Gertruda's Oath
Small WWII survival story that speaks volumes about decency, devotion, courage, and love. A powerful reminder that all history is a collection of individual stories. ~ Reviewed by Bill Lewis
Small WWII survival story that speaks volumes about decency, devotion, courage, and love. A powerful reminder that all history is a collection of individual stories. ~ Reviewed by Bill Lewis
This is a superb military history. Another brilliant work from the author of Armageddon. The book has penetrating insight, first rate research, and heartfelt writing. ~ Reviewed by Bill Lewis
Another winner from Kershaw. An excellent account of a small group of Americans who gracefully rose to the occasion. Memorable. ~ Reviewed by Bill Lewis
Jan and Antonina Zabinski were caretakers of the majestic Warsaw Zoo when Germany seized Poland in 1939. The story of their expertise and companionship to a vast menagerie of exotic animals makes for a fascinating read all by itself, but these same qualities were highly valued by the Nazis. The Zabinskis used this tenuous advantage and bravely risked everything to rescue several hundred Jews imprisoned at the Warsaw Ghetto. Ackerman's writing shines with great sensitivity and moves with a riveting pace. ~ Reviewed by Nancy Scheemaker
The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945, the lavishly illustrated companion volume ($50.00, ) written by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns and DVD ($84.99) to the PBS documentary series represents the very personal experiences of soldiers and ordinary citizens from four towns. Many of the stories and photographs have never been published before. Every day as more WWII veterans pass away, we can thank Ken Burns for so exquisitely capturing their legacy.
This is the book we should have been assigned in high school in order that we understand something about the violence, fear, and confusion of actual combat. And how those factors bring about that elusive phenomenom called heroism. Alex Kershaw has already established himself as a historian with a unique capacity to recover both the tragedy and nobility of war. His unaffected prose, backed by impressive research, and a determined focus on the fate of ordniary individuals was wonderfully evident in his best-selling THE BEDFORD BOYS and is repeated here in THE LONGEST WINTER. Both titles are eloquent and powerful statements to the effect that wars are fought by regular folks thrown into situations that can produce behaviour ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. And occasionally heroic. ~ Reviewed by Bill Lewis