About:
Leaves of Fire by Simcha Guterman is a firsthand historical account bearing witness and documenting the fate of Polish Jews during World War II. Mr. Guterman wrote his story while hiding and fighting in his homeland of Poland, and hid the writings that were found decades later.
- 296 pages
- Publisher : CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 1501078151
My rating for Leaves of Fire – 5
Buy Leaves of Fire from Amazon.com*
Thoughts:
Simcha Guterman, knowing full well his life is in danger, wrote in Yiddish on long pieces so scrap paper what he saw. He placed the papers into bottles and hid them. Decades later the bottles were discovered and translated into at least eight languages.
Leaves of Fire (עלים מן האש) by Simcha Guterman is a view from the inside of the 1942-43 events. The author writes, in short stories, about what he saw, giving us perspective and judgment. It’s obvious that Mr. Guterman knew he was writing for an audience that wasn’t born yet, and that he realized there’s a good chance he probably won’t survive for long.
Simcha Guterman is an excellent writer, a fountain of sharp memories told in a rich narrative. He brings his writing talent and observational skills to the forefront, not losing his personal history. Both Simcha, and his son Yaakov, share the story of their life, happiness, and tragedies in rich, immersive language.
The book is not all doom and gloom. The author has a healthy sense of humor, which I would assume is good to have in such dire circumstances. He writes in clear language, telling his stories while incorporating the famous Yiddish humor of Eastern Europe.
Yaakov Guterman, the author’s son wrote the preface and afterward sections giving context to the family’s story where their timelines meet, and his own remarkable story. He is an excellent Israeli artist and peace activist. His amazing illustrations are peppered throughout the book, echoing his father’s words and family photographs.
Buy Leaves of Fire from Amazon.com*
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer:I bought this book
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