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Love Among the Ruins: A memoir of life and love in Hamburg, 1945
At 22, the war is over for RAF serviceman Harry Leslie Smith – the now 92-year-old activist and author of the acclaimed Harry’s Last Stand – but the battle for love and hope rages on.
Stationed in occupied Hamburg, a city physically and emotionally ripped apart by Allied bombing, and determined to escape the grinding poverty of his Yorkshire youth, Harry unexpectedly finds a reason to stay: a young German woman by the name of Friede.
As their love develops, they must face both German suspicion and British disapproval of relations with ‘the enemy’.
Harry’s ardent, straight-from-the-heart memoir brings to life a city reduced to rubble, populated with refugees, black marketeers, corrupt businessmen and cynical soldiers. It’s a unique snapshot of a terrible period in Europe’s history, and a passionate love letter to a city, to a woman, and to life itself.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2015
63 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Harry Leslie Smith
8 books259 followersHarry Leslie Smith was a British survivor of the Great Depression, a Second World War RAF veteran and, in his 90s, an activist for the poor, for refugees and for the preservation of social democracy. He wrote for numerous publications including The New Statesman, The Daily Mirror, The Tyee, International Business Times as well as the Guardian where his articles have been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and have attracted huge comment and debate. He authored several books about Britain during the Great Depression, the Second World War and postwar austerity. He lived in Yorkshire.
Harry Leslie Smith books are represented by Greene & Heaton. His books include 1923, The Empress of Australia, Harry's Last Stand, Love Among the Ruins, and Don't Let My Past Be Your Future.
Harry Leslie Smith books are represented by Greene & Heaton. His books include 1923, The Empress of Australia, Harry's Last Stand, Love Among the Ruins, and Don't Let My Past Be Your Future.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 12, 2019
‘Love among the Ruins’ by Harry Leslie Smith (2015) – the acclaimed author of ‘Harry’s Last Stand’, political commentator, activist and campaigner.
‘Among The Ruins’ is Harry’s autobiographical and very personal story of his relationship with young German woman, Friede in occupied Hamburg (post WWII) and his subsequent quest to overcome bureaucracy, taboo and stigma and his attempt to marry her.
‘Among The Ruins’ is recounted in a relatively matter of fact and pedestrian manner, but is nonetheless enlightening for that. Enlightening too, to read Smith’s portrayal of what life was like for much of the German population of occupied Hamburg post the end of WWII – the extreme squalor and the deprivation that he witnessed and that was suffered by so many. This is an important side of the ‘Victory in Europe’ story that we (certainly in the UK) heard and hear so very little about.
Interesting too to read about the practical difficulties faced by a member of the British armed forces in a relationship with a German national.
‘Among The Ruins’ is Harry’s autobiographical and very personal story of his relationship with young German woman, Friede in occupied Hamburg (post WWII) and his subsequent quest to overcome bureaucracy, taboo and stigma and his attempt to marry her.
‘Among The Ruins’ is recounted in a relatively matter of fact and pedestrian manner, but is nonetheless enlightening for that. Enlightening too, to read Smith’s portrayal of what life was like for much of the German population of occupied Hamburg post the end of WWII – the extreme squalor and the deprivation that he witnessed and that was suffered by so many. This is an important side of the ‘Victory in Europe’ story that we (certainly in the UK) heard and hear so very little about.
Interesting too to read about the practical difficulties faced by a member of the British armed forces in a relationship with a German national.
February 4, 2018
In today's age of Trump where obnoxious, boisterous claims against decency and kindness have become all too commonplace, the world needs a refresher history course on what can occur when the world follows the lead of Fascism. Who better to give that lesson than Harry Leslie Smith, a 95 year old Great Depression and WWII British RAF survivor?
I became aware of Mr. Smith on Twitter where he can often be found advocating for the humanity of the refugees of our current world. Harry believes so much in his compassionate calling that he has pledged to spend the rest of his life visiting refugee camps to shed light and advocacy on the moral dilemma facing us regarding this ever too present issue. LOVE AMONG THE RUINS gives us the roots of his fierce commitment to the plight of refugees. Following the end of WWII, Harry found himself in British occupied Hamburg, Germany after the defeat of Fascist Hitler. There he witnesses firsthand the atrocities of war and the suffering of the thousands of German refugees who survived the Allied bombings of their town and the countless foreigners flooding into western Germany in their desperate attempts to flee the oppressive Soviets.
It's clear in reading anything written by Harry that he has a keen sense of history. With his equally keen wit and intellect, Harry is the proper advocate for the compassionate progressive ideals that strive to protect humanity from the darker forces of the world.
Harry's telling of how he found love among the ruins of destruction is a moving story of how the ideal of love can survive the impact of war.
I became aware of Mr. Smith on Twitter where he can often be found advocating for the humanity of the refugees of our current world. Harry believes so much in his compassionate calling that he has pledged to spend the rest of his life visiting refugee camps to shed light and advocacy on the moral dilemma facing us regarding this ever too present issue. LOVE AMONG THE RUINS gives us the roots of his fierce commitment to the plight of refugees. Following the end of WWII, Harry found himself in British occupied Hamburg, Germany after the defeat of Fascist Hitler. There he witnesses firsthand the atrocities of war and the suffering of the thousands of German refugees who survived the Allied bombings of their town and the countless foreigners flooding into western Germany in their desperate attempts to flee the oppressive Soviets.
It's clear in reading anything written by Harry that he has a keen sense of history. With his equally keen wit and intellect, Harry is the proper advocate for the compassionate progressive ideals that strive to protect humanity from the darker forces of the world.
Harry's telling of how he found love among the ruins of destruction is a moving story of how the ideal of love can survive the impact of war.
January 4, 2019
I had been following Harry for the last year or so of his life on twitter so felt I wanted to know more about him. this book definitely helped me feel that I did that.
Harry served in the second world war, non combative, and then continued to serve in the RAF after the war as he felt his quality of life was better than going back to his mining community in the North of England (he would be warm, fed, watered and away from his not overtly loving family). Whilst in Germany he met and started dating and fell in love with a German. At the time it was illegal for a British Citizen to marry a German. So the story begins and we hear their gentle but touching story. I guess it proves that nothing is new, just slightly different. I understood interracial dynamics in the early '70s but thought we were the first to experience it - far from it. Just different groups of differences that have been a challenge rather than the joy they proved to be for Harry.
Harry served in the second world war, non combative, and then continued to serve in the RAF after the war as he felt his quality of life was better than going back to his mining community in the North of England (he would be warm, fed, watered and away from his not overtly loving family). Whilst in Germany he met and started dating and fell in love with a German. At the time it was illegal for a British Citizen to marry a German. So the story begins and we hear their gentle but touching story. I guess it proves that nothing is new, just slightly different. I understood interracial dynamics in the early '70s but thought we were the first to experience it - far from it. Just different groups of differences that have been a challenge rather than the joy they proved to be for Harry.
August 5, 2018
The only thing I didn't like about this book is that it ended too soon. This is a beautiful love story and if you don't know who Harry Leslie Smith is, you need to learn about him.
February 17, 2019
A must read. Will definitely be reading more from Harry Leslie Smith. A legend. RIP.
September 12, 2015
In this book Harry shares his memoirs from just after the end of the Second World War. Harry is now twenty-two and was ready for peace. He has spent the last four years in the RAF as a wireless operator. Living in Hamburg and with no desire to return back to his hometown in Yorkshire, knowing there is nothing for him there anymore, Harry meets and falls in love with a young German girl called Friede and in this book their remarkable love story is told.
The war may be over but prejudices are still high and romance does not run smoothly for the young sweethearts, from two completely different cultures divided by war. Can they fight to stay together and be together against the church and the government?
I was really looking forward to reading this book after reading Harry book 1923: A memoir Lies and Testaments, which I really enjoyed and found really interesting and I was not disappointed with this book. A wonderful romantic story, about two people in love that are thrown obstacles in their way to keep them apart.
This to me personally is the best way to learn social history, by authors like Harry, who have wrote down and shared their own true life personal experiences all about what real life was really like and how they lived it. This is a fascinating story. I really admire Harry’s determination to be with the woman he loves. This book is an excellent read.
The war may be over but prejudices are still high and romance does not run smoothly for the young sweethearts, from two completely different cultures divided by war. Can they fight to stay together and be together against the church and the government?
I was really looking forward to reading this book after reading Harry book 1923: A memoir Lies and Testaments, which I really enjoyed and found really interesting and I was not disappointed with this book. A wonderful romantic story, about two people in love that are thrown obstacles in their way to keep them apart.
This to me personally is the best way to learn social history, by authors like Harry, who have wrote down and shared their own true life personal experiences all about what real life was really like and how they lived it. This is a fascinating story. I really admire Harry’s determination to be with the woman he loves. This book is an excellent read.
March 4, 2016
I just finished "Love Among the Ruins", and I'm nearly speechless. I spent a couple years living in Germany decades after the author, but I still found many bits and pieces that seemed familiar. Harry Leslie Smith has written a masterpiece. The plotline is gripping, the narrative flows, and the dialogue is stark. This memoir is beautifully written. He sets scenes with such detail that I felt as if I was experiencing the story with him. It's just a great book.
I truly got to know Harry, Friede, and the other characters as this story progressed. It gives us a glimpse into a little told part of the World War II story. Prior to this account, I knew almost nothing about life in the British zone of occupation Germany. Mr. Smith has given us a rare gift by telling his story and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in WW-II history or a good love story.
I truly got to know Harry, Friede, and the other characters as this story progressed. It gives us a glimpse into a little told part of the World War II story. Prior to this account, I knew almost nothing about life in the British zone of occupation Germany. Mr. Smith has given us a rare gift by telling his story and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in WW-II history or a good love story.
August 24, 2016
HLS writes so beautifully.
Loved it.
Loved it.
March 3, 2017
Not only is this an educational first hand account of life in postwar Germany but, ultimately, it is a wonderful and touching tale of true love and romance that will leave you with a warm feeling.
January 12, 2020
What a beautiful memoir about a time and place that I knew little about it—Hamburg between 1945 to 1947. The core of the story: A British soldier falls in love with a German teenager.
Very well written with lots of detail about the after-effects of war, both for the British and for the Germans. Here's an example of the author's style: "Scuttled Luftwaffe fighter planes sprouted around the edges of the landing zone with their noses dug into the ground like discarded cigarettes." (page 87).
Very well written with lots of detail about the after-effects of war, both for the British and for the Germans. Here's an example of the author's style: "Scuttled Luftwaffe fighter planes sprouted around the edges of the landing zone with their noses dug into the ground like discarded cigarettes." (page 87).
November 15, 2015
Harry Smith has written something you rarely find these days; a genuine, unpretentious and honest memoir that is at once a fascinating story of the early years in post-war Germany and a heart-felt coming of age love story. Love Among the Ruins was hard to put down. Smith's clean, honest prose and eye for detail never fail. As an American born in 1941, I was too young to experience the war, nor did I have any real concept of what life was like for the average working man in England after the war. I have studied WWII extensively, but I learned more about the human reality from Smith's excellent book than I would have expected. Highly recommended. Honesty in memoir needs to be rewarded.
January 21, 2019
This book reads a bit like post apocalyptic fiction but it's acutally set in the past. A superb read - as well as being heartwarming , the realities of life after the war are not talked about or taught in history. I found it enlightening, and it casts our current politics in an interesting light. I love his writing style- at once shedding light on details and keeping the pace moving
September 10, 2019
Harry is my hero ...
This is a must read after ‘Harry’s Last Stand ‘, it is touching first hand account of post war lives like I’ve never read before .. Harry’s impeccable style and some humour thrown in .. I highly recommend this after you’ve read ‘Harry’s Last Stand ‘. I’m glad he told his story - with Salutations to Harry
This is a must read after ‘Harry’s Last Stand ‘, it is touching first hand account of post war lives like I’ve never read before .. Harry’s impeccable style and some humour thrown in .. I highly recommend this after you’ve read ‘Harry’s Last Stand ‘. I’m glad he told his story - with Salutations to Harry
July 2, 2016
This book I would recommend everyone it a story of romance found in Germany just as the second world war is ending in Germany.
A beautiful tale of how a Englishman fell for a lovely German girl and his story how he fought to marry her.
A beautiful tale of how a Englishman fell for a lovely German girl and his story how he fought to marry her.
January 17, 2016
Another extremely well-written and moving socially relevant memoir from Harry Leslie Smith. Thank Harry for sharing your personal story in such a generous and insightful way.
November 15, 2020
Harry Leslie Smith was an amazing, compassionate man. This book talks about the early years with his future wife Friede, who he met in Germany shortly after the Second World War ended when he was there with the RAF. Their relationship endured despite the hardships faced by German civilians post-war and the discouragement towards British/German relationships; and even when the law changed so they could marry, the road was not straightforward. Interesting, well-written account of the time and his experiences and a wonderful story of love enduring against all the odds. The only disappointment was that I would have liked to have known a little more beyond where it ended when Friede joined him in Yorkshire, but I know their marriage did endure into old age and I very much enjoyed the book.
June 4, 2025
It's hard to critique someone's retelling of their life like it's just another novel, but as enlightening and fascinated as some parts were, there's this rushed element to it where details are brushed over to emphasise the end result. Even at the end, they set up life in Halifax, well, how? Neither of them had money to spare and the RAF made it clear he was on his own, how did their lives move over into british civillian life? How did they set up the house. Bits of information that I would say were important for an autobiography.
Some parts go into intricate detail to the point where it's almost unbelievable that Harry Smith has remembered it exactly so, but where the details may be appreciated, there's gaps.
Some parts go into intricate detail to the point where it's almost unbelievable that Harry Smith has remembered it exactly so, but where the details may be appreciated, there's gaps.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2019
I appreciated the rich descriptions provided in this true story, set against the backdrop of the end of the Second World War and the dire nature of life in Germany. I was disappointed to get to the end, and I hope that some of his other books talk at least a little more in detail about their life after Germany.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2019
This a lovely simple love story set in the ruins of post war Hamburg. I like this a lot, perhaps not the greatest work of literature but a good story and what are good book but just good stories. It is also a good reminder of the destruction of our forefathers least we forget the ability of man to destroy. I felt an empathy for the characters and wanted to know how it all turns out.
February 18, 2019
A fascinating portrait of what life was like at the end of WWII. The author writes candidly of the conditions and attitudes prevailing in the period following the end of the war.
It’s an eye opener in terms of the average persons view of life at the time, and reflects the mistrust and suspicion on both sides.
It’s written with a warm tone, and the cynicism doesn’t mar the tale.
It’s an eye opener in terms of the average persons view of life at the time, and reflects the mistrust and suspicion on both sides.
It’s written with a warm tone, and the cynicism doesn’t mar the tale.
October 29, 2018
Unfortunately I couldn’t complete this book, unlike Harry’s last stand which I thoroughly enjoyed. I found the love of Harry’s life too manipulating, maybe she had to be right after the war, maybe it was just my interpretation, who knows. I might try to read this again another time.
June 23, 2018
A sweet love song to a woman and a city. It was just a little 'rose-coloured glasses' for my liking.
April 28, 2019
The first of Harry Leslie Smith's autobiographical books.
I greatly admired Harry and strongly relate to his humanitarian views.
I greatly admired Harry and strongly relate to his humanitarian views.
July 13, 2019
Very interesting and moving in parts. The language is a little simplistic and despite a lot of elation and hardship being described, I felt the author kept his readers at a safe distance.
August 12, 2019
Both a touching personal account and a brief window into an almost forgotten period of history. Germany in the immediate aftermath of WWII. Essential read.
October 2, 2019
This man. I'm grateful for him and everyone else sharing their difficult histories so we can (hopefully) learn from them.
March 22, 2019
HLS writes well and it is a love story as well as memories The fondness in which he recalls are endearing and nice.
I would have liked a bit more about the parts after they returned too England but then again that is not part of the voyage to get married as it happend after.
A nice light and lovely read
I would have liked a bit more about the parts after they returned too England but then again that is not part of the voyage to get married as it happend after.
A nice light and lovely read
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews