THE HOUSE ON THE CANAL

The house at 263 Prinsengracht—where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding during World War II—has witnessed centuries of history.

Marshlands gave way as the city of Amsterdam expanded and a canal was built. The titular house was constructed nearly 400 years ago, “with strong brick walls, sturdy pine floors, and a green front door.” Some found a haven there in dangerous times; others found joy and laughter. The building’s fortune waxed and waned through neglect, fire, and restoration. It housed a series of workspaces and even a horse barn. Then, in the worst of times, a man rented the house for his business. When Amsterdam was no longer safe for Jewish people, the man, his family, and four others took refuge there, remaining silent and still and depending on trusted friends for supplies. The man’s younger daughter wrote a diary, chronicling her days and dreaming of a golden future that was not to be. When the man returned alone, a friend gave him the diary; he shared it with the world. Not naming the people and places in the narrative itself (though an opening note and detailed backmatter offer more information), Harding employs highly descriptive sensory language, heightening the emotions. Readers will emerge simultaneously awed by the passage of time and personally affected by the stories told. Teckentrup overlays her bright, exquisitely detailed sepia-toned depictions of the house and its environs with a misty haze; the results are hauntingly beautiful.

Deeply moving, powerful, and breathtaking.