The Last Green Valley: A Novel

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The Last Green Valley details, in no small feat, the harrowing journey of the Martel family who – during the waning days of World War II – had been living in Ukraine. Young Adeline and Emil Martel are as ordinary a couple as history would think. Being raised in a totalitarian society, Emil makes it a point to not be noticed by the authorities. This is a method of camouflage and survival that has allowed his family to farm in Ukraine for generations. Nevertheless, goodbyes, separations, and deprivation do not shake the dedication of these family members to each other — making the story as inspirational as it is horrific. And recognizing how the Martels represent some 11 million other refugees during the same period put me in awe of what humans can survive. Sullivan continues, telling me that he had been presenting his story Beneath a Scarlet Sky at a local Rotary Club meeting and people were telling him that he was never going to find another story like this in his lifetime. He said, “I remember thinking, Yes, I will. I just have to look hard enough for it.”

The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan - Fantastic Fiction The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan - Fantastic Fiction

Writer’s Digest (co-written with Connor Sullivan): “8 Ways to Add Suspense to your Novel – Writer’s Digest”

Mark Sullivan has done it again! The Last Green Valley is a compelling and inspiring story of heroism and courage in the dark days at the end of World War II.” — Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author As Adeline and Emil Martel and their two young sons joined the caravan of refugees, along with both Emil and Adeline’s families, they were under no illusions of what could and probably would lie ahead. Their wagon with their two faithful horses leading the way, followed the directions of the Germans who were ‘protecting’ them, taking them away from the danger of Stalin’s rule. Ukraine in 1944 was a dreadful place to call home, with hunger and starvation high on their list of grievances. Their dream of escaping to the west, to a beautiful green valley, was strong. Como en su anterior novela una pluma super cuidada, trasmitiendo lo que tuvieron que pasar tanto refugiados como prisioneros. Se sabe mucho sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y este momento ocurre durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial y durante el régimen de Stalin, del cual yo se poco. I found Mark Sullivan to be engaging and sympathetic in how he conveyed the situations and choices faced by Emil and Adeline. It would have been easy to veer into sentimentality and cliche but the story remained engaging throughout and you were left caring about what happened to the family.

The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan – Karen K is reading The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan – Karen K is reading

Have you or your family members lived through World War II? Have you or your family immigrated to the US? How do your memories or family stories reflect the emotions in this book? Beneath a Scarlet Sky is in my top 5 for WWII historical fiction so it only figures that while The Last Green Valley was one of my most anticipated reads when it was released, I waited until now to read it. Sullivan’s] got an extraordinary imagination, paired with a real talent for creating realistic scenes, both hair-raising times of danger—like being strafed—and intimate moments of pain.” — Historical Novel SocietyMark is one of the most gifted and successful novelists of our generation. His ability to weave drama, morality, and emotion through wonderfully captivating stories of the human spirit puts him among the greats.” — Tony Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author and the nation’s #1 life and business strategist In the foreword Mark Sullivan says, “I hope their story (the Martels) will give comfort and courage to the afflicted and a better understanding of what ordinary people can endure and achieve when all seems lost.” As I ruminate on the Martels and what they had to bear, I am reminded that perspective and hope can indeed fuel the impossible. The corridor consists mostly of the Eastern New England Upland, transitioning to the coastal forests to the south and east. The rolling hills in the southern part of the Corridor become more rugged in the northern part of the corridor. The highest elevation is 1,315ft (401m) Burley Hill in Union, CT. [1] If God giveth, Stalin taketh away,” Emil mumbled, and refused to give the home he’d built any more attention. In his mind and in his heart, the house had already crumbled to dust or been burned to ash. When Emil and Adeline are torn apart, what gives Adeline the faith and strength to carry on? What makes her so sure they will be together again?

Bozeman Author Sets the Stage with Absolutely Riveting Story

Adeline and Emil Martel and their two young sons are Volksdeutsche, descendants of German immigrants encouraged by Catherine the Great to settle in southern Ukraine. For centuries the outside world largely passed their people by, but the Russian Revolution followed by World War II br in g change s for the worse. The Nazis come as “liberators” of their fellow Germans— and exact a terrible price for their protection. Emil and other Volksdeutsche men are expected to play a part in the Final Solution, Hitler’s plan to exterminate Jews and Bolsheviks. After the terrible Battle of Stalingrad the Nazi s retreat in the face of burgeoning Soviet strength . By March 1944, the Martel clan risk s being c aught between the two brutal ideologies of Hitler and Stalin. They flee from their homes.The first third of the book is a little slow and my enjoyment increased as some of the minor characters took paths away from our main protagonists. Overall this is a fantastic read and the second half is particularly difficult to put down. Rese almost dies after suffering through a horrific accident. Emil almost starved to death and faced an unforgivable ultimatum at gunpoint. The family endures unimaginable peril on their journey and at the hands of the Nazis. What does it mean to be brave in the face of death? What is The Last Green Valley? - The Last Green Valley". thelastgreenvalley.org . Retrieved 2018-07-14.

Last Green Valley: Northeastern Connecticut - New England Last Green Valley: Northeastern Connecticut - New England

The Last Green Valley" focuses on the Martel family, who are trying to escape Stalin by fleeing with the Nazis who claim to protect "pure-blood" Germans. The Martel family has been in the farming industry in Ukraine for many years, but they ultimately decide they need to seek freedom. The Inside Flap Podcast: “‎The Inside Flap: Inside Chat: War And Bees With Mark T. Sullivan on Apple Podcasts”The Last Green Valley is my first Mark Sullivan book and a long-time-coming foray into the world of WWII fiction, a subgenre I’ve only slightly dipped my toes into over the years. I’m glad I started here though, as this book really got me interested in it. The book is based on a true story and tells the story of the Martel family—ethnic Germans who have lived in Ukraine for a few generations, and their amazing story of attempting to flee west to the Western Allies’ lines as the Red Army rolls over Eastern Europe—the story starts with the Nazis already retreating west. They are essentially fleeing both the Soviets and the Nazis - this was their experience with The Long Trek, and I knew shamefully little of it before reading this book. What I did know, and what is confirmed in this book, is how utterly brutal the warfare was on the Eastern Front of WWII, and anyone who knows anything about it knows that for every horrifying story you hear, there’s bound to be one that’s even worse.