What early readers are saying about A Good Man in Dark Times

“I was totally gripped by this deeply researched, sharply written thriller of a book that alternately had my heart in my mouth and my stomach churning. Fear lurks on every page as Osborn shines a powerful light on the courageous resisters and their stalkers. A Good Man in Dark Times is a triumph that should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in the lessons of history.”—Anne Sebba, New York Times bestselling author of Ethel Rosenberg and Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved, and Died Under the Nazi Occupation

“Just when one thinks that there is nothing more to be learnt about the Holocaust years, a fresh vein of research throws up fascinating new insights and stories. Ronald Osborn’s book, A Good Man in Dark Times, is an important addition to the current literature on the remarkable resistance and escape routes that carried those persecuted by the Nazis to safety.”—Caroline Moorehead, New York Times bestselling author of A Train in Winter and Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France

“Masterfully written … ambitious, complex, beautiful, and heartbreaking … One of the most compelling parts of A Good Man in Dark Times, and an overarching theme of the book, is Weidner’s relationship to his sister, Gaby. Their bond becomes a sort of the raison d’etre for Weidner and gives the reader access to the man on a human level. We really get to know Weidner, this extraordinary individual who in many ways was just a common person yet who became a true hero of the Resistance. Osborn does not shy away from Weidner’s flaws. What emerges is a portrait of a man with deep spiritual convictions, immense bravery, and a moral compass that led him to save as many people as he could from the Nazis. Like Oscar Schindler and Varian Fry, he is one of those rare individuals who emerges in times of great darkness and shines a light on the best of humanity. I loved this book.”—Gwen Strauss, Director of the Dora Maar House, author of The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Woman Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany

“Every once in a while, a person steps out of the shadows and anonymity of the historical record to take their rightful place in modern memory. Thanks to Ronald Osborn’s extensive research and masterful storytelling, John Weidner has done just this. A Good Man in Dark Times is a rich, textured account of how a humble textile salesman in France during World War II became a hero, saving the lives of hundreds of people. Osborn tells this fascinating story with respect and care while also remaining honest about the complexity of his protagonist. The world needs more people with the courage and character of John Weidner, and we also need more writers such as Osborn to tell their important and inspirational stories.”—Rabbi Mark Glickman, spiritual leader of Temple B’nai Tikvah in Calgary, Alberta, author of Stolen Words: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books

“John Weidner’s life was one of adventure, drama, intrigue, and above all morality at its finest during the desperate days of World War II. Although his story has been well documented by scholars, it has never received the artistic and literary treatment it deserves. Ronald Osborn’s superb book does just that, bringing to life the extraordinary story of a hero of the Holocaust. For anyone interested in moral choice, altruism and the power of ordinary people to stand up to even the most powerful forces for evil, this book is a must-read.”—Kristen Renwick Monroe, Pulitzer Prize nominee, Weidner interviewer, author of The Hand of Compassion: Portraits of Moral Choice During the Holocaust

“Ronald Osborn’s A Good Man in Dark Times is a deeply researched biography about a little known but important resistance figure during the German Occupation of Europe (1940-1945). It is energetically written with a style that keeps the reader’s attention on every page. For those who are drawn to tales of courage and danger during this fraught period, Osborn’s book will not disappoint.”—Ronald C. Rosbottom, Professor Emeritus of French and European Studies at Amherst College, author of When Paris Went Dark: The City of Light Under German Occupation, 1940-1944

“A Good Man in Dark Times is more than an attempt to correct history’s oversite of a courageous man, whose heroism equals that of the more celebrated Raoul Wallenberg and Oscar Schindler. It brings to life in startling detail how the worst of human behavior compels a rare few to act in ways history cannot ignore. This is an extraordinary book. Osborn is a gifted writer and the story unfolds with a distinct clarity and force—a testament to how truth is so much more powerful than fiction. There is natural drama and tension on every page because we are so painfully aware of the consequences Weidner and his companions faced if discovered. We desperately need lived examples like Weidner in our self-centered culture today. This is a story to be remembered, shared and celebrated.”—Martin Doblmeier, Emmy-award winning filmmaker, director of BONHOEFFER and The Power of Forgiveness, founder of Journey Films

“In A Good Man in Dark Times, Ronald Osborn vividly recounts the remarkable life of a little-known saint: John Henry Weidner. More than ever, Weidner inspires us by demonstrating the glory of the human spirit. Jewish tradition teaches that whoever saves a human life is as one who has saved an entire world. John Weidner and his network saved thousands.”—Rabbi Malka Drucker, PEN Literary Award winner, Weidner interviewer, author of The Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust

“Certain words do not commonly appear together, words such as ‘meticulously researched’ and ‘page-turner.’ However, Ron Osborn’s, A Good Man in Dark Times, is both. This book is a rare treat—careful research that reads like a novel! As a story that needs to be told, it serves to remind us that in the darkest of times the smallest of candles can pierce the darkness with life-giving hope…and life. Such is the story of John Weidner. I recommend that you not begin reading unless you have the time to finish!”—Randy Roberts, senior pastor, Loma Linda University Church

“There are books that are essential because they pose the most vital questions and because the author goes straight to the heart of the matter. A Good Man in Dark Times is one of them. Osborn takes us into the life of a seemingly ordinary man and masterfully shows how he suddenly becomes a hero. In a breathtaking style that leaves us no respite, we follow a chase across war-torn Europe. At stake are the lives of countless men, women, and children. No one can read this book without asking: What would I have done in such circumstances?”—Jean-Guy Rens, nephew of rescuer Jacques Rens, author of Invisible Empire and Vlady

“A Good Man in Dark Times is full of drama and suspense. Osborn has eminently succeeded in retelling the remarkable story of John Weidner and his leadership role in the Dutch-Paris escape line. In the background is the overarching drama of the terrible war with all its atrocities—in which cruelty and deceit, but also moral strength, sacrifice, and self-denial were manifested in extraordinary ways. Yet this book is not a hagiography. Weidner emerges as a figure of great courage, as extraordinarily disciplined, as a man of principle and faith. But Osborn also describes some of his very human flaws. A Good Man in Dark Times is in the end far more than an inspirational story about one man. It is a thoroughly researched exploration of the difficulties of running a resistance organization with the ever-haunting question: Who can be fully trusted?”—Reinder Bruinsma, author, Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau

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The Weidner Foundation

Ronald E. Osborn is Executive Director of The John Henry Weidner Foundation for Altruism, which has been dedicated since 1996 to cultivating selfless and courageous action in the spirit of Weidner and the Dutch-Paris line.

www.weidnerfoundation.org

Publishing and media Inquiries

A Good Man in Dark Times is represented by Keely Boeving and Wordserve Literary Agency.

www.wordserveliterary.com