The Barman of the Ritz
Will be published approx. on 20. August 2026
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-1-5299-5639-9 (ISBN)
Description
An Immediate Bestseller | A Bloomberg Best Book of 2025
'Philippe Collin is a magnificent storyteller. This novel fascinates at every turn.' Elle
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 favourite 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
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 favourite 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.
Reviews / Votes
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. * Meg Waite Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Train to London * 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. * Chris Cleave, #1 bestselling author of The Other Hand * 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. * Anne Berest, internationally bestselling author of The Postcard * At its core, this book is a reminder that grand hotels like the Ritz are not simply built from glittering chandeliers and beautiful decor. Their true spirit comes from the people who work there and the enduring power of human connection. * Bloomberg * A great novel. * Le Parisien * A fascinating character... * Augustin Trapenard, La Grande Librairie * Mixing together his knowledge of the period with psychological insights (...) Collin has created a heady cocktail. * L'Express * Philippe Collin is a magnificent storyteller. This novel fascinates at every turn. * ELLE * Masterful... a sweeping waltz between history and fiction in one of Paris' chicest palaces. * Le Journal du Dimanche *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Transworld Publishers Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 40 mm
Weight
750 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5299-5639-9 (9781529956399)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Philippe Collin
The Barman of the Ritz
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
Transworld Digital
€12.99
Not yet available
Persons
Philippe Collin (Author)
A producer at France Inter for over twenty years, Philippe Collin studied history and has always maintained a strong interest in the field. In 2021, he created a series of historical podcasts that have been downloaded 40 million times. He is also a graphic-novel writer and co-author of Le Voyage de Marcel Grob (2018), inspired by the story of his great-uncle during the Second World War. The Barman of the Ritz , his first novel, has been translated into 30 languages and was a runaway bestseller in his native France, selling 350,000 copies to date.
Frank Wynne (Translator)
Frank Wynne is an Irish literary translator, writer and editor. He has translated more than a hundred French and Hispanic novels by authors including Michel Houellebecq, Patrick Modiano, Javier Cercas and Virginie Despentes. Over a career spanning more than twenty-five years, his work has twice earned him the Dublin Literary Award, he has been awarded the Scott Moncrieff Prize on three occasions and the Premio Valle Inclan twice. Most recently, his translation of The Annual Banquet of the Gravediggers Guild by Mathias Enard won the 2024 French-American Prize. He was the first translator to chair the jury for the International Booker Prize.
A producer at France Inter for over twenty years, Philippe Collin studied history and has always maintained a strong interest in the field. In 2021, he created a series of historical podcasts that have been downloaded 40 million times. He is also a graphic-novel writer and co-author of Le Voyage de Marcel Grob (2018), inspired by the story of his great-uncle during the Second World War. The Barman of the Ritz , his first novel, has been translated into 30 languages and was a runaway bestseller in his native France, selling 350,000 copies to date.
Frank Wynne (Translator)
Frank Wynne is an Irish literary translator, writer and editor. He has translated more than a hundred French and Hispanic novels by authors including Michel Houellebecq, Patrick Modiano, Javier Cercas and Virginie Despentes. Over a career spanning more than twenty-five years, his work has twice earned him the Dublin Literary Award, he has been awarded the Scott Moncrieff Prize on three occasions and the Premio Valle Inclan twice. Most recently, his translation of The Annual Banquet of the Gravediggers Guild by Mathias Enard won the 2024 French-American Prize. He was the first translator to chair the jury for the International Booker Prize.