Dutch Girl

Robert Matzen's "Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II" offers a meticulously researched exploration of the legendary actress's formative years in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. This biography distinguishes itself from the numerous Hepburn biographies by narrowing its focus to a specific but profoundly influential period: her childhood and adolescence during World War II. Rather than attempting to cover her entire life and career, Matzen concentrates on the years that shaped the woman who would become one of Hollywood's most beloved icons.

The book examines Hepburn's life in Arnhem and the surrounding areas of the Netherlands from 1939 to 1945, a period marked by extreme hardship, fear, and deprivation. Matzen draws upon extensive research, including wartime records, interviews with Hepburn's family members and acquaintances, and the actress's own later recollections about this traumatic period. The narrative reveals how the young Audrey Kathleen Ruston, as she was then known, experienced the German occupation, the failed Operation Market Garden, and the devastating Hunger Winter of 1944-1945.

Matzen's approach combines rigorous historical research with compelling storytelling. He places Hepburn's personal experiences within the broader context of the Dutch resistance, Nazi occupation policies, and the military operations that affected the region. The book details how Hepburn's family struggled to survive as conditions deteriorated, with food becoming increasingly scarce and danger a constant presence. The author explores the complex position of Hepburn's family, including her mother's early fascist sympathies and subsequent disillusionment, adding nuance to the story.

One of the book's most significant contributions is its detailed account of Hepburn's involvement in the Dutch resistance, albeit in modest ways appropriate for a young teenager. Matzen describes how she participated in secret dance performances to raise money for the resistance and served as a courier, carrying messages hidden in her shoes. These activities, while not as dramatic as some wartime resistance stories, demonstrate the courage required of ordinary people, including children, during the occupation. The author carefully avoids sensationalizing these contributions while acknowledging their real risks and importance.

The narrative's strength lies in its depiction of daily life under occupation. Matzen chronicles the progressive tightening of German control, the disappearance of Jewish neighbors, the constant threat of violence, and the grinding poverty that characterized the final years of the war. The Hunger Winter receives particular attention, with the author detailing how Hepburn and her family survived on tulip bulbs and whatever meager rations they could obtain. These experiences of near-starvation would affect Hepburn's health for the rest of her life, contributing to her famously slender frame and various medical issues.

Matzen also examines how these wartime experiences influenced Hepburn's later humanitarian work. Her deep connection to UNICEF and her tireless efforts on behalf of children in war-torn and impoverished regions take on additional meaning when understood through the lens of her own childhood suffering. The book draws clear lines between the young girl who experienced occupation and hunger and the mature woman who dedicated her later years to helping children facing similar circumstances.

The author's research extends beyond Hepburn herself to encompass the experiences of her family members, neighbors, and the broader Dutch population. This contextual framework prevents the biography from becoming overly hagiographic while maintaining sympathy for its subject. Matzen acknowledges the complexities and moral ambiguities of life under occupation without passing harsh judgment on those who made difficult choices to survive.

The book's geographical focus on Arnhem and Velp provides particular historical resonance, as these areas saw intense fighting during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Matzen's descriptions of the battle and its aftermath, with Hepburn and her family caught in the crossfire, offer vivid accounts of civilian experiences during military operations. The failure of Market Garden prolonged the occupation and directly contributed to the subsequent famine that nearly claimed Hepburn's life.

"Dutch Girl" succeeds in illuminating a lesser-known chapter of a famous life while contributing to the broader historical understanding of civilian experiences during World War II. Matzen's thorough research and measured prose create a biography that serves both as a portrait of a beloved actress's formative years and as a testament to the resilience of those who endured occupation and war. The book offers valuable insights into how trauma and hardship shaped one of the twentieth century's most recognizable figures, making it essential reading for Hepburn admirers and World War II history enthusiasts alike.