The Baker's Secret: A Novel

"A tale beautifully, wisely, and masterfully told."— Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and Circling the Sun

From the multiple-award-winning, critically acclaimed author of The Hummingbird and The Curiosity comes a dazzling novel of World War II—a shimmering tale of courage, determination, optimism, and the resilience of the human spirit, set in a small Normandy village on the eve of D-Day.

On June 5, 1944, as dawn rises over a small town on the Normandy coast of France, Emmanuelle is making the bread that has sustained her fellow villagers in the dark days since the Germans invaded her country.

Only twenty-two, Emma learned to bake at the side of a master, Ezra Kuchen, the village baker since before she was born. Apprenticed to Ezra at thirteen, Emma watched with shame and anger as her kind mentor was forced to wear the six-pointed yellow star on his clothing. She was likewise powerless to help when they pulled Ezra from his shop at gunpoint, the first of many villagers stolen away and never seen again.

In the years that her sleepy coastal village has suffered under the enemy, Emma has silently, stealthily fought back. Each day, she receives an extra ration of flour to bake a dozen baguettes for the occupying troops. And each day, she mixes that precious flour with ground straw to create enough dough for two extra loaves—contraband bread she shares with the hungry villagers. Under the cold, watchful eyes of armed soldiers, she builds a clandestine network of barter and trade that she and the villagers use to thwart their occupiers.

But her gift to the village is more than these few crusty loaves. Emma gives the people a taste of hope—the faith that one day the Allies will arrive to save them.

On June 5, 1944, in a small town on the Normandy coast of France, Emmanuelle is making the bread that has sustained her fellow villagers in the dark days since the Germans invaded her country.

Only twenty-two, Emma learned to bake at the side of a master, Ezra Kuchen, the village baker since before she was born. Apprenticed to Ezra at thirteen, Emma watched as her kind mentor was forced to wear the six-pointed yellow star on his clothing. She was likewise powerless to help when they pulled Ezra from his shop at gunpoint.

In the years during which her sleepy coastal village has suffered under the enemy, Emma has silently, stealthily fought back. Each day, she receives an extra ration of flour to bake a dozen baguettes for the occupying troops. And each day, she mixes that precious flour with ground straw to create enough dough for two extra loaves—contraband bread that she shares with the hungry villagers. Under the cold, watchful eyes of armed soldiers, she builds a clandestine network of barter and trade that she and the villagers use to thwart their occupiers. But her gift to the village is more than these few crusty loaves. Emma gives the people a taste of hope—and the faith that one day the Allies will arrive to save them.

Praise for The Curiosity: “I absolutely loved The Curiosity. It’s as thought-provoking and powerful as Flowers for Algernon and the writing is breathtakingly beautiful. And that ending? Poignant, luminescent, and absolutely perfect.” - Chris Bohjalian, bestselling author of The Light in the Ruins and Midwives

“Stephen Kiernan’s The Curiosity is a true page-turner, mixing cutting edge science with an all-too-human love story, while simultaneously taking on the Big Questions. What is the true measure of a human life? Where does the line fall between legitimate science and playing God? If death could be undone, what would it mean to live? I’m green with envy for this writer’s bold imagination. It’s one of the most assured debuts in years, a book that will stop your heart and start it again.” - --Justin Cronin, bestselling author of The Passage

Praise for The Hummingbird: “The Hummingbird is a novel that shares its unexpected gifts and teaches us that surrender is a part of love, and that giving away our weapons is the first step to peace.” - Mary Morris, author of The Jazz Palace

“[A] smart, heady, and irresistible science thriller...Kiernan gets every element right in this breakneck, entertaining, and thought-provoking tale about time, mortality, the ethics of science, and the meaning of life.” - Booklist (starred review)

“The Hummingbird snuck up on me. A hospice nurse in Oregon tells of helping a discredited and difficult history professor through his last weeks; tells of her marriage in shreds, her husband wracked with trauma after returning from Iraq where he served as a sniper; and tells how she begins to read aloud to the dying professor his unpublished masterpiece: the true story of the single Japanese attack on the U.S. mainland during World War II. Stephen Kiernan writes with surefooted mastery and patience. The three braids of narrative wove together and gathered power until I was in thrall and startled to find myself in the middle of a tale of immense tenderness and beauty and heartbreak. Yes, our worlds are torn by violence and anger. And forgiveness is possible and necessary, and takes great courage. And love can grow in the most unexpected places. What thrilled me about The Hummingbird is that I learned again that sometimes an unbridgeable chasm can be crossed by a leap of the imagination.” - Peter Heller, author of The Painter and The Dog Stars

“Remarkably touching, insightful and timely… bridges several powerful stories of life and death that explore the cost of courage and the true meaning of heroism… Illuminating, uplifting and ultimately redemptive.” - RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars)

“In this moving saga, Stephen P. Kiernan tells the story of soldiers and survivors, heroes and healing. . . . I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel that so poignantly depicts the brevity of life, the significance of each moment, the impact we have on one another.” - Mary Morris, author of The Jazz Palace

Praise for The Baker’s Secret:  “Transcends even a critical moment in history to suggest the inescapable human condition of ignorance of the future, and the absolute necessity of hope, courage, and unselfish sacrifice.” - Sena Naslund, author of Ahab's Wife, Four Spirits, and The Fountain of St. James Court

“This thought-provoking novel is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. . . . Kiernan has created characters who are well-developed, beautifully flawed, and unforgettable. Yes, it’s a story of tragedy, but it’s also one of love, endurance, and, ultimately, redemption.” - Washington Independent Review of Books

“A tale beautifully, wisely, and masterfully told.”

“This many-faceted, thought-provoking story prompts soul-searching about life, war, and death.” - Booklist