Holocaust Memories
A Survey of Holocaust Memoirs, Histories, Novels, and Films
By (author) Claudia Moscovici Foreword by Joseph Polak Author of After the Holocaust the Bells Still Ring, Winner of the 2015 Nati
Publication date:
16 May 2019Length of book:
250 pagesPublisher
Hamilton BooksDimensions:
229x155mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9780761870920
Nearly eighty years have passed since the Holocaust. There have been hundreds of memoirs, histories and novels written about it, yet many fear that this important event may fall into oblivion. As Holocaust survivors pass away, their legacy of suffering, tenacity and courage could be forgotten. It is up to each generation to commemorate the victims, preserve their life stories and hopefully help prevent such catastrophes. These were my main motivations in writing this book, Holocaust Memories, which includes reviews of memoirs, histories, biographies, novels and films about the Holocaust.
It was difficult to choose among the multitude of books on the subject that deserve our attention. I made my selections based partly on the works that are considered to be the most important on the subject; partly on wishing to offer some historical background about the Holocaust in different countries and regions that were occupied by or allied themselves with Nazi Germany, and partly on my personal preferences, interests and knowledge.
The Nazis targeted European Jews as their main victims, so my book focuses primarily on them. At the same time, since the Nazis also targeted other groups they considered dangerous and inferior, I also review books about the sufferings of the Gypsies, the Poles and other groups that fell victim to the Nazi regimes.
In the last part, I review books that discuss other genocides and crimes against humanity, including the Stalinist mass purges, the Cambodian massacres by the Pol Pot regime and the Rwandan genocide. I want to emphasize that history can, indeed, repeat itself, even if in different forms and contexts. Just as the Jews of Europe were not the only targets of genocide, Fascist regimes were not its only perpetrators.
It was difficult to choose among the multitude of books on the subject that deserve our attention. I made my selections based partly on the works that are considered to be the most important on the subject; partly on wishing to offer some historical background about the Holocaust in different countries and regions that were occupied by or allied themselves with Nazi Germany, and partly on my personal preferences, interests and knowledge.
The Nazis targeted European Jews as their main victims, so my book focuses primarily on them. At the same time, since the Nazis also targeted other groups they considered dangerous and inferior, I also review books about the sufferings of the Gypsies, the Poles and other groups that fell victim to the Nazi regimes.
In the last part, I review books that discuss other genocides and crimes against humanity, including the Stalinist mass purges, the Cambodian massacres by the Pol Pot regime and the Rwandan genocide. I want to emphasize that history can, indeed, repeat itself, even if in different forms and contexts. Just as the Jews of Europe were not the only targets of genocide, Fascist regimes were not its only perpetrators.
In this well researched and very well written book about the Holocaust, author Claudia Moscovici reveals the best Holocaust authors who illustrate the events of the Shoah from personal experiences or research. She adds vivid descriptions to the historical events of the Nazi genocide narrative in successive European countries. . . . This is a book that adroitly shines historical light upon examples of our darkest times. In terms of historical fact and our greatest failure of ethics, it serves well as a teaching aid in middle and secondary schools. The author’s clarity demarcates the terror, agony and murder of millions of innocent families at the hands of those willing to negate their potential as human beings. . . . Holocaust Memories takes the reader (and student) on a mesmerizing tale of dread and horror. Yet it also brings a clear message of hope. This outstanding book can play a critical role in teaching the world’s children how to confront morality and how to respect others who are dissimilar.