An Afternoon with Nina Willner - In-person

at the Olney Library

Join Olney Library for an afternoon with Nina Willner, celebrated author of "The Boys in the Light" and "Forty Autumns."

"THE BOYS IN THE LIGHT is a rare account of conflict, terror, salvation and family cohesion that details the often perilous but always remarkably loyal connection among young men who are facing death yet are still able to act to save themselves and others. It was a relationship born in near failure and ending in undeniable triumph." 
--Bookreporter review (2025)

Olney Library is very pleased to welcome critically-acclaimed author Nina Willner to the branch. Nina is a nonfiction writer who has published two books about her family's history.

Her latest book, The Boys in the Light: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival, Faith, and Brotherhood was named Amazon Editors' #3 Best Book of the Year - Top Nonfiction, and Best History Book of 2025. According to the Wall Street Journal, "In The Boys in the Light, Nina Willner poignantly recounts the story of two Jewish boys [one, her father] and the American troops who rescued them."

Her first book, Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall, was published in 2016 and earned a Library Journal starred review and was named a Top 15 Nonfiction Book of 2016 by The Christian Science Monitor. Publisher's Weekly wrote, "Willner's epic memoir traverses three generations of mothers, recounting the tragedy, estrangement, and overwhelming courage of a family torn apart...[and] explores the painful intersection of national duty and familial responsibilities...A thrilling and relevant read."

Q&A and light refreshments to follow. Copies of her books will be available for purchase/signing.  

NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BUT SEATING IS LIMITED.

Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, MD, Inc.

BRIEF BIO: Prior to her writing career, Nina was a US Army intelligence officer who ran sensitive missions behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. Following a career in intelligence, Nina worked in Moscow, Minsk, Prague, Ottawa and Istanbul promoting human rights, women’s and children’s causes and the rule of law for the US Government, nonprofits and a variety of charities. After years living abroad, she now writes narrative nonfiction full time from her home in Washington DC. Learn more by visiting Nina's website here.

SELECT RESOURCES:

• Short video of Eddie Willner speaking about his WWII experience (excerpt from oral history recorded in 1989; Dutton Books & Nina Willner, Instagram, July 22 2025)
  
  
• Thanking 'the Boys' Who Gave Him Life - Jones, Tamara (Sept 16 2002), Washington Post - coverage of the reunion that took place at the Willner’s VA home ~57 years after Eddie and Mike were rescued (access the W Post free with your MCPL card here)
  
  
• ‘Boys in the Light’ author thanks community for values of ‘humility, compassion, leadership - Sorenson, Lori (Oct 2 2025), Rock County Star Herald. Willner's visit to Luverne, MN, to visit Elmer Hovland's family and community.
  
  
• Book Trailer for Forty Autumns, Willner's first book about her mother's family survival behind the Iron Curtain in post-WWII East Germany (William Morrow, YouTube, Jan 6, 2017; ~2 min)
  
  

Questions about this program? Contact Olney Library at 240-773-9545.

Take a look at MCPL's online resources. Don't have a card right now?  No worries!  Find out how to Get a Library Card.

If you plan to attend with a group of ten or more, please contact the branch at least one week before the program to discuss how your group might be accommodated.

Accommodation Requests

People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing should request English-language captioning or sign-language interpretation at least five days before the library-sponsored program they plan to attend. Contact the Assistant Facilities and Accessibility Program Manager at 240-777-0002 with all other accommodation requests.

cm 1.1 01/03/2023

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