What do you think?
Rate this book
En nuestros corazones éramos gigantes. La imposible historia real de siete enanos que sobrevivieron a los campos de concentración
Perla Ovitz, la menor de los enanos, murió en 2001, luego de contar a dos periodistas judíos cómo ella y su familia sobrevivieron a los campos de concentración nazi en Auschwitz. Durante más de un año fueron el centro de diversión de altos mandatarios de la SS, quienes reían y celebraban fiestas con los shows que los siete enanos Ovitz protagonizaban, y también conejillos de indias del científico alemán Josef Mengele, quien los mantuvo con vida para llevar a cabo sus experimentos médicos. Como dijo Perla “A mí me salvó el diablo y que Dios se haga cargo de él”.
Para la investigación de este libro los autores Yehuda Koren y Eilat Negev recorrieron los pasos de los siete enanos: el campo de concentración de Auschwitz; Rozália, un pueblo de Maramures, al norte de Transilvania, donde nacieron y crecieron, y Haifa, Israel, donde finalmente vivieron cuando los rusos los liberaron. Allá murió Perla, la última enana de La trouppe de Lilliput.
Para la investigación de este libro los autores Yehuda Koren y Eilat Negev recorrieron los pasos de los siete enanos: el campo de concentración de Auschwitz; Rozália, un pueblo de Maramures, al norte de Transilvania, donde nacieron y crecieron, y Haifa, Israel, donde finalmente vivieron cuando los rusos los liberaron. Allá murió Perla, la última enana de La trouppe de Lilliput.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
216 people are currently reading
1961 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 5, 2008
The story of the Ovitz family's devotion to one other and to their religion is by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking. By now, many of us have read books, seen movies, and heard stories about extraordinary survival won through that extraordinary horror, the Holocaust. This book stands with the best of those stories because of its uniqueness -- seven of the 10 Ovitzes were dwarfs, and therefore the entire family became the special "pets" of the dreaded Dr. Mengele.
The writing is hardly slick or seamless, but it gets the job done in a more than satisfactory manner. The text seems to speak English with an accent, and while that can be a tad distracting at times, it confers that much more veracity upon the story of the Ovitzes.
The resourcefulness, dedication, and intelligence of the Ovitz dwarfs enables the reader to see them as much more than medical curiosities. Not only are they real people, they're very special people. Frankly, people of this caliber would be worth writing a book about even if they were of normal stature. Dwarfism aside, the story of the Ovitzes is that of a loving, close-knit, traditional family of a type that seems sadly alien to many of us today.
The family's Jewish faith remains strong even in the face of growing persecution. When it is decreed that Jewish performers may perform only for Jewish audiences, the Ovitzes skillfully contrive to obtain identification papers that do not identify them as Jews, yet they remain observant by conveniently falling ill on every sabbath, so they do not have to perform. Later, when they are held in the concentration camp, they manage to say prayers and fashion makeshift candles in secret observance of holidays.
The suffering the Ovitzes endured at the hands of Mengele is not related in excruciating detail, but what information we are given is excruciating enough. This book is generally more vague, more poetic about the concentration-camp atrocities than other books, but it is no less horrifying.
Horrifying, too, are some of the details of the Ovitzes' lives after the war. They remain devoted to one another, and continue to stick together, but now they are also bonded by what haunts them. Their nephew -- who was only a baby in the camp and learned to call Mengele "Daddy" so that he might be spared from torture -- recalls being awakened frequently by his aunts and uncles screaming in their sleep.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book are the conflicting accounts of the dwarfs' activities in the concentration camp. Several witnesses claim to have seen the Ovitzes performing in the camp, whereas the Ovitzes always firmly maintained that they did not perform -- and indeed, would not have done such a thing. Other witnesses claim to have seen several of the dwarves kowtowing to Mengele and to have heard them praising him to the other prisoners. The Ovitzes deny this as well.
The authors of the book do not attempt to clear up these discrepancies; they simply present both sides, and acknowledge that perhaps certain people's memories are clouded or inaccurate. I admired this tactic.
This remarkable family made their way in a world that gave them very little more than sharp minds, winning personalities, each other, and their strong faith. Though they did gain wealth and widespread renown before and after the war, during the very darkest years of their lives, the barest essentials -- wits and wit, family and faith -- turned out to be riches in themselves.
The writing is hardly slick or seamless, but it gets the job done in a more than satisfactory manner. The text seems to speak English with an accent, and while that can be a tad distracting at times, it confers that much more veracity upon the story of the Ovitzes.
The resourcefulness, dedication, and intelligence of the Ovitz dwarfs enables the reader to see them as much more than medical curiosities. Not only are they real people, they're very special people. Frankly, people of this caliber would be worth writing a book about even if they were of normal stature. Dwarfism aside, the story of the Ovitzes is that of a loving, close-knit, traditional family of a type that seems sadly alien to many of us today.
The family's Jewish faith remains strong even in the face of growing persecution. When it is decreed that Jewish performers may perform only for Jewish audiences, the Ovitzes skillfully contrive to obtain identification papers that do not identify them as Jews, yet they remain observant by conveniently falling ill on every sabbath, so they do not have to perform. Later, when they are held in the concentration camp, they manage to say prayers and fashion makeshift candles in secret observance of holidays.
