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The Partisan From Vilna
She fought for freedom. She fought to survive. But she also fought for love.
1939. As tensions in Europe rise, young and outspoken Eva prepares for her second year at the Institute of Jewish Studies in Warsaw. Witnessing the rising danger for Jews everywhere, her only hope was that war would not come to her small community in western Poland, right by the German border. But when the war ultimately breaks out, it’s Eva’s courage and resourcefulness that pave her way to freedom.
At a time when most are expected to give into their fates, Eva decides to take the reins into her own hands. After escaping to the city of Vilna, Eva joins the underground Jewish resistance, together with Mirka and David – two resistance fighters whose loyalty is matched only by their fearlessness. With them by her side, Eva is certain their actions can change the tides of war.
But war is not the only challenge they need to overcome, and as Eva’s reputation as a partisan grows, so does the relationship between Mirka and David.
As the three move from mission to mission, sabotaging German railways and power lines and evading the German forces, Eva comes to realize her own feelings toward David. Is tragedy inevitable, or can their love and friendship survive the most terrible war in history?
Based on the awe-inspiring true story of one of the first female partisans, The Partisan From Vilna is an unforgettable testament to the incredible courage, willpower, and passion in the face of the greatest of evils.
1939. As tensions in Europe rise, young and outspoken Eva prepares for her second year at the Institute of Jewish Studies in Warsaw. Witnessing the rising danger for Jews everywhere, her only hope was that war would not come to her small community in western Poland, right by the German border. But when the war ultimately breaks out, it’s Eva’s courage and resourcefulness that pave her way to freedom.
At a time when most are expected to give into their fates, Eva decides to take the reins into her own hands. After escaping to the city of Vilna, Eva joins the underground Jewish resistance, together with Mirka and David – two resistance fighters whose loyalty is matched only by their fearlessness. With them by her side, Eva is certain their actions can change the tides of war.
But war is not the only challenge they need to overcome, and as Eva’s reputation as a partisan grows, so does the relationship between Mirka and David.
As the three move from mission to mission, sabotaging German railways and power lines and evading the German forces, Eva comes to realize her own feelings toward David. Is tragedy inevitable, or can their love and friendship survive the most terrible war in history?
Based on the awe-inspiring true story of one of the first female partisans, The Partisan From Vilna is an unforgettable testament to the incredible courage, willpower, and passion in the face of the greatest of evils.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2023
179 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 5, 2023
‘Since leaving Poland in 1945, I have never wanted to return’ - A great read!
Israeli author Miri Merin Freilich earned her degrees, including her PhD, from both Columbia University in New York and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and serves as an educator, historian and researcher, a significant advantage to her writing this engrossing WW II novel detailing true events in Vilna, Poland. THE PARTISAN FROM VILNA is translated from the Hebrew by Noelle Canin.
Dr. Freilich opens her novel with a jarring moment in history - the Adolf Eichmann Trial in June of 1961 in Jerusalem - as observed by the primary character, the partisan Eva, who wants to put her history with Nazi occupation behind her. But as she discovers, the trial resurfaces the memories of her partisanship in Vilna, Poland along with her friends Mirka and David, and with a forward leap to 2002, being in her eighties, she decides to revisit those horrid times with relating this story. Somehow this opening makes the novel even more pertinent as, while the story may seem like yet another view of the Holocaust, the author’s placement of her character in modern times makes the message of ‘how the passion to live a meaningful life and the unwillingness to give in to evil supersedes reason and fear to create inconceivable courage’ even more relevant.
Beautifully written, both as prose and as history, this novel is outstanding in the way it invites us to understand the role of committed individuals when faced with the cruelty of the Holocaust. Very highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
Israeli author Miri Merin Freilich earned her degrees, including her PhD, from both Columbia University in New York and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and serves as an educator, historian and researcher, a significant advantage to her writing this engrossing WW II novel detailing true events in Vilna, Poland. THE PARTISAN FROM VILNA is translated from the Hebrew by Noelle Canin.
Dr. Freilich opens her novel with a jarring moment in history - the Adolf Eichmann Trial in June of 1961 in Jerusalem - as observed by the primary character, the partisan Eva, who wants to put her history with Nazi occupation behind her. But as she discovers, the trial resurfaces the memories of her partisanship in Vilna, Poland along with her friends Mirka and David, and with a forward leap to 2002, being in her eighties, she decides to revisit those horrid times with relating this story. Somehow this opening makes the novel even more pertinent as, while the story may seem like yet another view of the Holocaust, the author’s placement of her character in modern times makes the message of ‘how the passion to live a meaningful life and the unwillingness to give in to evil supersedes reason and fear to create inconceivable courage’ even more relevant.
Beautifully written, both as prose and as history, this novel is outstanding in the way it invites us to understand the role of committed individuals when faced with the cruelty of the Holocaust. Very highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
April 15, 2023
“The Partisan From Vilna” is an emotionally charged historical novel that brings to life the incredible story of Eva, a young Jewish woman who fights for survival, freedom, and love during the horrors of World War II. As tensions rise in Europe, Eva's hopes for peace are shattered when the war ultimately breaks out, and she must rely on her resourcefulness and courage to find a way to survive.
Eva's journey takes her to the city of Vilna, where she joins the underground Jewish resistance and meets two brave fighters, Mirka and David. Together, they embark on a dangerous mission to sabotage German railways and power lines while evading the German forces. Eva's growing reputation as a partisan only serves to complicate matters as she must navigate her feelings for Mirka and David while the trio fights for their lives.
The author's skillful storytelling entwines the threads of love, survival, and courage against the backdrop of the ultimate evil, resulting in a captivating and indelible narrative. The book is based on the remarkable true story of one of the earliest female partisans, imbuing the story with a heightened sense of emotional depth and authenticity. The characters are thoughtfully crafted, and the narrative's intensity will have readers on the edge of their seats and touched to the core.
For fans of World War II history, the Jewish resistance, or the triumphant tales of women who fought against impossible odds, “The Partisan From Vilna” is an essential read. Finally, with a distinctly cinematic flair and a masterful command of storytelling, this book comes highly recommended and gets a well-deserved five stars. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Eva's journey takes her to the city of Vilna, where she joins the underground Jewish resistance and meets two brave fighters, Mirka and David. Together, they embark on a dangerous mission to sabotage German railways and power lines while evading the German forces. Eva's growing reputation as a partisan only serves to complicate matters as she must navigate her feelings for Mirka and David while the trio fights for their lives.
The author's skillful storytelling entwines the threads of love, survival, and courage against the backdrop of the ultimate evil, resulting in a captivating and indelible narrative. The book is based on the remarkable true story of one of the earliest female partisans, imbuing the story with a heightened sense of emotional depth and authenticity. The characters are thoughtfully crafted, and the narrative's intensity will have readers on the edge of their seats and touched to the core.
For fans of World War II history, the Jewish resistance, or the triumphant tales of women who fought against impossible odds, “The Partisan From Vilna” is an essential read. Finally, with a distinctly cinematic flair and a masterful command of storytelling, this book comes highly recommended and gets a well-deserved five stars. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
August 5, 2023
The Partisan From Vilna was an amazing read - intriguing and captivating. You felt like you were right in the midst of what was happening as the main person in the novel - Eva - describes all that was occurring in Poland and Lithuania during World War II, and all that she was experiencing - the Nazi occupation, the confinement of Jews to ghettos and their eventual extermination and/or becoming forced labor for the Nazi war machine, the fear, the hiding and then becoming part of the resistance. The novel, based on a true story, is an important story to read and to understand what it was like being Jewish during the Nazi reign. Once the Nazis were in the throes of defeat, then the Russians moved in, who were just as bad as the Nazis.
We also follow the attempts to immigrate to Eretz Israel and the difficulties in starting the new nation of Israel. The book is well-written, descriptions of people, situations, and areas are very good. I recommend this book highly.
We also follow the attempts to immigrate to Eretz Israel and the difficulties in starting the new nation of Israel. The book is well-written, descriptions of people, situations, and areas are very good. I recommend this book highly.
September 10, 2023
This is a detailed, historically accurate novel of Jewish partisan activity in Poland and Lithuania during WWII. Our heroine survives the worst of times heroically establishing her place among the bravest soldiers of the resistance. The emotional toll on young women is described plainly as Eva negotiates her loneliness and depravation of the ghetto and the deep forests of Poland. The fact of her survival is the victory over Germany's final solution to the Jewish problem.
September 13, 2023
A very sad but beautifully written novel about the cruelty ordinary people endured during WW2. It was pleasing that evil was eventually beaten by goodness & that the Jewish people didn't resort to take their revenge at the war's end; they were/are much much better than the evil Nazis.
July 3, 2023
Powerful story
Tragic account of atrocities committed in and before WW2. Hopefully, we can learn from the past and refuse to allow anything like this to happen again.
Tragic account of atrocities committed in and before WW2. Hopefully, we can learn from the past and refuse to allow anything like this to happen again.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews