
Enemies in Love
A German POW, a Black Nurse, and an Unlikely Romance
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Narrated by:
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Allyson Johnson
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By:
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Alexis Clark
About this listen
A true and deeply moving narrative of forbidden love during World War II and a shocking, hidden history of race on the home front
This is a love story like no other: Elinor Powell was an African-American nurse in the US military during World War II; Frederick Albert was a soldier in Hitler’s army, captured by the Allies and shipped to a prisoner-of-war camp in the Arizona desert. Like most other black nurses, Eleanor pulled a second-class assignment, in a dusty, sun-baked - and segregated - Western town. The army figured that the risk of fraternization between black nurses and white German POWs was almost nil.
Brought together by unlikely circumstances and racist assumptions, Elinor and Frederick should have been bitter enemies; but instead, at the height of World War II, they fell in love. Their dramatic story was unearthed by journalist Alexis Clark, who through years of interviews and historical research has pieced together an astounding narrative of race and true love in the cauldron of war.
Based on a New York Times story by Clark that drew national attention, Enemies in Love paints a tableau of dreams deferred and of love struggling to survive, 25 years before the Supreme Court’s Loving decision legalizing mixed-race marriage - revealing the surprising possibilities for human connection in one of history’s most violent conflicts.
©2018 Alexis Clark (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded BooksListeners also enjoyed...
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Editor's Pick
An unexpected love and a little-known history
"Alexis Clark has written a thoughtful account of one of our country’s darkest hidden histories: the German POW camps scattered throughout the American West and Southwest, and the Black nurses stationed there. The story of Elinor, Frederick, and their family is not only touching and emotional, but offers a glimpse of making immense sacrifices for love amidst the racism and prejudice of WWII and the Jim Crow era. It’s a heart-wrenching (but also heartwarming) account of love."
—Michael C., Audible Editor
What listeners say about Enemies in Love
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- Nantucket56
- 08-10-23
Touching and Sad
This story was moving to me; as a Blacj woman and as a woman in an interracial marriage. But it’s a new day and we never have to discuss race today. We can go anywhere, but anything and we aren’t stared out or ostracized. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like to be rejected by your family; heartbreaking. But the story exposes both human frailties and strengths. What a truly great love story!
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- ronman
- 06-07-23
LOVE CONQUERS HATE
A Beautiful well written well researched story of Love's VICTORY over Hate, War and Time
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- kiana
- 09-04-24
tales of reality
A peak of a color blind love story. Inspirational for how people who support and have love for each other can overcome a lot of trials and tribulation.
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- Jennifer
- 01-13-20
Not Enemies in Love but a Transformation in Love
I loved the story and feeling it gave me. I felt like I was traveling back to a time of chaos and racism all over. Despite all the challenges Loved prevailed and it showed even now race matters. No matter how privileged you are.
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1 person found this helpful
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- T Person
- 04-03-20
Stoic lovely lovers
Wonderful story, a real love story told with beauty and not shying away from its flaws as well. Thank you.
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1 person found this helpful
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- slowreader
- 08-31-19
Learned so much
The research and factoids that were in this book were amazing, I learned so much and it was absolutely wonderfully written.
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- C. Tate
- 01-24-25
Love never dies
What I like about this book was that true love did exist even though they were of different nationalities, Black and German. Gosh, what a combination. But what impressed me so much about this story was their undying love even though they did not pass that affection onto the children.It was husband and wife first. That's the important theme in this love story, and very rare.
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- Pickles
- 08-15-19
Not a traditional love story
Very easy to follow along despite the historical retellings. The narration was great. I loved how the narrator changed her accents for each character. Frederik is not the ideal romantic partner but he was still an honorable man that took care of his family.
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- Shon Ross
- 06-22-18
Love it
Great story, not just a love story. So well written and read. And so much historical information I learned a lot as well
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- Anonymous User
- 07-25-18
my review
it was a very good book I enjoyed it immensely but it made me very angry it's sad that people are still so short minded
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