By
– January 26, 2012
This novel is a somber, somewhat ghostly retelling of the people and events in the Sobibor death camp. Categorized by the author as “a vivid testament of remembrance,” it is not for the casual reader; it is a raw story best suited for the serious student. The unremitting horrors as revealed through the memories, thoughts, and nightmares of the survivors are shattering. The critical nature of friendship as a life preserver is shown clearly through the interrelationships of the various people who live in the camp.
We follow Berek, the conduit for the testimony, from the Polish shtetl of his childhood to his experiences during the Holocaust — the most horrific of which occurred during his incarceration in Sobibor. We learn, in great detail, about his participation in the uprising and his eventual escape from the camp. Of particular interest is information on the leader of the uprising, Alexander Pechersky, including the planning, problem solving, and coordination that was involved in executing a successful escape. Yet it is the relentless efforts of Berek and other Nazi hunters through which we participate, albeit vicariously, in the trials of two of the most vicious administrators of Sobibor. We are awed at the hunters’ determination to locate and bring these war criminals to justice for their unspeakable acts.
If you choose to read this book, do so with the expectation that it will engender a range of emotions — anger, distress, disbelief— which, it is to say, pale in comparison to what Berek and his fellow prisoners experienced at the hands of the Nazis in the Sobibor camp. Epilogue and introductory essay.
Naomi Kramer is a retired reading consultant teacher who developed curriculum for using literature to educate children and adults in the history of the Holocaust. She is a docent and educator at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Education Center of Nassau County.