Review of The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg
Rosenberg has written an outstanding novel that was able to move me to tears, as if I was reading a memoir written by an actual escapee of Auschwitz. The Auschwitz Escape opens in the small, quiet community of Sedan, France on May 13, 1940. Historically speaking, Sedan, was ground zero for the German Panzer armies advancing into France. So much for thinking the Meginot Line was impenetrable and that Germany would not venture through the Ardennes Forest, protecting France. Germany circumvented the Meginot Line and marched through the Ardennes Forest and stormed through Sedan.
"Evil, unchecked, is the prelude to genocide." This opening line is a statement remembered by the first character we meet, Jean-Luc Leclerc, a Protestant assistant pastor. Powerful words mark the beginning of this story, he remembers reading them in a book, which is of no importance, it is the words that haunt him. Jacob Weisz, the next major character we meet is a young seventeen-year-old Jewish boy. He is having a flashback to late 1938 when his uncle Avi is trying to teach him the importance of knowing how to survive, protection methods and to understand that being Jewish was no longer safe. As fate and misfortune throws Jean-Luc and Jacob together, can Jacob work with Jean-Luc, a Gentile to escape Auschwitz?
Rosenberg has done a superb job of sprinkling historical events throughout the novel that support the story being told. Auschwitz is not known for people leaving alive prior to January 27, 1945 when it was liberated. This tale pays homage to the 144 people that managed to escape. Rosenberg has achieved an enthralling historical fiction account that painstakingly keeps the history in the story and does not take gross liberties with changing things to fit his needs. An excellent opportunity for someone to brush up on details like Executive Order 9417 or do you know Heinrich Heine's (German Jewish Poet) statement about book burning?
Release date: March 18, 2014
Kindle ASIN: B00E1O7EZK
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1414336244
Audio ISBN: 978-1491518953
FTC disclosure: I received an unedited advanced reader copy of this book to review from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. I was not financially compensated by the publisher, Edelweiss or the author. (via Edelweiss)
Title: The Auschwitz Escape
Author: Joel C. Rosenberg
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (2014)
Source: Personal Library (ARC)
Format Read: Advanced Reader PDF from publisher
Genres/Subjects: Fiction, Historical Fiction, 20th Century, WWII, Holocaust
[Notice: Original posting 2014-02-13 at Plethora of Books Blog: http://bookchallenges.weebly.com]
Tags: 2014, Historical Fiction, ARC
Rosenberg has written an outstanding novel that was able to move me to tears, as if I was reading a memoir written by an actual escapee of Auschwitz. The Auschwitz Escape opens in the small, quiet community of Sedan, France on May 13, 1940. Historically speaking, Sedan, was ground zero for the German Panzer armies advancing into France. So much for thinking the Meginot Line was impenetrable and that Germany would not venture through the Ardennes Forest, protecting France. Germany circumvented the Meginot Line and marched through the Ardennes Forest and stormed through Sedan.
"Evil, unchecked, is the prelude to genocide." This opening line is a statement remembered by the first character we meet, Jean-Luc Leclerc, a Protestant assistant pastor. Powerful words mark the beginning of this story, he remembers reading them in a book, which is of no importance, it is the words that haunt him. Jacob Weisz, the next major character we meet is a young seventeen-year-old Jewish boy. He is having a flashback to late 1938 when his uncle Avi is trying to teach him the importance of knowing how to survive, protection methods and to understand that being Jewish was no longer safe. As fate and misfortune throws Jean-Luc and Jacob together, can Jacob work with Jean-Luc, a Gentile to escape Auschwitz?
Rosenberg has done a superb job of sprinkling historical events throughout the novel that support the story being told. Auschwitz is not known for people leaving alive prior to January 27, 1945 when it was liberated. This tale pays homage to the 144 people that managed to escape. Rosenberg has achieved an enthralling historical fiction account that painstakingly keeps the history in the story and does not take gross liberties with changing things to fit his needs. An excellent opportunity for someone to brush up on details like Executive Order 9417 or do you know Heinrich Heine's (German Jewish Poet) statement about book burning?
Release date: March 18, 2014
Kindle ASIN: B00E1O7EZK
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1414336244
Audio ISBN: 978-1491518953
FTC disclosure: I received an unedited advanced reader copy of this book to review from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. I was not financially compensated by the publisher, Edelweiss or the author. (via Edelweiss)
Title: The Auschwitz Escape
Author: Joel C. Rosenberg
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (2014)
Source: Personal Library (ARC)
Format Read: Advanced Reader PDF from publisher
Genres/Subjects: Fiction, Historical Fiction, 20th Century, WWII, Holocaust
[Notice: Original posting 2014-02-13 at Plethora of Books Blog: http://bookchallenges.weebly.com]
Tags: 2014, Historical Fiction, ARC