The Shadow of Death

by Harry Gordon

" Holocaust survivor Harry Gordon recalls in brutal detail the anguished years of his youth, a youth spent struggling to survive in a Lithuanian concentration camp. A memoir about hope and resilience, The Shadow of Death describes the invasion of Kovno by the Red Army and the impact of Soviet occupation from the perspective of the ghetto's weakest and poorest class. It also serves as a reminder that the Germans were not alone responsible for the persecution and extermination of Jews.

Genres: Memoir, World War II, Holocaust, History

264 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1991

Reviews

[Darya Silman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no audio edition of this book on here. 6 h of listening on Audible. A must-read for all those interested in human cruelty (as if we didn't know how cruel people can be toward each other). The first publication was in 1992 (as per Google) or 1991 (as per Goodreads).

[Eileen Pauli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Harry Gordon several times. He was one of the 'in-laws' at the family functions of an old boyfriend. I knew nothing of his history as a holocaust survivor, and would not have guessed it, either---he seemed to be a happy man, always smiling, surrounded by his son's loving family. Years later, when I read his obituary and saw that he'd written this book, I regretted my ignorance of his history and I felt obliged to read it as my way to honor this man posthumously. I am so glad I did. That Harry Gordon survived this terrible ordeal and then was able to live and die in peace gives me great comfort.

[Nicole Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew Harry Gordon as a funny older gentleman that would visit my hometown of Marshall, WI, collecting scrap and visiting with the locals. I vividly remember him showing me his concentration camp tattoo and telling me his story. He was proud to tell you of his survival and I’m grateful I met a man like him at such a young age. The way he plainly tells his story of survival, I feel, was more poignant than if it had been dramatized. This book is a game changer.

[Kathleen Hagen]

The Shadow of Death: the Holocaust in Lithuania, by Harry Gordon, Narrated by Adam Behr, Produced by the Dayton Street Productions Inc., Downloaded from audible.com.

The war apparently didn’t really hit Lithuania, with regard to rounding up Jews, until around 1944. This is because the Germans prior tothat time were busy fighting Russia. But in 1944, toward the end of the war, the Russians came to take back Lithuania and other Balchan countries. The people living there in the Jewish ghettoes were caught between the Russians and the Germans, still fighting each otherand neither liking Jews much. But their worst enemies werethe Lithuanians who informed on neighbors, moved into the houses and businesses of Jews and displaced them, and in many ways acted no differently than the Nazis. The only difference seemed to be that some of the Lithuanian farmers and peasants hated the Lithuanian elite and sometimes helped the Jews. As a boy, he was active in the resistance, sneaking out of the ghetto, taking off his star, acting like a Lithuanian and bringing home food to his family. Many of the eastern European countries treated their Jewish citizens no differently than the Nazis did during that time. This is yet another book about a Holocaust survivor. Very good.

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the memoir of the Holocaust told through the eyes of a Jewish boy growing up in Lithuania. What I found most poignant in this autobiographical work is its simplicity: the language was straightforward, devoid of over-dramatization or excessive emotion. Its plain language and retelling of the facts - the struggle to find ones loved ones, to find food, to avoid death - made it that much more powerful. The parts I found most touching were those simple acts of humanity of some people, be they friends or strangers, who despite the horror of what was happening and the risk involved, decided to help in whatever way possible. The consequence of these gestures often meant the difference between life and death for the author.

[Lindsay McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a quick read and really interesting. It’s a side of the Holocaust that I didn’t know anything about and I loved how much his personality came through. I read it for the Kaunas story, but found out he lived in Wisconsin!

[Caroline Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me of other Holocaust narratives, yet lacked something. It felt like "someone else's experiences".