The Hiding Place (biography)

The Hiding Place is a biographical book written by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, published in 1971. It recounts the experiences of Corrie ten Boom and her family, Dutch Christians who aided Jewish people in escaping the Nazi Holocaust during World War II.

The book details the ten Boom family's activities in Haarlem, Netherlands, where they operated a watch shop. As the Nazi occupation intensified, they began hiding Jewish refugees in a secret room built into their home, known as "the hiding place." For nearly two years, they successfully sheltered numerous individuals before being betrayed and arrested by the Gestapo in 1944.

The Hiding Place chronicles Corrie, her sister Betsie, and other family members' imprisonment in various concentration camps, including Ravensbrück. While imprisoned, the sisters found strength and solace in their Christian faith, sharing messages of forgiveness and love with fellow prisoners. Betsie's unwavering faith and vision for a future where former prison guards could find healing deeply impacted Corrie.

The book emphasizes themes of faith, forgiveness, and resilience in the face of unimaginable suffering. After being released from Ravensbrück due to a clerical error, Corrie ten Boom dedicated her life to sharing her story and promoting reconciliation around the world. The Hiding Place became an international bestseller and has been translated into numerous languages, serving as an inspiration to readers of all backgrounds. The book was also adapted into a motion picture of the same name in 1975. It remains a significant work in Holocaust literature and a testament to the power of faith in the darkest of times.