The suffering the Ovitzes endured at the hands of Mengele is not related in excruciating detail, but what information we are given is excruciating enough. This book is generally more vague, more poetic about the concentration-camp atrocities than other books, but it is no less horrifying.
Horrifying, too, are some of the details of the Ovitzes' lives after the war. They remain devoted to one another, and continue to stick together, but now they are also bonded by what haunts them. Their nephew -- who was only a baby in the camp and learned to call Mengele "Daddy" so that he might be spared from torture -- recalls being awakened frequently by his aunts and uncles screaming in their sleep.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book are the conflicting accounts of the dwarfs' activities in the concentration camp. Several witnesses claim to have seen the Ovitzes performing in the camp, whereas the Ovitzes always firmly maintained that they did not perform -- and indeed, would not have done such a thing. Other witnesses claim to have seen several of the dwarves kowtowing to Mengele and to have heard them praising him to the other prisoners. The Ovitzes deny this as well.
The authors of the book do not attempt to clear up these discrepancies; they simply present both sides, and acknowledge that perhaps certain people's memories are clouded or inaccurate. I admired this tactic.
This remarkable family made their way in a world that gave them very little more than sharp minds, winning personalities, each other, and their strong faith. Though they did gain wealth and widespread renown before and after the war, during the very darkest years of their lives, the barest essentials -- wits and wit, family and faith -- turned out to be riches in themselves.
March 2, 2022
This is a fascinating account of the Ovitz family of Rozavlea, Romania, a family which included 7 dwarfs, how they lived, performed as an entertainment troupe in the 1930s and how they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and were subjected to horrific experiments by Josef Mengele because of their dwarfism. Somehow they were able to always stay together and somehow stay sane during their ordeals. After the camps were liberated, the Ovitz family returned to Rozavlea, but eventually realized that they had no future there. They finally emigrated to Israel, where they were able to live out their lives in peace.
There is a lot of history, medical information on dwarfism and social commentary in this book. The Ovitz family, which also included normal size members are a fascinating clan. They were self reliant, ambitious, creative and tried to make the best of whatever circumstances they found themselves in. When they arrived at Auschwitz, they claimed some helpful neighbors as part of their family, thus saving their lives (although this meant that the neighbors were also subjected to Mengele’s experiments.)
You also get a real sense of how dependent the dwarves were on “tall” people. There was so much they couldn’t do because of their size and how much care they needed, even under the best of circumstances.
Although the book has some flaws (way too many typos) and can be a difficult read because of the subject matter, it is an inspiration on how the human spirit can prevail.
A definite recommend.
There is a lot of history, medical information on dwarfism and social commentary in this book. The Ovitz family, which also included normal size members are a fascinating clan. They were self reliant, ambitious, creative and tried to make the best of whatever circumstances they found themselves in. When they arrived at Auschwitz, they claimed some helpful neighbors as part of their family, thus saving their lives (although this meant that the neighbors were also subjected to Mengele’s experiments.)
You also get a real sense of how dependent the dwarves were on “tall” people. There was so much they couldn’t do because of their size and how much care they needed, even under the best of circumstances.
Although the book has some flaws (way too many typos) and can be a difficult read because of the subject matter, it is an inspiration on how the human spirit can prevail.
A definite recommend.
May 15, 2016
I saw the documentary about the Ovitz family and I had to find out more about them. They were obviously very talented artists. I have read a few holocaust memoirs, and I had no idea that the survivors had such a hard time finding a place to live after liberation. That is so shocking and appalling to me those people lost everything and want to start over. The Ovitz's had a great career and came up with many fresh ideas. They genuinely enjoyed entertaining people. Their experience at Auschwitz is tragic yet inspiring. They never gave up on being positive. Somehow some of them were grateful to Mengele, which I don't think I could be. But if they weren't dwarves they wouldn't have survived, they peaked his interest in finding the comparison between normal sized people and dwarfs.
July 14, 2014
This was a fascinating book! I have read quite a bit of Holocaust related books, but this was from an interesting perspective...a dwarf family who survived because they were oddities. I had seen a PBS special about this family and was intrigued to find out more.
March 1, 2012
I caught a special on TV once about Perla Ovitz, one of the little people in the Ovitz family whose dwarfism caught the attention of Josef Mengele and saved them from being killed at Auschwitz. This book is an excellent historical look at the life of the Hungarian Ovitz clan and their lives before and after the war.
If anything, I would've liked a bit more on the genetics of dwarfism, but I understand that isn't the focus of the book. Though the pain they endured at Auschwitz wasn't glossed over in the text, it also wasn't too explicit, and won't turn off the majority of readers.
This was a very interesting chapter in Holocaust history and I'm very glad I read it. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in learning more about the Shoah and its impact on the conquered people beyond Germany's borders.
If anything, I would've liked a bit more on the genetics of dwarfism, but I understand that isn't the focus of the book. Though the pain they endured at Auschwitz wasn't glossed over in the text, it also wasn't too explicit, and won't turn off the majority of readers.
This was a very interesting chapter in Holocaust history and I'm very glad I read it. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in learning more about the Shoah and its impact on the conquered people beyond Germany's borders.
July 1, 2012
OK book. I expected more emotion. It was getting there and when the war ended, the book took a turn and became very dry. I missed the connection of title to the book's contents. I don't recommend unless you are doing research on the Holocaust.
