Under Two Flags
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Published by: Black Rose Writing
Release Date: March 26, 2026
Pages: 296
ISBN13: 978-1685137328
Synopsis
When dreams collide with war, survival becomes the ultimate performance.
In October 1916, eighteen-year-old Josephine Therese Marzynski leaves Boston for Berlin to pursue a dream of studying opera at Germany’s most prestigious music conservatory. Living with family friends and immersing herself in German culture, she finds unexpected beauty and friendship in the heart of a war-torn country.
When America enters the Great War in April 1917, Josephine’s world transforms overnight—from welcomed student to enemy of the state. Trapped in Berlin, Josephine must navigate rationing, bureaucratic interrogations, and the constant threat of suspicion. Her survival depends on those who risk their own safety to protect her, while she struggles with divided loyalties between her American identity and the German people who have become her chosen family.
Based on the true story from Josephine’s memoir and set against the backdrop of a city slowly starving under the weight of war, Under Two Flags is a gripping tale of resilience, moral complexity, and the transformative power of music in humanity's darkest hours. As Josephine fights to secure passage home, she confronts impossible choices that will test everything she believes about loyalty, survival, and the true meaning of patriotism.
Praise
“Daly sensitively explores war, patriotism, and ambition in this well-researched tale!”
– Kate Quinn, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Alice Network
“…. an unforgettable story with a fascinating and courageous female character at center stage. The lovely prose brought me to the front row for every note. Brava, Janis!”
— Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club and The Lilac Girls
“… a richly detailed, emotionally resonant, and beautifully told historical fiction novel. Both a celebration of women’s resilience and a poignant meditation on belonging, Daly’s story shines from the first note to the last.”
— Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of Confessions of a Grammar Queen
“The novel documents a fascinating period of history from an A rich tale of love, music, and being trapped on the wrong side of a war.”— Kirkus Reviews
“A fascinating, immersive work of historical fiction with tension that crackles from page one and a protagonist whose courage, passion, and independence of spirit shine throughout, Under Two Flags is a beautifully researched and written reminder of some of the less obvious costs of war and a love letter to music. I loved it.” — Penny Haw, author of The Invincible Miss Cust and Follow Me to Africa
“Echoes of history mix with intrigue, deception, betrayal, passion, and resilience in this captivating novel from award-winning author Janis Robinson Daly.” — Ashley E. Sweeney, author of The Irish Girl
“Perfectly captures a young woman's drive for pursuing music.” — Jessica Bloch-Moisand, Voice Faculty, Expanded Education at New England Conservatory
“The author excels at capturing the wartime atmosphere of Berlin. She balances the stark realities of starvation, repression, and fear with moments of genuine kindness, human connection, and quiet acts of courage. This book transforms history into a unique, emotional, and compelling story of identity, sacrifice, and survival.” – Sublime Book Review
“As a mezzo soprano’s voice can lift a libretto to transcendent heights, Daly, with her beautiful prose, impeccable research, and multi-layered characters, transforms the reader. A story of resilience, identity, and the redemptive power of music makes you yearn for a seat at the opera.” — Linda Rosen, author of Abandoning the Script
“In the style of Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River, Daly transforms a little-known firsthand account into a gripping tale of courage, survival, and the resilience of a young woman trapped in Berlin during World War I.” — Cam Torrens, bestselling author of the Tyler Zahn mystery/suspense novels
“Janis Robinson Daly’s writing is detailed and carefully structured, using musical framing to shape the narrative into acts, scenes, and an overture that echo Josephine’s training and worldview. Metaphors from music and performance recur throughout, reinforcing the idea that Josephine experiences the world through sound, timing, and balance.” – 5 Star Review, Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite
