The story sets out at Oemigen concentration camp. There never was a camp of that name. But there was and still is a a state prison in Oermingen, France. Was Oscar Frosell in a state prison? The rest is a fantastic account of an affair that may or may not have occurred. Unfortunately I cannot believe it.
The Frosell Affair
by Heddy Frosell da Ponte
"Intriguing . . .Provocative . . .This challenging, original historical dramatization is perfect for fans of Amor Towles's A Gentleman in Moscow, John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in From the Cold."
--Publishers Weekly (BookLife Review)
Unmatched International Intrigue in a Masterfully Written World War Two Thriller.
Oscar Frosell, wealthy Swedish businessman, philanthropist, and family man, survived the Nazi occupation of Paris and, like many of his countrymen, was looking forward to being a part of France’s postwar future.
But in the rapacious, score-settling chaos of the new French State, Frosell’s fortune—rare art, priceless jewels, antique furniture, gold, platinum, a valuable stamp collection, and especially his opulent Paris apartment—worth over $40 billion today, was an irresistible temptation for some thieves.
A conspiracy to steal Frosell’s treasures was hatched by naval hero Admiral Dumesnil, the admiral’s daughter (a high-ranking commandante and friend of Charles de Gaulle), and the Swedish general consul, lauded as “the man who saved Paris.” The conspirators launched a nightmarish defamation campaign against Frosell, which not only denied his Swedish nationality, but also denounced him as a Nazi collaborator and Gestapo agent.
Frosell then fought for years against relentless persecution and intimidation, fabricated charges and trumped-up testimonies, five counts of false imprisonment, near-execution and escape from the notorious Oermigen concentration camp, and the illegal, state-sanctioned confiscation of everything he and his family owned—authorized by General Charles de Gaulle himself.
The Frosell Affair is the unforgettable story of one man’s fight for justice and restitution .
What People are Saying About The Frosell Affair.
"Intriguing . . .Provocative . . .—Publishers Weekly (BookLife Review)
"The Frosell Affair illustrates, perhaps more than anything, the fine, hazy line between perseverance and obsession." —Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE ANTIQUITIES HUNTER
About the Author
Heddy Frosell da Ponte was a flight attendant for forty-five years. Now retired, she lives in Georgia. She is one heck of a character who has a fiery spirit and a wonderful sense of humor, both of which shine through in her writing. Heddy is also the author of 'The Glamor Years of Flying as a Stewardess.'
Reviews
A distorted tale
I couldn’t put this book down
I was mesmerized with not only the story but with Heddy Frosell da Ponte’s writing. It was like you were right there alongside them. The tragic story is heartbreaking. I gasped at least 3 times not believing what I was reading. All in, it was a quick read which I was thankful for because it was such a page turner. The ending provided such mixed feelings, again lending to the catastrophic circumstances committed against this family. I could see this being a movie!
An extraordinary tale of a man falsely accused of a crime
I've also liked thrillers and historical novels and Heddy Frosell da Ponte's The Frosell Affair is an intriguing mixture of both!
The plot begins with a prologue set in (fictitious) Oermigen concentration camp in April 1948 where the Frosell family patriarch, Oscar, is incarcerated.The story goes back in time to June 1944 when the family-composed of mother/wife Marie, father/husband Oscar and their 5-year old daughter, Heddy, who live in Paris. Oscar is a very successful businessman and philanthropist, a Swedish expat who moved to France and built his fortune, which includes a luxurious apartment filled with antiques,jewels,rare works of art,a stamp collection, among others-and of course attracts the jealousy of some powerful and influential people such as Admiral Dumesnil (who was hailed as a war hero) , his daughter Ama Dumesnill, who also happened to be a high-ranking status in the French Armed Forces and none other than Brigadier-General and later President of France himself, Charles de Gaulle (yes, the airport is named after him in case you didn't know) as well as the Swedish general council.
They forge false documents and other false evidence to accuse Oscar Frosell of being a conspirateur (conspirator) and Gestapo (the German secret police) and Oscar is arrested several times. He hires Polish lawyer Jozef Dzeroginsky to assist him and that's the main plot: the fight of a righteous man for justice.
Its main themes are greed, justice,the importance of family, deception and redemption.
The author tells the story of her own family albeit with some artistic freedom but most of it is accurate with vivid details that makes the reader get immersed into 1940s France.
I highly recommend it if you are looking for a unique thriller!
An actual page turner!
I was halfway through this book before I realized it was based on true events. That blew my mind! The story is engaging from the beginning and to know these events actually took place is wild. In the story, the Frosell Family has this terrible thing happen to them very quickly in the midst of WW2, but they all felt immune from the bad things that were befalling their neighbors previously. It feels oddly timely today as we're seeing similar overtones of not being able to imagine worldwide events affecting us personally--and then the whole world changing virtually overnight.
The writing is very engaging and the story is incredibly captivating. Great read! You won't be disappointed.
Hooked from the first page!
This is a fascinating tale, equal parts political thriller, legal drama, historical account, and autobiographical memoir. It is the tale of a wealthy and influential family fallen prey to intrigue, conspiracy, and family betrayal in the late days of WWII France. It is expertly told and completely engaging, and the characters are three-dimensional and sympathetic. The author maintains an impressive level of tension from start to finish that easily kept this reader turning pages until late in the evening.
The historical setting is authentic and the delve into post-war era politics is educational as well as entertaining, while not being overbearing for the layman. The trials and tribulations of Oscar Frosell and his family will shock and appall, doubly so after reading the author’s comments at the end. The novel maintains the suspense and sense of foreboding mercilessly, and the way the story is framed (starting and finishing in the confines of a foul concentration camp) is captivating to say the least. Even someone (like me) who rarely reads historical accounts or family memoirs is sure to be drawn in by this dark tale of political treachery.
I strongly recommend this novel. The author paints a vivid (and at times claustrophobic) picture of the late days of World War II and the recently liberated France. The political details are thorough but not too much to handle, and the story has all the elements of a historical thriller. Even for someone like me who doesn’t follow such things closely, this was fascinating (if ofttimes bleak) reading. That it is an account of true events only lends weight to the words. By all means, pick it up!
Excellent Account of Post War France
The first thing I want to say that it is unbelievable that Heddy's wonderful memoir could not find a literary agent and get published traditionally. That doesn't say a darn thing to the quality of this well-crafted, should-be classic However. The Frosell Affair is an excellent historical account that deserves so much more attention, which is why I decided to write this review.
I am a big believer that history isn't something that should be forgotten and for good or bad, should be celebrated. Heddy's book comes from a very unique perspective. She is a little girl in post world war II France.and she shares her personal memories, but while doing so, she tries to get into her father's head and tells things through how he must have felt during their family's tragic ordealI I don't want go leave any spoilers, but as a writer myself, reliving things this way means that she must have lived through them once again. Ever more so, the way she does it must have been rough. This is a story about the eternal bonds of family, and the things we leave behind.
If you want to read something that's more than words on a page, pick this up. Heddy wrote this book with all of her heart and soul. It truly shows from page to page. What an amazing story.
Very interesting story by an unknown author.
Great story tells the tragedy of World War II and the people living in Paris. Intrigue and deception by the political elite. Would make a great movie.
A Family's Journey through Hell!
A heartbreaking and an emotional roller-coaster, the book details the pain and suffering of one family at the hands of an evil collusion by law enforcement and the military in newly liberated France, after the Nazi occupation. In a nutshell, Frosell's Affair is a gut-wrenching memoir that could easily be mistaken for a fast-paced a historical thriller, with captivating and unrivaled plot twists.
Highly recommended!
