Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Imposter by Johanna van Zanten is a moving, heartfelt story about one woman’s journey through the turbulent and dangerous world of twentieth-century Europe during and after the two world wars. Johanna was born into a country she believed to be her own, Germany, but her father had originally fled his native Pomerania to escape the mistreatment of native Poles. Johanna quickly discovered that her name and heritage would seemingly always be held against her and her family. Seeking freedom and a way out of the increasingly militant and prejudiced Germany, she sought financial independence as a concessionaire at the work camps for the major rail infrastructure projects being undertaken in Germany at the time. Marrying a Dutch contractor on the railway, Johanna watched with trepidation as German militancy and Aryan philosophy began to threaten more and more people who had always considered themselves good German citizens. Even seeking refuge in her husband’s native country proved fruitless, as Hitler invaded. She must now decide where her true loyalties lie.  

The Imposter is a powerful and moving account of juggling loyalties between heritage, family, and country. Author Johanna van Zanten has created a wonderfully nuanced and multi-layered character in Johanna. She is well-read, thoughtful, and politically astute, in many ways far ahead of her time. She is also naive and extremely aware of her vulnerability as a woman, first on a rough and ready railway construction site but later as a woman alone in a country occupied by a conquering army. What impressed me was her commitment to survival and her dogged determination. Her ability to cope with whatever was thrown her way spoke volumes about her bravery even if it frequently alienated those around her. This is more than one woman’s journey, however; it is a fascinating social commentary of the time. The treatment of displaced persons all across Europe, especially those whose homelands had changed ruling hands was appalling, by not just Germany but many European powers. To not only lose one’s property but also to be excluded from work in all but the lowest levels of society must have been soul-destroying. While some may not agree with Johanna’s pragmatic and selfish solutions, there is one thing that cannot be argued; she not only survived but did so to a ripe old age. This is a compelling story about the will to survive and defy the odds stacked against you. I enjoyed this read immensely and highly recommend it.