The Righteous

Ronald H. Balson

$56.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

St Martin's Press
16 December 2025

Fiction & Literature; Historical fiction; Religious & spiritual fiction; Second World War

From the New York Times bestselling and National Jewish Book Award-winning author: a gripping novel of foreboding, betrayal, heroism, and hope set in World War II Budapest

By the end of 1943, nearly all of Europe's Jewish population had fled, been deported, captured, or killed by Hitler. Only Hungary, and its almost 900,000 Jews, remained free from Hitler's subjugation. They lived under government edicts and restrictions but without fear of harm. That changed in March 1944, after the Nazi defeat at Stalingrad, as an avaricious Hitler conquered Hungary and declared his plan for mass extermination of the Jewish people. With the notorious Adolf Eichmann supervising the process, Nazis began rounding up Hungary's Jewish population.

In this dramatic new novel, The Righteous, Theresa Weissbach, a professor at the University of Michigan, hasn't heard from her parents in Budapest for over a year. Her best friend, Julia Powers, recently awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for her OSS service in occupied Holland, joins with her to locate and rescue Theresa's family. While there, they become involved in a much larger cause, trying to save as many people as they can. Theresa's father, a leader of the Budapest Jewish community, accompanies them in a desperate effort to rescue their people. Working alongside the newly formed US War Refugee Board, diplomats from neutral nations, and leaders of underground rescue organizations, Julia and Theresa forge relationships with Swiss Vice Consul Carl Lutz and Swedish businessman, Raoul Wallenberg. Their skills and connections in the complex networks of public and secret diplomacy enable Julia, Theresa, and others to take enormous risks in an effort to save thousands of innocent lives.

Authentic, suspenseful, and deeply moving, The Righteous continues Ronald H. Balson's fictional exploration of World War II and the heroic actions of those who resisted Hitler's Master Plan.

By: Ronald H. Balson
Imprint: St Martin's Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 31mm, Width: 166mm, Spine: 246mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781250373083
ISBN 10: 1250373085
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 16 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

RONALD H. BALSON is an attorney, professor, and writer. His novel The Girl From Berlin won the National Jewish Book Award and was the Illinois Reading Council's adult fiction selection for the Illinois Reads program. He is also the author of Eli's Promise, a Target Book Club selection, A Place to Hide, An Affair of Spies, Defending Britta Stein, Karolina's Twins, The Trust, Saving Sophie, and the international bestseller, Once We Were Brothers. He lives in Chicago.

Reviews for The Righteous

""Balson skillfully melds an intricate plot and historical facts that will engage and educate readers. ... An excellent historical novel with an exploration of refugee experiences that is relevant today."" -- Library Journal ""Balson presents a compelling story of survival and resistance."" --Booklist ""Balson skillfully melds an intricate plot and historical facts that will engage and educate readers. ... An excellent historical novel with an exploration of refugee experiences that is relevant today."" -- Library Journal