Journey Through the Night

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Journey Through the Night (orig. Dutch: Reis door de nacht) is a novel, originally in four volumes (1951-1958), by Dutch author Anne de Vries centering on the impact of the Second World War in the Netherlands on a Christian family. It was translated by Harry der Nederlanden in 1960.

The book is divided into 4 parts:

Part one : Into the Darkness
Part two : The Storm rises
Part three : Morning glory
Part four : The New Day

The main character is Jan de Boer. He is the eldest son of the family. During the 5 year German occupation he gets involved in the Resistance.

[edit] Into the Darkness

This part tells about the start of the German invasion on 10 May 1940. The family De Boer has just been moved to Drenthe. Because the family just have been moved some of the children are placed elsewhere. Father decides to get them. They drive to the city of Scheveningen. One of the children is trapped in Rotterdam and after the bombardment the Dutch Army surrenders to the Germans.

[edit] The Storm Rises

Two years have passed. The family is getting used to the war. But father De Boer joins the Underground Resistance. Jan and his sister Guusje also get involved. At the end of the chapter a meeting has been thwarted by the Germans and the family must go underground.

[edit] Morning Glory

After the Germans have destroyed the house of De Boer, Jan is hiding. But an old friend joins a Fight Force (Knok Ploeg (KP)). After his adventures by the FF the force has been betrayed and Jan must go into hiding again.