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The Barman of the Ritz

The #1 bestselling historical novel based on the true story of a Jewish barman at the Ritz in occupied Paris
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The Barman of the Ritz

By: Philippe Collin, Frank Wynne - translator
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Brought to you by Penguin.

An Immediate Bestseller | A Bloomberg Best Book of 2025

When the Ritz becomes the Nazis’ favourite spot, its Jewish bartender has no choice but to keep working.

Paris, 1940. Despite the Occupation, the prestigious Ritz Hotel has managed to remain open. Its bar becomes a favorite spot for Nazis eager for a taste of French refinement. Its celebrated barman, Frank Meier, is forced to adapt to this new clientele. But he is hiding a secret that no one can find out: he is Jewish.

With every word and smile, the atmosphere becomes more and more suffocating. Yet Frank refuses to flee. With the unwitting help of the Nazis, Frank eventually uncovers secrets that help keep him and his loved ones alive—especially Luciano, his young apprentice, and Blanche, wife of the director of the Ritz and Frank’s impossible love—both of whom are Jewish too.

Betrayal, lies, and backstabbing raise the stakes for the bartender—with Frank always just one step ahead of fate.

Based on a true story, The Barman of the Ritz is as chilling as it is fascinating.

'Philippe Collin is a magnificent storyteller. This novel fascinates at every turn.' Elle

© Philippe Collin 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 20th Century Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Jewish Literary Fiction World Literature
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Critic reviews

Quite simply brilliant. Philippe Collin’s The Barman of the Ritz is so beautifully written that we imagine ourselves in the real Frank Meier’s position, shaking creative cocktails for the new inhabitants of his beloved Petit Bar at the Ritz: Paris’s Nazi conquerors. This novel, based on the real heroics of this charming, creative, and emotionally complex man with a secret love and a hidden past, is a must-read not just for fans of WWII fiction, but for anyone who cares about freedom in today’s complicated world.
A spellbinding novel of extraordinary elegance and moral depth. Philippe Collin reveals how humanity survives in dark times: not through heroics, but in the quiet, daily work of remaining oneself. In a world distorted by power and fear, this novel reminds us that our humanity is not something we possess, but something we practice, moment by moment, relationship by relationship. Philippe Collin is one of the essential moral historians of our time, and this is an unmissable book.
The Barman of the Ritz brilliantly captures the tense, morally murky atmosphere of Nazi-occupied France. Richly researched and utterly absorbing, this World War II novel pulls readers inside Paris’s legendary Ritz Hotel – where every cocktail, every conversation, and every choice could change a life forever.
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