These are extraordinary stories of love affairs during the most dangerous, degrading, and deadly conditions of genocidal persecution. The extreme lengths to which two people will go to express their love, and the superhuman strength that is derived from such love, is the stuff of miracles and endless inspiration.
This little-known aspect of the Holocaust, seen through the eyes of those in love, is a unique contribution to our understanding of the best and the worst qualities of human nature. This book must be read by anyone who wants to know more about life and love enduring the most horrendous conditions one could imagine."
This is an incredibly moving collection of stories, highlighting the atrocities of the war with particular reference to European Jews, but focusing on the hope, love, and fortitude of these brave people. Sometimes the references are so prosaic - one man was captured four times and 'escaped' - and at other times graphic and distressing: one woman hid for days in a cesspool, where German soldiers fired upon her and her companions. One died, she survived but was grazed. The wound alone, infected with human sewage, could so easily have killed her.
The nature of the love these couples had for each other is entirely selfless. One woman saved the life of the mother of a man who had the power to put her name on Schindler's List. She asked for her 'husband' to be put on that list in her place. She ended up in Auschwitz.
Others risked their lives to free their loved ones and their families - in one case, 42 members of the family were saved. Frequently I found myself shaking my head in wonder at the bravery of what were ordinary - i.e. civilian - people.
The title of the book doesn't completely convey the truth, for almost without exception it transpired that these love stories did, indeed, have a 'tomorrow' although they couldn't have known it at the time. At times it was a little confusing as some stories were written by the author, and some by direct relatives of the subjects of particular chapters. When these opened with 'my parents' or 'my mother was born in...' it led to momentary confusion and some stories were better written and more engaging, if that is the right word, than others.
Of course, it is imperative that such stories are written down, talked about, and remembered, but inevitably some were more powerful than others and if I had any criticism at all it is that there might have been just a few too many included in the collection.
But these people (whose photos are included) and their stories have stayed with me, long after I closed the book. We throw around words like resilient, resourceful, and survivor without perhaps thinking what they mean when used in such horrific circumstances. That any of these innocent people managed to stay alive in the face of such inhuman suffering is something of a miracle. That their love for one another flourished is uplifting. A remarkable collection of stories.
[I was sent a copy of this book by the publishers, with no obligation to review.]
Love with no Tomorrow is available
From Amberley Books
and all good bookshops.
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