ESCAPE FROM THE GHETTO

The extraordinary true story of one man’s daring escape from persecution during World War II.

“This book,” writes Carr, “is written as far as possible in my father’s own words, drawn from many hours of tape-recorded conversations and transcribed interviews which took place over many years.” In 1940, the author’s father, Henry Carr, aka Chaim Herszman, a 13-year-old Polish Jew living in the Lódz Ghetto, experienced a life-changing event. An altercation at the ghetto’s edge forced young Chaim to kill a Nazi guard in order to save his own brother’s life. Forced to flee his homeland, he began a frighteningly dangerous trek across Europe. When it became clear that escape into the Soviet Union was not possible, he set his sights on joining other Polish refugees in France. His unlikely journey first took him to Berlin and then to multiple spots in France. Crossing the mountains into Spain, he eventually made his way to the U.K. via Gibraltar. During this time, he saw combat as a member of the British army, though he was also questioned by British authorities who believed he may have been a spy for the Nazis. More than a fascinating story replete with hair-raising escapes and moments of sheer luck, Carr’s saga provides a number of lessons. Throughout, the author investigates hidden identity and the reality that hair and skin color, along with many other superficial traits and uncontrollable external events, can often mean the difference between life and death. “If anyone could say their life had been shaped by events beyond their control,” he writes, “it was Dad.” Carr also reveals that even in places of evil, pockets of good exist, as evidenced by families who gave his father shelter and individuals who showed him kindness. Ultimately, the book exemplifies the human spirit at its strongest.

A highly worthwhile tale of courage and perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.