Bruidsvlucht

More about the book

In the autumn of 1953, Marjorie, Ada, and Esther meet on a KLM airplane carrying an unusual and precious cargo: twenty-six young Dutch brides heading to New Zealand to join their fiancés who had already emigrated. They are embarking on a new life in a land vastly different in colors, atmosphere, customs, and values from the depressed and conservative environment they have always known. During the flight, they also meet Frank, who will significantly influence each of their lives. The importance of their encounter with Frank becomes clear fifty years later when they reunite at his funeral. The memory of the "brides' flight" prompts each woman to reflect on her own experiences—the struggles of early immigrant life, the fear and wonder of their new homeland, as well as the pain, joy, friendship, and love—illuminating their pasts in a new and more authentic light.