The House on the Canal

The Story of the House that Hid Anne Frank

Thomas Harding

An enthralling portrait of one of the most famous buildings in the world—the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam—and its four-hundred years of history.

Millions have passed through its doors, but few know the full story of the house in Amsterdam's Canal District that hid Anne Frank and her family. Built in 1635 by an enterprising Dutch businessman, over the next 400 years the house would welcome a cast of extraordinary characters—merchants, craftsmen, scientists, religious dissenters—and bear witness to some of the most dramatic events in history as the country grew into a powerful modern nation.

The House on the Canal is the enthralling portrait of one remarkable house through time: a place of life, death, work, sanctuary, celebration, and an enduring memorial to the horrors of war and a young girl's hope for humanity.

Thomas Harding is a bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than sixteen languages. He is the author of Hanns and Rudolf, which won the JQ-Wingate Prize for Non-Fiction; The House by the Lake, which was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award; Blood on the Page, which won the Crime Writers’ Association “Golden Dagger Award” for nonfiction; and most recently, White Debt, which the Guardian described as “striking [and] full of details that will send a chill down your spine.” Thomas lives in Florence, Italy.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for Thomas Harding

"Against this tech-inflected landscape, Thomas Harding’s new biography of George Weidenfeld floats as if on stained foolscap. We won’t see the likes of this fellow again. Weidenfeld would assemble a catalog bulging with many of the 20th century’s most important authors: literary novelists, philosophers, scientists, celebrities, democratic leaders. Though he enjoyed his comforts, Weidenfeld was less motivated by riches than ideas and people. Judging from Harding’s work, Weidenfeld was neither hedgehog nor fox, but—aptly, considering his beloved Nabokov’s favorite hobby—butterfly.” Alexandra Jacobs, The New York Times

"'A skillful and subtle study in biography, British attitudes, and the book business." The Wall Street Journal

“The Maverick is packed with fascinating accounts of book deals and debacles during the 'golden age of publishing.' [An] entertaining biography.” Michael Dirda, The Washington Post, 

"I read it overnight. An entertaining read for those who enjoy literary gossip in which the list of dropped names is dazzling. A publisher of legitimate distinction, there is no one quite like Weidenfeld in the trade these days." Peter Osnos, Air Mail

"There's plenty to admire in this unconventional biography of George Weidenfeld. The Maverick is a sensitive and worthy study of a great man." The Jewish Chronicle

“Like George Weidenfeld himself, Thomas Harding's accomplishment is substantial, lively, and full of interest. The Maverick is a fine biography.” Henry Kissinger

“The Maverick anchors George Weidenfeld as one of the foremost influencers in modern literature and a man who rose from extraordinary circumstances to lead an even more extraordinary life and legacy. A treasure trove of insight and history.” Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global