memoirs trace André Trocmé’s extraordinary life: a bourgeois childhood; teenage years as a World War I refugee; studies abroad in New York City, where he met his future wife, Magda, and tutored the Rockefeller children; military service in Algeria, which cemented his pacifist stance; postings as a pastor in depressed areas of France; resisting fascism and hiding Jews in Le Chambon; a brief imprisonment and a stint underground; and globetrotting leadership in the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. Trocmé also reveals the impact of personal tragedies: the untimely death of his mother in a car accident for which his father was responsible and, years later, his teenage son’s suicide.
This detailed first-person account from an eyewitness to pivotal moments in history will be of interest not just to scholars of the Holocaust, World War II, and domestic resistance to fascism, but also to all people who seek to follow their conscience and the teachings of their faith in trying times.
People who enjoyed Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed, A Good Place to Hide, We Only Know Men, and the documentary, Weapons of the Spirit, will appreciate reading the story in Trocme’s own words.
A Note From the Publisher
- A candid recounting of Trocmé’s life and what led him to save Jews, for which he was named Righteous Among the Nations.
- Cultural historians will appreciate this primary-source description of the Belle Époque, civilian experience during WWI, the French Protestant scene, and life with the Rockefeller family.
- 2025 release coincides with the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII.
- People who enjoyed Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed, A Good Place to Hide and Village of Secrets will appreciate reading the story in Trocmé's own words.
- WWII and Vichy France recent bestsellers include The Winemaker's Wife; Adolfo Kaminsky: A Forger's Life; I Am André: German Jew, French Resistance Fighter, British Spy; and The Art of Resistance: My Four Years in the French Underground.
- Contemporary religious pacifists and dissidents include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Niemoller, and Sophie Scholl.
Advance Praise
A unique addition to the literature of ethical action during the Holocaust, these memoirs tell a story of spiritual growth, framed in the landscapes of world war and social upheaval. … With the advent of the Second World War, Trocmé reflects on the nature of moral choice. “We do not decide to be nonviolent or truthful in advance as if we had an outline, a moral blueprint to follow automatically. Events appear almost always as a series of little, unexpected problems we must solve one at a time. We choose between two alternatives, one of which, in the final analysis, appears closer than the other to the laws of Jesus Christ. In that moment, one is sure of nothing.” Trocmé’s story, available in English here for the first time, teaches us how to act when we are sure of nothing. —Kirkus Reviews
A brilliant critical edition of the unpublished memoirs of Trocmé. … The text is remarkably honest and transparent, perhaps to the distress of descendants of some of the actors. His descriptions of the Rockefeller family, of American “high society,” as well as of French Protestants provide fascinating insight. … The narrative of the ministry in the industrial north of France provides an intimate view of the difficulties of industrial workers. … The introduction and epilogue by Cabanel frame the volume beautifully, and are important contributions to French social history and the study of French Protestantism. —David Bundy, Religious Studies Review
Marketing Plan
- National publicity campaign
- Exclusive excerpts and interviews with national media
- Giveaways and promotions on NetGalley, Edelweiss, GoodReads, LibraryThing, and others
- Significant social media campaign
- Feature in Plough Quarterly magazine, circulation 16,000.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781636081595 |
| PRICE | US$29.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 480 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 294918
The Memoirs of André Trocmé is a deeply moving account of the French Protestant pastor whose quiet heroism saved hundreds of Jews during World War II. More than a wartime narrative, the memoir traces Trocmé’s spiritual and moral formation—from a strict bourgeois childhood and personal tragedy to his embrace of Christian pacifism. His resistance, rooted in faith and conscience, is recounted with humility and emotional clarity. Edited by Patrick Cabanel, the memoir offers a powerful testament to nonviolent resistance, moral courage, and the quiet strength of conviction. An essential read for anyone interested in faith, history, or ethical leadership.
Suzan B, Librarian
The Memoirs of Andre Trocme’ The Pastor Who Rescued Jews
Andre Trocme, the French protestant pastor, was a strong voice for pacifism during WWII. He bravely faced Nazi soldiers and negotiated in church politics with great aplomb. He usually went from one uncomfortable living situation to another with sometimes short food rations, meanwhile taking care of his wife and four children and a number of parishioners. Yes, he rescued some Jews. He performed a number of acts to serve humanity.
The language, the documentation, and the reading level of the book are scholarly in nature. This is NOT intended to be beach reading. The point of view seems to be that the reader is already somewhat familiar with this person.
These memoirs go into a great deal of detail about his life but he does not highlight the actions that led to him getting the "Righteous among the Nations" award by the Holocaust remembrance center Yad Vashem.
In fact, no awards of any kind are listed here. The book also lacks an index, a bibliography, or any photographs, maps, drawings or diagrams.
I would not recommend this book for light reading, but it does give an additional view of the events of the two World Wars and the culture of the European protestant churches of that time frame.
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