TOUCHING THE WIRE: Auschwitz1944: A Jewish nurse steps from a cattle wagon into the heart of a young doctor, but can he save her?
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TOUCHING THE WIRE: Auschwitz1944: A Jewish nurse steps from a cattle wagon into the heart of a young doctor, but can he save her?
"He had no way to tell her he had given her life: no right to tell her to abandon hope." A fictional story of every man and woman interred in Nazi death camps throughout the Second World War, this novel is based on real events. Part One - In the Shadow of the Wolf In a death camp in 1940's Poland, a young doctor and one of his nurses struggle to save lives and relieve the suffering of hundreds of women. As their relationship blossoms, amid the death and deprivation, they join the camp resistance and, despite the danger of betrayal, he steals damning evidence of war-crimes. Afraid of repercussions, and for the sake of his post-war family, he hides the evidence but hard truths and terrible choices haunt him, as does an unkept promise to his lost love.
Part Two – Though the Heavens should Fall In present-day England, his granddaughter seeks to answer the questions posed by her grandfather's enigmatic carving. Her own relationship in tatters, she meets a modern historian who, intrigued by the carving, agrees to help her discover its purpose. As her grandfather's past seeps into the present, she betrays the man she loves and is forced to confront her own guilt in order to be able to forgive the unforgivable and keep her grandfather's promise.
Excerpt: "A young woman bent to retrieve her possessions. An SS officer strode past. 'Leave. Luggage afterwards.' She stood wide-eyed like a startled deer, one arm cradling a baby. Beside her an elderly woman clutched a battered suitcase. The girl's eyes darted from soldier to painted signboard and back. 'What are we doing here, grandmother? Why have they brought us here?' The wind teased at her cheerful red shawl, revealing and lifting long black hair. She straightened and attempted a smile. 'It'll be all right, Grandmother. God has protected us on our journey.' Voices rasped, whips cracked, dogs barked... An SS officer pushed towards a woman of about fifty. 'How old?' She didn't respond so the officer shouted. He edged closer. As a doctor he held a privileged postion, but he'd also discovered he had a gift for languages. He translated the German to stilted Hungarian, adding quietly. 'Say you're under forty-five. Say you are well. Stand here with the younger women.' He moved from woman to woman, intercepting those he could.‘Say you are well. Say your daughter is sixteen. Say you can work or have a skill. Say you aren't pregnant.' Miriam's eyes glistened. ‘May He rescue us from every foe.' She touched her grandmother's cheek, a gentle lingering movement, and placed a tender kiss on her baby's forehead. She moved to stand where he pointed. Miriam's eyes met his. He had no way to tell her had given her life: no right to tell her to abandon hope. 'Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.' "
Words readers have used to describe this story - 'astonishing - compelling - relentlessly engaging - important - complex and brilliant.' Readers' feedback, via reviews, is hugely appreciated.