June 19, 2023
"En nuestros corazones éramos gigantes" el lector es un testigo directo del holocausto y el terrorífico campo de concentración de Auschwitz. Los Ovitz son una de las pocas familias sobrevivientes de la solución final ; su condición física, enanismo, se convierte en un salvavidas y en la principal atracción del Doctor Mengele, sus pequeños cuerpos sufren toda clase de experimentos que les dejan secuelas de por vida.
Toda esta experiencia la vivimos de cuenta de Perla Ovitz , la última sobreviviente de esta singular familia que a pesar de las adversidades encuentran la fuerza para resistir y la esperanza de ser libres después de un año de tortura física, mental y emocional.
La vida les sonríe nuevamente después de la liberación de los campos de concentración por parte del ejército rojo, años después el fallecimiento de sus miembros apaga la tradición familiar en los escenarios de teatro, la única profesión que ejercieron y les otorgó cierto reconocimiento en el mundo del espectáculo.
Una historia nostálgica con un final agridulce que nos hace recordar una época que, al día de hoy,no digerimos ni entendemos cómo el ideal de un solo hombre pudo acabar con tantas vidas para lograr el Tercer Reich y la pureza de la raza humana.
Toda esta experiencia la vivimos de cuenta de Perla Ovitz , la última sobreviviente de esta singular familia que a pesar de las adversidades encuentran la fuerza para resistir y la esperanza de ser libres después de un año de tortura física, mental y emocional.
La vida les sonríe nuevamente después de la liberación de los campos de concentración por parte del ejército rojo, años después el fallecimiento de sus miembros apaga la tradición familiar en los escenarios de teatro, la única profesión que ejercieron y les otorgó cierto reconocimiento en el mundo del espectáculo.
Una historia nostálgica con un final agridulce que nos hace recordar una época que, al día de hoy,no digerimos ni entendemos cómo el ideal de un solo hombre pudo acabar con tantas vidas para lograr el Tercer Reich y la pureza de la raza humana.
July 21, 2023
A Holocaust story unlike any other I've read. This was a fast paced read. Wasn't too difficult, wasn't boring. I thought it was well written considering the subject matter, and learned more about another group of Holocaust Victims and Survivors
February 10, 2018
Este libro reconstruye la historia de una singular familia judía rumana. Los Ovitz se dedicaron a las presentaciones artísticas con bastante éxito antes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Después sufrieron la persecución y fueron deportados a Auschwitz y Birkenau. Siete integrantes de esta familia eran enanos. En ese campo de exterminio sobrevivieron todos, gracias al interés científico que el trístemente célebre doctor Joseph Mengele tenía en el enanismo. Los pormenores de esta historia se reconstruyen con detalle y se relatan con fluidez. Evidentemente, este relato e investigación se enmarca en la temática del Holocausto y de la memoria de los sobrevivientes a los horrores de los campos de exterminios alemanes. Es interesante de principio a fin. Los autores de este libro le siguen la huella a la familia hasta que llegan finalmente a establecerse en Haifa. Por cierto que la lectura de este tipo de libros remece, conmueve, indigna y asombra. Creo que el libro logra armonizar de manera inteligente la memoria histórica y colectiva con la memoria familiar e íntima de este memorable grupo familiar, amante de la música, trabajador, esforzado, unido, y profundamente religioso. Los autores, al final, repiten una frase que llama a la reflexión al visitar el campo de la muerte en Auschwitz: "lo vemos todo y no entendemos nada". Sí, es cierto, cuesta entender lo que en esa época y en esos lugares padecieron millones de seres humanos. Un libro altamente recomendable.
August 11, 2016
I want to give this a 3.5. It's a very interesting story from history, but the way it is told is oddly detached. Maybe this was unavoidable as most of the persons concerned were already deceased when the book was written. There are a lot of digressions on related topics like other little people of the time, the history of Jewish entertainment, etc. They're interesting and not irrelevant but again, the overall impression is of watching the story from far away. There was very little about any of the Lilliput Troupe as people, their personalities, etc which would have made the story feel more alive.
Still, there are some advantages to the far-off approach. The focus is on uncovering the facts in the midst of all the eyewitness accounts, and telling the story of the Troupe as a unified entity (which it had to be in order to survive). I'm glad I read it.
Still, there are some advantages to the far-off approach. The focus is on uncovering the facts in the midst of all the eyewitness accounts, and telling the story of the Troupe as a unified entity (which it had to be in order to survive). I'm glad I read it.
March 29, 2010
This was an amazing story of 7 sibling dwarfs surviving a WWII concentration camp. The book through their release from the camp was a well written documentary of their lives and journey through Dr. Mengele's experiments. The last few chapters of the book fell flat and left me wondering why the authors felt the need to rush through the end of the book. Over all it was a terribly interesting story and I recommend it to anyone interested in WWII stories you may not be familiar with.
October 27, 2015
I learned a lot from this book. Like all books on this subject it's so very sad and at times hard to read, I did however find out about other people in this book that I hadn't come across before. Words and thoughts fail me to try and comprehend what these people went through, no matter how many accounts I've read, it always shocks and sickens me the cruelty of some people.
Read
May 23, 2009It's an incredible story, I especially like the references the author makes to other memoirs and some differences of opinion about experiences and perceptions.
It's a unique story and, for me, it stands out in my holocaust studies.
It's a unique story and, for me, it stands out in my holocaust studies.
June 22, 2019
I was drawn in by the mere title of this book, and sighed in admiration upon seeing the elegance of the cover. I joyfully looked at the beaming, warm smiles of the family outfitted in such finery of the likes I only wear on Yom Kippur. The sepia tone of the photo above the plain blackness of the title background was an excellent artistic choice. I kept going back to this cover as I read the book, and even as I started reading, I lingered on it. I wanted something beautiful in my mind to combat the horrors I was about to encounter.
Sometimes this book goes into second person narration, which I'm not a fan of, but I kept reading. The book goes into the social history of people with dwarfism, which is fascinating and horrifying. Human beings were baked into pies and jumped out as merriment. I was so upset to learn that, that I had to set the book down for twenty minutes. That's not even thirty pages in. People were given to royal families as gifts, and seen as pets, entertainment, and most frequently children. I hadn't known any of this before. I'm glad I do now. I was aware of the royalty-inspired stage names, thought. Originally, I was so upset, thinking they were terms of mockery. This book informed me that no, the entertainers chose their own names. Then it made a few jabs at rulers including Napoleon, and I laughed uproariously.
The descriptions of the camps and testing, along with my horror and disgust, started soon after. The experiences of other prisoners are described as well. Halfway through the book, I wanted it to be over. Meticulous historical details are presented, and--just kept going. Many years' experience are documented, and nine chapters are spent on 1944 alone. The chapters that follow address the decades until 2000, when the last survivor of the family, Perla, died. Two different collections of photos are scanned into the book, one solely from the 1940s and the other from 1945 onward. The photos somehow make everything bleaker, but I looked at them carefully. I tried to read this book in one sitting so it would be over, and worried I'd have nightmares. I didn't dream anything I could remember, and finished the book the next morning. I just sat for awhile. There was little else I could do.
This book is so important.
Sometimes this book goes into second person narration, which I'm not a fan of, but I kept reading. The book goes into the social history of people with dwarfism, which is fascinating and horrifying. Human beings were baked into pies and jumped out as merriment. I was so upset to learn that, that I had to set the book down for twenty minutes. That's not even thirty pages in. People were given to royal families as gifts, and seen as pets, entertainment, and most frequently children. I hadn't known any of this before. I'm glad I do now. I was aware of the royalty-inspired stage names, thought. Originally, I was so upset, thinking they were terms of mockery. This book informed me that no, the entertainers chose their own names. Then it made a few jabs at rulers including Napoleon, and I laughed uproariously.
The descriptions of the camps and testing, along with my horror and disgust, started soon after. The experiences of other prisoners are described as well. Halfway through the book, I wanted it to be over. Meticulous historical details are presented, and--just kept going. Many years' experience are documented, and nine chapters are spent on 1944 alone. The chapters that follow address the decades until 2000, when the last survivor of the family, Perla, died. Two different collections of photos are scanned into the book, one solely from the 1940s and the other from 1945 onward. The photos somehow make everything bleaker, but I looked at them carefully. I tried to read this book in one sitting so it would be over, and worried I'd have nightmares. I didn't dream anything I could remember, and finished the book the next morning. I just sat for awhile. There was little else I could do.
This book is so important.
June 27, 2022
Sinopsis
"Es una historia real que raya en la ficción por las increíbles anécdotas de La troupe de Lilliput, desde sus espectáculos maravillosos hasta los tortuosos experimentos genéticos que practicaba el Dr. Mendele en esta familia."
Este gran relato de la familia Ovitz compuesta por 7 enanos de 10 miembros, cuenta cómo fueron testigos de lo mejor y a su vez lo peor de la humanidad y de la terrible ironía del destino: ser enanos fue lo que hizo que sobrevivieran al holocausto. Antes de la segunda guerra eran simplemente una familia exitosa de artistas intérpretes populares en Europa Central, hasta que los Nazis los deportaron a Auschwitz en 1944.
Gracias a su enanismo se convirtieron en objetos de estudio del Dr. Mengele y, aunque estuvieron expuestos a los más atroces experimentos, a su vez esto les permitió salvar sus vidas. Como Dice Perla en su relato: “Me salvó el diablo y que Dios se haga cargo de él”. La maravillosa historia de los enanos de Auschwitz, mejor conocidos como La troupe de Lilliput está contada en una narración literaria perfectamente equilibrada con datos históricos y una entrevista a la menor de las enanas, Perla, quien murió en 2001 no sin antes dejar este brillante testimonio que mezcla las emociones a la perfección y el lector puede sentir que está sentado a su lado escuchando esta increíble historia de éxito y supervivencia de estos enanos.
Crítica
En las estanterías de bibliotecas en todo el mundo siempre encontraras varios libros sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la mayoría de ellos enfocados en un aspecto propio, puede ser el económico, político, social, una región, un personaje, un objeto, pero pocos nos hablan sobre aquellos que pueden ser invisibles ante una hecatombe tan cruenta como lo fueron los campos de exterminio nazi.
En la historiografía la falta de investigaciones serias sobre el tema, atrae la mirada del público que ansía leer este tipo de historias, más si nos viene traducidas al español, y es que hay que recordar a los lectores que el público latinoamericano se le ha relegado en muchas ocasiones a un escalafón meramente consumidor de librillos de lectura rápida cuando no de novelas trending y pasajeras, y puede ser, pero más allá de las estadísticas, también se encuentra un público formado que espera con ansias este tipo de historias como un comensal un buen plato de comida.
La historia de los Ovitz, una familia de enanos y judíos - no olvidemos este dato- puede pasar por un hecho anecdótico, y un testimonio que puede dar para un buen artículo que llame la atención en una revista, pero se transforma en una excusa para darnos a conocer la historia de una población que ha sido pasada por alto a la hora de investigar fuertemente como los enanos, los gigantes y aquellas personas con malformaciones fuerona afectadas por el conflicto armado.
El recorrido magistral que nos hacen Yehuda Koren y Eliat Negev nos demuestra las capacidades de ambos de transformar una historia anecdótica a una mina de información para próximos investigadores, y es que a través de una narrativa amena - algo díficil de encontrar hoy en día- logra contruir la historia de los Ovitz desde una perspectiva que atrapa el lector desde el primer momento al reconstruir por medio de una herramienta tan fundamental para los periodistas como es la entravista, la vida de los enanos y otras personas consideradas fenómenos durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Antes de avanzar un poco más en la crítica, me gustaría detenerme en el detalle anteriormente mencionado. La entrevista como herramienta base para la obtención de información ha sido bastante usada desde Heródoto hasta nuestros tiempos, esta forma de charla sencilla entre personas nos ha permitido conservar la memoria oral de pueblos enteros, y en este caso la historia de aquellas personas que lograron sobrevivir a un infierno que se remonta incluso desde tiempos de las grandes monarquías.
El primer capítulo se detiene en la historia de aquellas personas que son definidas como rarezas humanas o cuya condición sea calificada como especial o fuera de los cánones de la época. Desde la monarquía española de los Habsburgo hasta llegar a principios del siglo XX, Koren y Negev nos ilustran con pequeños vistazos de la vida de aquellos ilustres personajes que destacaban en el mundo por sus rarezas y nos muestran el tipo de vida que les deparaba el destino.
Aunque para algunos la lectura de este primer capítulo puede ser bastante aburrida o larga, por no estar centrada directamente en la historia de los Ovitz es un elemento bastante ilustrativo para quienes gustan de saber la causa que llevó a médicos de todo el mundo a desarrollar aquella extraña, aunque no extinta, idea de la eugenesia.
Los otros capítulos se centran más en el drama familiar desde su llegada a Auschwitz hasta su liberación final y el traslado a Israel, en esas páginas vamos a notar algo que es propio del periodismo, y es la contrastación entre los testimonios algo bastante raro entre los libros que normalmente recopilan los testimonios de los sobrevivientes, y que aporta cierto frescor en la lectura, por ejemplo en lo concerniente a la actuación de los enanos en las reuniones de las SS.
Ahora en el caso de Mengele, es bastante audaz la forma en cómo reconstruyen al personaje, pues si bien se ha hablado bastante de su obra, los autores logran reconstruir a tan siniestro personaje desde lo que vieron y padecieron sus experimentos, doctores prisioneros, los mismos pacientes e incluso alguno u otra obra sobre este sujeto convirtiendo la busqueda en dar un perfil más allá del médico eficiente y lugubre, en una persona de carne y hueso, además de trastrear sus inicios, sus mentores y líneas de trabajo, algo bastante llamativo, y a quien le interese desarrollar una investigación histórica sobre el tema ambos autores dejan la puerta abierta.
Otro punto a recalcar, antes de dar cierre a esta crítica realizada a vuelo de pájaro es la preciosa bibliografía que nos regalan los autores y que se encuentra en la parte final del libro; si bien en ninguna página los lectores se encuentran con pies de página, se agradece que los autores hayan puesto el listado de fuentes usadas, pues dan una pista a los próximos investigadores de dónde pueden ir a meter las narices e investigar para ahondar más en el tema, y quizá -ojalá suceda- nazcan nuevas obras que son tan importantes hoy en día.
El libro de "En nuestros corazones éramos gigantes" se puede calificar no solo como una obra curiosa, sino también como un elemento que vale la pena estudiar de manera concienzuda para mirar desde una perspectiva totalmente olvidada por los libros de historia de aquellas personas que también sufrieron a manos de los nazis, y lo más importante, no olvidarnos de ellos, ni de sus historias. (Lee más críticas en www.plumagulunga1.blogspot.com)
"Es una historia real que raya en la ficción por las increíbles anécdotas de La troupe de Lilliput, desde sus espectáculos maravillosos hasta los tortuosos experimentos genéticos que practicaba el Dr. Mendele en esta familia."
Este gran relato de la familia Ovitz compuesta por 7 enanos de 10 miembros, cuenta cómo fueron testigos de lo mejor y a su vez lo peor de la humanidad y de la terrible ironía del destino: ser enanos fue lo que hizo que sobrevivieran al holocausto. Antes de la segunda guerra eran simplemente una familia exitosa de artistas intérpretes populares en Europa Central, hasta que los Nazis los deportaron a Auschwitz en 1944.
Gracias a su enanismo se convirtieron en objetos de estudio del Dr. Mengele y, aunque estuvieron expuestos a los más atroces experimentos, a su vez esto les permitió salvar sus vidas. Como Dice Perla en su relato: “Me salvó el diablo y que Dios se haga cargo de él”. La maravillosa historia de los enanos de Auschwitz, mejor conocidos como La troupe de Lilliput está contada en una narración literaria perfectamente equilibrada con datos históricos y una entrevista a la menor de las enanas, Perla, quien murió en 2001 no sin antes dejar este brillante testimonio que mezcla las emociones a la perfección y el lector puede sentir que está sentado a su lado escuchando esta increíble historia de éxito y supervivencia de estos enanos.
Crítica
En las estanterías de bibliotecas en todo el mundo siempre encontraras varios libros sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la mayoría de ellos enfocados en un aspecto propio, puede ser el económico, político, social, una región, un personaje, un objeto, pero pocos nos hablan sobre aquellos que pueden ser invisibles ante una hecatombe tan cruenta como lo fueron los campos de exterminio nazi.
En la historiografía la falta de investigaciones serias sobre el tema, atrae la mirada del público que ansía leer este tipo de historias, más si nos viene traducidas al español, y es que hay que recordar a los lectores que el público latinoamericano se le ha relegado en muchas ocasiones a un escalafón meramente consumidor de librillos de lectura rápida cuando no de novelas trending y pasajeras, y puede ser, pero más allá de las estadísticas, también se encuentra un público formado que espera con ansias este tipo de historias como un comensal un buen plato de comida.
La historia de los Ovitz, una familia de enanos y judíos - no olvidemos este dato- puede pasar por un hecho anecdótico, y un testimonio que puede dar para un buen artículo que llame la atención en una revista, pero se transforma en una excusa para darnos a conocer la historia de una población que ha sido pasada por alto a la hora de investigar fuertemente como los enanos, los gigantes y aquellas personas con malformaciones fuerona afectadas por el conflicto armado.
El recorrido magistral que nos hacen Yehuda Koren y Eliat Negev nos demuestra las capacidades de ambos de transformar una historia anecdótica a una mina de información para próximos investigadores, y es que a través de una narrativa amena - algo díficil de encontrar hoy en día- logra contruir la historia de los Ovitz desde una perspectiva que atrapa el lector desde el primer momento al reconstruir por medio de una herramienta tan fundamental para los periodistas como es la entravista, la vida de los enanos y otras personas consideradas fenómenos durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Antes de avanzar un poco más en la crítica, me gustaría detenerme en el detalle anteriormente mencionado. La entrevista como herramienta base para la obtención de información ha sido bastante usada desde Heródoto hasta nuestros tiempos, esta forma de charla sencilla entre personas nos ha permitido conservar la memoria oral de pueblos enteros, y en este caso la historia de aquellas personas que lograron sobrevivir a un infierno que se remonta incluso desde tiempos de las grandes monarquías.
El primer capítulo se detiene en la historia de aquellas personas que son definidas como rarezas humanas o cuya condición sea calificada como especial o fuera de los cánones de la época. Desde la monarquía española de los Habsburgo hasta llegar a principios del siglo XX, Koren y Negev nos ilustran con pequeños vistazos de la vida de aquellos ilustres personajes que destacaban en el mundo por sus rarezas y nos muestran el tipo de vida que les deparaba el destino.
Aunque para algunos la lectura de este primer capítulo puede ser bastante aburrida o larga, por no estar centrada directamente en la historia de los Ovitz es un elemento bastante ilustrativo para quienes gustan de saber la causa que llevó a médicos de todo el mundo a desarrollar aquella extraña, aunque no extinta, idea de la eugenesia.
Los otros capítulos se centran más en el drama familiar desde su llegada a Auschwitz hasta su liberación final y el traslado a Israel, en esas páginas vamos a notar algo que es propio del periodismo, y es la contrastación entre los testimonios algo bastante raro entre los libros que normalmente recopilan los testimonios de los sobrevivientes, y que aporta cierto frescor en la lectura, por ejemplo en lo concerniente a la actuación de los enanos en las reuniones de las SS.
Ahora en el caso de Mengele, es bastante audaz la forma en cómo reconstruyen al personaje, pues si bien se ha hablado bastante de su obra, los autores logran reconstruir a tan siniestro personaje desde lo que vieron y padecieron sus experimentos, doctores prisioneros, los mismos pacientes e incluso alguno u otra obra sobre este sujeto convirtiendo la busqueda en dar un perfil más allá del médico eficiente y lugubre, en una persona de carne y hueso, además de trastrear sus inicios, sus mentores y líneas de trabajo, algo bastante llamativo, y a quien le interese desarrollar una investigación histórica sobre el tema ambos autores dejan la puerta abierta.
Otro punto a recalcar, antes de dar cierre a esta crítica realizada a vuelo de pájaro es la preciosa bibliografía que nos regalan los autores y que se encuentra en la parte final del libro; si bien en ninguna página los lectores se encuentran con pies de página, se agradece que los autores hayan puesto el listado de fuentes usadas, pues dan una pista a los próximos investigadores de dónde pueden ir a meter las narices e investigar para ahondar más en el tema, y quizá -ojalá suceda- nazcan nuevas obras que son tan importantes hoy en día.
El libro de "En nuestros corazones éramos gigantes" se puede calificar no solo como una obra curiosa, sino también como un elemento que vale la pena estudiar de manera concienzuda para mirar desde una perspectiva totalmente olvidada por los libros de historia de aquellas personas que también sufrieron a manos de los nazis, y lo más importante, no olvidarnos de ellos, ni de sus historias. (Lee más críticas en www.plumagulunga1.blogspot.com)
July 17, 2025
The heart-breaking, yet at the same time heart-warming, account of the Ovitz family, which consisted of 10 members, 7 of them dwarfs, during the Holocaust. Based on numerous interviews with the family, as well as neighbors, acquaintances, other survivors, and extensive research. The authors begin with an interesting history of the family’s beginnings in Transylvania in 1868, their years in their beloved home, Rozavlea from 1923-1944, when they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where they were “claimed” by the notorious Dr. Mengele due to his fanatic interest not only in twins, but the origins of dwarfism, which ironically is what enabled their escape from the dreaded gas chamber. Perhaps even more than thier “protection”, albeit enduring Dr. Mengel’s humiliating, horrifying, and obsessive experiments, their survival and capacity to endure was their steadfasteness to stick together as a family, continued observance to their Jewish faith and their resourcefulness. The family was sustained by their heritage as a performance troupe which they even continued with after the war and liberation and move to Israel. The book is interspersed with personal quotes from various members of the family, especially the youngest daughter, Perla. Perhaps the book was translated, because there were a few spelling and grammar errors which made the reading a little awkward at times, but was still very engrossing and readable.
November 26, 2024
This is an extraordinary account of resilience, family, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty. The story of the Ovitz family, a troupe of Jewish performers with dwarfism, is woven into the larger narrative of the Holocaust, and reading it felt deeply personal to me. The book doesn’t just recount their incredible survival; it sheds light on the broader experiences of those persecuted during this dark chapter of history, including people close to my heart. Seeing Kalman mentioned in these pages was both haunting and affirming, a reminder of the immense courage required to live through—and bear witness to—such a time.
The inclusion of Ludovit Feld’s story, alongside Kalman’s, added even greater depth. My father was there with them, recounting his stories and remembering these individuals who refused to be defined by their suffering, who found ways to resist erasure by holding onto their identities and talents. The Ovitz family’s tenacity, coupled with their commitment to one another, mirrors the kind of strength I have always admired in my father’s and Kalman’s stories.
The inclusion of Ludovit Feld’s story, alongside Kalman’s, added even greater depth. My father was there with them, recounting his stories and remembering these individuals who refused to be defined by their suffering, who found ways to resist erasure by holding onto their identities and talents. The Ovitz family’s tenacity, coupled with their commitment to one another, mirrors the kind of strength I have always admired in my father’s and Kalman’s stories.
April 14, 2025
The true story of a family of dwarfs' origins, relationships, and how they survived before, during, and after the Holocaust. Remarkable and told well by two Israeli journalists collected from many interviews and historical research. The writing is somewhat dry at times, but it is still a quick-paced read. The family was resourceful and positive in sticking together to create their occupation and identity as performers. Once they arrived at Auschwitz Death Camp, they were selected for experimentation by the evil Nazi Dr. Menegele who kept them alive to study them. They endured a lot of pain and humiliation but also survived.
It was just as interesting to read about how they dealt with the post-World War II world in Europe, then later of where to live, how to make a living again, and how to move beyond their trauma. They were forever treated as younger than their actual ages because of their small size, which seemed to help them overall but also seemed inhibiting. The novel also touches on the story of a young artist woman who knew the Ovitzes who was allowed to survive because of her realistic painting skills that were used by the Nazi's.
It was just as interesting to read about how they dealt with the post-World War II world in Europe, then later of where to live, how to make a living again, and how to move beyond their trauma. They were forever treated as younger than their actual ages because of their small size, which seemed to help them overall but also seemed inhibiting. The novel also touches on the story of a young artist woman who knew the Ovitzes who was allowed to survive because of her realistic painting skills that were used by the Nazi's.
July 29, 2022
This is a thought provoking read. It is at the same time gut wrenching. I found it difficult to put down. When I had to, I couldn’t stop thinking about the once living human beings for whom this book is a monument to their lives. It is an example of the indomitable human spirit.
Most of us were required to read the Diary of Anne Frank in school. We were taught the history of WWII. In a great many ways, the school teaching and a history that didn’t seem real. This book will change that for you , my fellow readers.
I appreciate, very much, how deeply the author went into the lives of the Liliput Troupe. He brought them to life once again. The photographs inside are amazing, too.
This is a book that will change something inside anyone who reads it. Those who say the Holocaust never happened, need to read this book.
Most of us were required to read the Diary of Anne Frank in school. We were taught the history of WWII. In a great many ways, the school teaching and a history that didn’t seem real. This book will change that for you , my fellow readers.
I appreciate, very much, how deeply the author went into the lives of the Liliput Troupe. He brought them to life once again. The photographs inside are amazing, too.
This is a book that will change something inside anyone who reads it. Those who say the Holocaust never happened, need to read this book.
September 26, 2025
3.5 Stars. A different read about the holocaust. In this case about the Jewish Ovitz family. 7 of whom are dwarfs. They are a performing family of 10, that end up being sent to Auschwitz- Birkenau. There, due to their stature, they are saved from immediate execution by Dr. Mengele to be studied. Mengele also saves their regular sized relatives (and some he thinks are their relatives) for study as well. Remarkably, their lives in the concentration/death camps are not like others - not suffering the level of starvation, slave labor or degradation of the others in the camp, as they are protected by Mengele for his studies and experiments with them.
It’s remarkable that all of the Ovitz’s family all survive the death camp, especially since they were Jewish, and considered deficient due to their size - specifically what the Nazis wanted to eliminate.
It’s remarkable that all of the Ovitz’s family all survive the death camp, especially since they were Jewish, and considered deficient due to their size - specifically what the Nazis wanted to eliminate.
December 21, 2021
What a Story!
Inspiring, shocking, sad, fascinating, moving, horrifying, uplifting and much else in between. The seven Romanian sibling dwarfs and their families were a well known group of entertainers before WWII, singing, acting, dancing, playing miniature but professional instruments and dressed to kill. They survived Auschwitz because Josef Mengele took a special interest in them and gave them better living conditions than most. However, this also included his own brand of "medical research" for them. The authors did a tremendous job researching this mostly unknown history and interviewed some of those who were involved or witnesses. Exceptional!
Inspiring, shocking, sad, fascinating, moving, horrifying, uplifting and much else in between. The seven Romanian sibling dwarfs and their families were a well known group of entertainers before WWII, singing, acting, dancing, playing miniature but professional instruments and dressed to kill. They survived Auschwitz because Josef Mengele took a special interest in them and gave them better living conditions than most. However, this also included his own brand of "medical research" for them. The authors did a tremendous job researching this mostly unknown history and interviewed some of those who were involved or witnesses. Exceptional!
January 16, 2022
Small in Stature, Colossal in Character
—- dwarfism saved the lives of this family and by extension another family too. Timing of Dr. Mengle’s research approval afforded him means and opportunities to experiment on twin and dwarfs.
Because they had been instructed throughout their lives to stay together, the6 found strength in their family’s unity. Fr much of their time in camp, they were able to avoid separation by gender. Eventually, post liberation of camps, they reach Haifa and reside in Israel where they revive their performances.
Well corroborated and cross-referenced, the story, while scholarly 8n places, retains its personal, human story.
—- dwarfism saved the lives of this family and by extension another family too. Timing of Dr. Mengle’s research approval afforded him means and opportunities to experiment on twin and dwarfs.
Because they had been instructed throughout their lives to stay together, the6 found strength in their family’s unity. Fr much of their time in camp, they were able to avoid separation by gender. Eventually, post liberation of camps, they reach Haifa and reside in Israel where they revive their performances.
Well corroborated and cross-referenced, the story, while scholarly 8n places, retains its personal, human story.
December 2, 2025
Interesting read. I learned a little more about Auschwitz’s, and Dr. Mengele. He was truly an evil person who used others as his personal experiments. As for the Lilliput’s they were an interesting family, that I wished I could have learn more about. I was hoping for more in depth information about them and how they survived where so many thousands did not.
Disjointed at times and in the last 1/5 trying to understand who the people were that were interviewing the Lilliput’s and their extended family and friends needed to be more clear.
I am thankful they were able to survive and tell their history so the rest of us could learn from them.
Disjointed at times and in the last 1/5 trying to understand who the people were that were interviewing the Lilliput’s and their extended family and friends needed to be more clear.
I am thankful they were able to survive and tell their history so the rest of us could learn from them.
December 9, 2020
The amazing story of how the Ovitz family survived being studied by Mengele by sticking together. Not only were they able to protect themselves, but they were also able to save their tall family members and two friends they claimed were extended family. Mengele adored visiting them as a respite from the ramp and the measurements he gleaned from them were invaluable. They were no less afraid for their lives than anyone else, however, because they knew once Mengele was bored with them they'd be killed too. Fortunately, they all survived to perform again in the Holy Land.
November 20, 2017
The novel In Our Hearts We Were Giants follows the story of the Ovitz family before, during, and after WWII. It reveals their fate and the fates of other dwarfs, twins, and individuals with assorted physical differences as they were experimented on by Dr. Mengele in the Auschwitz concentration camp during WWII. The narration brings them (and their extended family) to life, both as individuals and as the entertaining Lilliput Troupe. A truly remarkable tale of survival and endurance.
May 29, 2018
They were giants ! The book appears to be brutally honest even when you get the feeling it was something the group would have preferred to take to the grave. Their were times in the book, I had to put it down...... Nothing during the holocaust was easy and even though this family appeared to have it easier than most, they too suffered...... It was a miracle they survived through what they endured..... I recommend reading this book.
May 1, 2019
This book is simply an amazing read. It speaks of the true human spirit, this family was truly at the whim of one of the most evil men in history. Despite this they carry on, willing to share their story with the world. This is a must read for those interested in Dr. Mengele and his 'master plan'.
December 24, 2021
Survival
This is an interesting account of survival of the Holocaust. The family of Jewish dwarves who were entertainers, tested by Mengele, and lived are worth learning about. There were frequent editing issues which made for some confusion, but not enough to make me stop reading.
This is an interesting account of survival of the Holocaust. The family of Jewish dwarves who were entertainers, tested by Mengele, and lived are worth learning about. There were frequent editing issues which made for some confusion, but not enough to make me stop reading.
January 15, 2022
Very interesting book both about the family and their experiences in Auschwitz with Dr. Mengele. There are so many WWII based books out but this one had a different perspective. If you like biographies, you should like this. At least they all live but you know that from the beginning so it's not a spoiler!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews