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Escape From the Ghetto
In early 1940 Chaim Herzsman was locked in to the Lódz Ghetto in Poland. Hungry, fearless and determined, he goes on scavenging missions outside the wire limits, until he is forced to kill a Nazi guard. That moment changes the course of his life, and sets him on an unbelievable adventure across enemy lines.
Escape from the Ghetto is about a normal boy who faced extermination by the Nazis in the ghetto or a Nazi deathcamp, and the extraordinary life he led in avoiding that fate. It's a bittersweet story about epic hope, beauty amidst horror, and the triumph of the human spirit.
John Carr is Henry Carr's eldest son, and in Escape From the Ghetto he has recreated his father's incredible adventure, through recordings and transcribed conversations in later life.
Escape from the Ghetto is about a normal boy who faced extermination by the Nazis in the ghetto or a Nazi deathcamp, and the extraordinary life he led in avoiding that fate. It's a bittersweet story about epic hope, beauty amidst horror, and the triumph of the human spirit.
John Carr is Henry Carr's eldest son, and in Escape From the Ghetto he has recreated his father's incredible adventure, through recordings and transcribed conversations in later life.
Paperback
First published June 24, 2020
42 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
John Carr
160 books9 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
John Carr has enjoyed a career as a journalist, correspondent and broadcaster (The Times, Wall Street Journal Europe, Vatican Radio), mainly in the Mediterranean and particularly Greece, where he now resides. He is the author of On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War II; Spartas Kings; The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-41; RHNS Averof and Fighting Emperors of Byzantium, all published by Pen & Sword.
See also:
John Carr, English barrister and travel author
John Carr, schoolmaster
John Carr, reverend
John Carr, travel author
John Carr, pioneer
John Carr, Newton's principia
John Carr, theology professor
John Carr, veterinarian
John Carr has enjoyed a career as a journalist, correspondent and broadcaster (The Times, Wall Street Journal Europe, Vatican Radio), mainly in the Mediterranean and particularly Greece, where he now resides. He is the author of On Spartan Wings: The Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War II; Spartas Kings; The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-41; RHNS Averof and Fighting Emperors of Byzantium, all published by Pen & Sword.
See also:
John Carr, English barrister and travel author
John Carr, schoolmaster
John Carr, reverend
John Carr, travel author
John Carr, pioneer
John Carr, Newton's principia
John Carr, theology professor
John Carr, veterinarian
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 6, 2021
Meh…..It was not what I expected almost like a documentary, news report, it didn't flow like a novel. This is a fascinating story which starts with a boy but ends up with a grown man who fights for his country.
That said, it's really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many problems that get in his way. It's starts off slow about sports and school almost like an autobiography. That said I do like WW2 novels, and holocaust, now essential to the future of humanity, we must read them all, its not as good the; The Boy In stripped Pyjamas, doesn't come close to Night but has a place, similar story to book 2 in the Edelweiss Pirates series that was published 5 years earlier, that had a 13 year old Jewish boy escape from a concentration camp. Although like the other books I mention its not as good.
On a rainy Sunday it's an okay book to read if you shelf is empty but I would not rush out to buy it, there are better Holocaust books out there.
That said, it's really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many problems that get in his way. It's starts off slow about sports and school almost like an autobiography. That said I do like WW2 novels, and holocaust, now essential to the future of humanity, we must read them all, its not as good the; The Boy In stripped Pyjamas, doesn't come close to Night but has a place, similar story to book 2 in the Edelweiss Pirates series that was published 5 years earlier, that had a 13 year old Jewish boy escape from a concentration camp. Although like the other books I mention its not as good.
On a rainy Sunday it's an okay book to read if you shelf is empty but I would not rush out to buy it, there are better Holocaust books out there.
October 20, 2021
Meh…..It was not what I expected almost like a documentary, news report, it didn't flow like a novel. This is a fascinating story which starts with a boy but ends up with a grown man who fights for his country.
That said, it's really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many problems that get in his way. It's starts off slow about sports and school almost like an autobiography. That said I do like WW2 novels, and holocaust, now essential to the future of humanity, we must read them all, its not as good the; The Boy In stripped Pyjamas, doesn't come close to Night but has a place, similar story to book 2 in the Edelweiss Pirates series that was published 5 years earlier, that had a 13 year old Jewish boy escape from a concentration camp. Although like the other books I mention its not as good.
On a rainy Sunday it's an okay book to read if you shelf is empty but I would not rush out to buy it, there are better Holocaust books out there.
That said, it's really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many problems that get in his way. It's starts off slow about sports and school almost like an autobiography. That said I do like WW2 novels, and holocaust, now essential to the future of humanity, we must read them all, its not as good the; The Boy In stripped Pyjamas, doesn't come close to Night but has a place, similar story to book 2 in the Edelweiss Pirates series that was published 5 years earlier, that had a 13 year old Jewish boy escape from a concentration camp. Although like the other books I mention its not as good.
On a rainy Sunday it's an okay book to read if you shelf is empty but I would not rush out to buy it, there are better Holocaust books out there.
October 20, 2021
Meh…..It was not what I expected almost like a documentary, news report, it didn't flow like a novel to start with, it took about 15 pages to get started. This is a fascinating story which starts with a boy but ends up with a grown man who fights for his country.
That said, it's really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many problems that get in his way. It's starts off slow about sports and school almost like an autobiography. That said I do like WW2 novels, and holocaust, now essential to the future of humanity, we must read them all, its not as good the; The Boy In stripped Pyjamas, doesn't come close to Night but has a place, similar story to book 2 in the Edelweiss Pirates series that was published 5 years earlier, that had a 13 year old Jewish boy escape from a concentration camp. Although like the other books I mention its not as good.
On a rainy Sunday it's an okay book to read if you shelf is empty but I would not rush out to buy it, there are better Holocaust books out there.
That said, it's really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many problems that get in his way. It's starts off slow about sports and school almost like an autobiography. That said I do like WW2 novels, and holocaust, now essential to the future of humanity, we must read them all, its not as good the; The Boy In stripped Pyjamas, doesn't come close to Night but has a place, similar story to book 2 in the Edelweiss Pirates series that was published 5 years earlier, that had a 13 year old Jewish boy escape from a concentration camp. Although like the other books I mention its not as good.
On a rainy Sunday it's an okay book to read if you shelf is empty but I would not rush out to buy it, there are better Holocaust books out there.
October 2, 2022
"Uciekłem z getta" to książka, która już od pierwszych stron wywołała we mnie bardzo żywą reakcję. Zaledwie trzynastoletni chłopiec, Żyd, który podczas wojennej zawieruchy był sam, bez opieki rodziny, przechytrzył nazistów i przeżył? Ta książka to gotowy scenariusz na kultowy film!
Beztroskie dzieciństwo zostało mu skradzione wraz z utworzeniem łódzkiego getta. Od teraz nastał głód, skrajna bieda, walka o każdy dzień. Aż do dnia dramatycznych wydarzeń, które zakończyły się ucieczką... wtedy dołączyło też zimno, jeszcze większy strach i prawdziwa bitwa o przetrwanie.
Z narastającą fascynacją śledziłam losy Chaima, który jako Żyd z niemal aryjską urodą stawiał swe pierwsze "dorosłe" kroki w brutalnym świecie stworzonym przez nazistów. Jak kameleon, potrafił dopasować się do każdej sytuacji, w jakiej postawił go nieobliczalny los. Ze smutkiem odkryłam, że dzieciństwo złożone na ołtarzu wojny, to najmniejsza z krzywd, jaka go spotkała...
Czytanie "Uciekłem z getta" wyzwala ból duszy. W mojej głowie ciągle dudniło pytanie "dlaczego?", żadna ilość przeczytanych przeze mnie książek o wojnie nie daje mi odpowiedzi... jak ludzie ludziom mogli to zrobić?
Autentyczność wydarzeń przedstawionych przez Johna Carra, syna głównego bohatera, tylko pogłębia te odczucia. Świadomość, że ta historia wydarzyła się naprawdę, a także opis przeżyć chłopca zawładnęła moimi myślami. Podziwiam jego zdolność dopasowania się do każdej sytuacji, metamorfozę, jaką przeszedł, jak w ułamku sekundy potrafił stać się Henrykiem Karbowskim, Henry'm Carrem, ale w środku nadal był on, Chaim Herszman. Podziwiam, a jednocześnie czuję się rozdarta, bo taka tułaczka nastoletniego chłopca nie powinna się wydarzyć.
Świadectwo brutalności i poczucia ciągłego zagrożenia, jakie przedstawia Johnny Carr, to lektura obowiązkowa dla każdego, kto interesuje się II wojną światową. Historia Chaima jest kwintesencją agresji, okrucieństwa i wykluczenia, z jakimi spotykała się społeczność Żydów przed i po wybuchu wojny. "Uciekłem z getta" już od pierwszych stron wciąga czytelnika w wir wydarzeń, które łamią serce, ale też skłaniają do refleksji.
Beztroskie dzieciństwo zostało mu skradzione wraz z utworzeniem łódzkiego getta. Od teraz nastał głód, skrajna bieda, walka o każdy dzień. Aż do dnia dramatycznych wydarzeń, które zakończyły się ucieczką... wtedy dołączyło też zimno, jeszcze większy strach i prawdziwa bitwa o przetrwanie.
Z narastającą fascynacją śledziłam losy Chaima, który jako Żyd z niemal aryjską urodą stawiał swe pierwsze "dorosłe" kroki w brutalnym świecie stworzonym przez nazistów. Jak kameleon, potrafił dopasować się do każdej sytuacji, w jakiej postawił go nieobliczalny los. Ze smutkiem odkryłam, że dzieciństwo złożone na ołtarzu wojny, to najmniejsza z krzywd, jaka go spotkała...
Czytanie "Uciekłem z getta" wyzwala ból duszy. W mojej głowie ciągle dudniło pytanie "dlaczego?", żadna ilość przeczytanych przeze mnie książek o wojnie nie daje mi odpowiedzi... jak ludzie ludziom mogli to zrobić?
Autentyczność wydarzeń przedstawionych przez Johna Carra, syna głównego bohatera, tylko pogłębia te odczucia. Świadomość, że ta historia wydarzyła się naprawdę, a także opis przeżyć chłopca zawładnęła moimi myślami. Podziwiam jego zdolność dopasowania się do każdej sytuacji, metamorfozę, jaką przeszedł, jak w ułamku sekundy potrafił stać się Henrykiem Karbowskim, Henry'm Carrem, ale w środku nadal był on, Chaim Herszman. Podziwiam, a jednocześnie czuję się rozdarta, bo taka tułaczka nastoletniego chłopca nie powinna się wydarzyć.
Świadectwo brutalności i poczucia ciągłego zagrożenia, jakie przedstawia Johnny Carr, to lektura obowiązkowa dla każdego, kto interesuje się II wojną światową. Historia Chaima jest kwintesencją agresji, okrucieństwa i wykluczenia, z jakimi spotykała się społeczność Żydów przed i po wybuchu wojny. "Uciekłem z getta" już od pierwszych stron wciąga czytelnika w wir wydarzeń, które łamią serce, ale też skłaniają do refleksji.
September 30, 2022
„Uciekłem z getta” historia 13-letniego chłopca z łódzkiego getta. Chłopca, który żył naprawdę, i którego historię z kart tej powieści spisał jego syn na podstawie słów ojca i jego kuzyna.
Z początku poznajemy beztroskie dziecięce życie chłopca, do którego dopiero co docierają pogłoski o gettcie. Beztroska skończyła się w raz z powstaniem łódzkiego getta. To opowieść chłopca, który z wyglądu nie różnił się od chrześcijańskich dzieci, co znacząco ułatwiło mu ukrywanie się po ucieczce. A cała historia zaczęła się od chęci wsparcia rodziny w głodzie i nędzy, która coraz bardziej ogarniała mieszkańców getta. Wyprawiał się za mur próbując zdobyć głównie jedzenie.
Przy kolejnej z rzędu próbie dołączyć miał do niego młodszy brat. Chaim był tego z początku przeciwny, ale za namową uległ. I niestety tym razem ta wyprawa nie skończyła się najlepiej. Musiał zabić strażnika, żeby uratować życie młodszego brata, którego noga zaplątała się w drut.
Nie chciał uciekać… Nie chciał zostawić rodziny… Ale musiał. Nie mógł zostać. Musiał odejść. Ukrywać się, żyć w strachu i niepewności.
To nie jest łatwa historia. Zresztą, która z książek o tematyce wojennej jest? Zawsze bardzo mocno poruszają mnie takie historie. Zawsze zostają ze mną dłużej, a myśli kłębią się w okół nich bez końca.
Chaim po swojej ucieczce zmienił imię i nazwisko. Przebył kawał świata. Dotarł na granice z Rosją, ukrywał się w pociągu jadącym do Berlina, później znalazł się w Alazji, we Francji i nad Piereneje. Zostaje aresztowany i uratowany. Trafia do Gibraltaru, a później znowu do Niemiec. Życie go nie oszczędzało. My jako czytelnicy towarzyszymy mu w tej długiej, pełnej strachu i głodu podróży. Śledzimy jego drogę ku dorosłości. Przeżywałam każdą chwilę w tułaczce chłopca, a później mężczyzny całą sobą. Podziwiałam spryt i odwagę młodego bohatera. Śledziłam jego losy z zapartym tchem.
To jedna z tych książek, na którą powinniście zwrócić swoją uwagę. „Chłopiec z getta” ukazuje życie w przerażających czasach. Życie prawdziwej osoby i jej przeżycia. Autor dodatkowo wzbogacił książkę o autentyczne zdjęcia swojego taty, co jeszcze bardziej spotęgowało moje wrażenia z lektury.
Bardzo dobrze się ją czytało. Świetna i poruszająca. Warta polecenia.
Z początku poznajemy beztroskie dziecięce życie chłopca, do którego dopiero co docierają pogłoski o gettcie. Beztroska skończyła się w raz z powstaniem łódzkiego getta. To opowieść chłopca, który z wyglądu nie różnił się od chrześcijańskich dzieci, co znacząco ułatwiło mu ukrywanie się po ucieczce. A cała historia zaczęła się od chęci wsparcia rodziny w głodzie i nędzy, która coraz bardziej ogarniała mieszkańców getta. Wyprawiał się za mur próbując zdobyć głównie jedzenie.
Przy kolejnej z rzędu próbie dołączyć miał do niego młodszy brat. Chaim był tego z początku przeciwny, ale za namową uległ. I niestety tym razem ta wyprawa nie skończyła się najlepiej. Musiał zabić strażnika, żeby uratować życie młodszego brata, którego noga zaplątała się w drut.
Nie chciał uciekać… Nie chciał zostawić rodziny… Ale musiał. Nie mógł zostać. Musiał odejść. Ukrywać się, żyć w strachu i niepewności.
To nie jest łatwa historia. Zresztą, która z książek o tematyce wojennej jest? Zawsze bardzo mocno poruszają mnie takie historie. Zawsze zostają ze mną dłużej, a myśli kłębią się w okół nich bez końca.
Chaim po swojej ucieczce zmienił imię i nazwisko. Przebył kawał świata. Dotarł na granice z Rosją, ukrywał się w pociągu jadącym do Berlina, później znalazł się w Alazji, we Francji i nad Piereneje. Zostaje aresztowany i uratowany. Trafia do Gibraltaru, a później znowu do Niemiec. Życie go nie oszczędzało. My jako czytelnicy towarzyszymy mu w tej długiej, pełnej strachu i głodu podróży. Śledzimy jego drogę ku dorosłości. Przeżywałam każdą chwilę w tułaczce chłopca, a później mężczyzny całą sobą. Podziwiałam spryt i odwagę młodego bohatera. Śledziłam jego losy z zapartym tchem.
To jedna z tych książek, na którą powinniście zwrócić swoją uwagę. „Chłopiec z getta” ukazuje życie w przerażających czasach. Życie prawdziwej osoby i jej przeżycia. Autor dodatkowo wzbogacił książkę o autentyczne zdjęcia swojego taty, co jeszcze bardziej spotęgowało moje wrażenia z lektury.
Bardzo dobrze się ją czytało. Świetna i poruszająca. Warta polecenia.
March 6, 2021
This is an amazing book. I picked it up with trepidation, because of the depressing subject, but the author is a friend, so I felt I had to. From page 1 I became as obsessed with reading it, as John was with researching and writing it. I have not read other "escape from the ghetto" type books, so I don't know how to compare, but it is kind of an unbelievable story. As it moved along, I kept thinking, that can't be true, that can't really have happened. But it's all true. It is written in an unexpectedly colloquial, informal style, (dare I say 'fun') style like an adventure book. It really should be a movie.
What a great book.
What a great book.
September 19, 2022
What an incredible story. I traced on Google Maps how far he travelled in his escape from Poland. It really is an incredible distance through numerous countries, countries under Nazi occupation too, and him being just a boy. It’s amazing, unimaginable. A must read.
September 15, 2025
Escape from the Ghetto by John Carr was an extraordinary tale about the author's father. Engaging and exciting, it reads like a harrowing adventure novel. I am astonished by Henry Carr's survival and resilience as a 13 year old in war torn Europe. He is incredibly resourceful and each section of his story seems more fantastical than the last.
It starts out with a witness account of how Henry (Chaim) escapes the Łódź ghetto so we see this extraordinary event from a rather unique perspective compared to the rest of the novel which is from Henry's point of view.
It is very fast paced; event after event after event, which I think is a bit of a detriment to his story as it leaves little room for much reflection on what happened to him. I would have appreciated more information on how he felt about certain morally ambiguous things he did but I understand this was written some time after his death in 1995 so the author (his son) had only so much to work with in that respect. Besides the lack of reflection there's still a lot of accurate detail with a long list of sources at the end of that book.
Overall worth the read.
It starts out with a witness account of how Henry (Chaim) escapes the Łódź ghetto so we see this extraordinary event from a rather unique perspective compared to the rest of the novel which is from Henry's point of view.
It is very fast paced; event after event after event, which I think is a bit of a detriment to his story as it leaves little room for much reflection on what happened to him. I would have appreciated more information on how he felt about certain morally ambiguous things he did but I understand this was written some time after his death in 1995 so the author (his son) had only so much to work with in that respect. Besides the lack of reflection there's still a lot of accurate detail with a long list of sources at the end of that book.
Overall worth the read.
December 29, 2022
An amazing Jewish escape story at beginning of WWII and a window into the initial Nazi occupation. Quite a commentary on Polish and British anti-semitism as well. A fast read of an adventure which seems like a fictional story but is true.
September 30, 2022
A compelling account of an escape from the Lodz ghetto and then as the title says, from the Nazis.
May 18, 2022
Baseret på forfatterens fars sande historie, om hvordan han som 13 årig flygtede fra Polens jødeforfølgelser, gennem et krigshærget Europa. Reelt spændende materiale at basere en roman på, men man hænger også fast i en følelse af, at det her er en (spændende) anekdote, mere end en egentlig roman. Der er noget ved sproget, der indimellem er lidt for kliché og ordsprogsagtigt, der skaber en distance, og personerne føles som andenpersonsbeskrivelser, ikke som nogen man rigtigt kan mærke. Så alt i alt: spændende materiale, baseret på en virkelig persons helt vilde oplevelser, og kunne blive en fantastisk film - men læseoplevelsen er ikke den helt store.
December 27, 2021
‘The captivating true story of one boy’s flight across Europe to escape the Nazis. A tale of extraordinary courage, incredible adventure, and the relentless pursuit of life in the face of impossible challenges.
In early 1940 Chaim Herszman was locked into the Lodz Ghetto in Poland. Hungry, fearless, and determined, he goes on scavenging missions outside the wire limits, until he is forced to kill a Nazi guard. That moment changes the course of his life and sets him on an unbelievable adventure across enemy lines.
Chaim avoids grenade and rifle fire on the Russian border, shelters with a German family in the Rhineland, falls in love in occupied France, is captured on a mountain pass in Spain, gets interrogated as a potential Nazi spy in Britain, and eventually fights for everything he believes in as part of the British Army. He protects his life by posing as an Aryan boy with a crucifix around his neck and fights for his life through terrible and astonishing circumstances.
Escape from the Ghetto is about a normal boy who faced extermination by the Nazis in the ghetto or a Nazi death camp, and the extraordinary life he led in avoiding that fate. It’s a bittersweet story about epic hope, beauty amidst the horror, and the triumph of the human spirit.’
This book was fantastic.
If I didn’t know that this book was a true story before going into it, I would have believed that it was a Historical Fiction novel; that’s how astonishing this story is. The journey that Chaim Herszman went on in order to survive is truly extraordinary.
John Carr has done an amazing job in retelling this story in a way that draws the reader in and transports them all over Europe during WWII. John Carr’s ability to draw the reader in is equally as impressive as the emotion he is able to radiate off the pages of this book. I had genuine laughing moments while reading this book followed by heartbreaking sobs. Reading Chaim Herszman’s story is like riding an emotional rollercoaster.
I can’t imagine living through the events that take place in this book so knowing that they were experienced by a real person made for a truly phenomenal reading experience.
I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book.
I am so glad that I read Escape From The Ghetto and I honestly think everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime.
Escape From The Ghetto by John Carr is a must-read for everyone.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
In early 1940 Chaim Herszman was locked into the Lodz Ghetto in Poland. Hungry, fearless, and determined, he goes on scavenging missions outside the wire limits, until he is forced to kill a Nazi guard. That moment changes the course of his life and sets him on an unbelievable adventure across enemy lines.
Chaim avoids grenade and rifle fire on the Russian border, shelters with a German family in the Rhineland, falls in love in occupied France, is captured on a mountain pass in Spain, gets interrogated as a potential Nazi spy in Britain, and eventually fights for everything he believes in as part of the British Army. He protects his life by posing as an Aryan boy with a crucifix around his neck and fights for his life through terrible and astonishing circumstances.
Escape from the Ghetto is about a normal boy who faced extermination by the Nazis in the ghetto or a Nazi death camp, and the extraordinary life he led in avoiding that fate. It’s a bittersweet story about epic hope, beauty amidst the horror, and the triumph of the human spirit.’
This book was fantastic.
If I didn’t know that this book was a true story before going into it, I would have believed that it was a Historical Fiction novel; that’s how astonishing this story is. The journey that Chaim Herszman went on in order to survive is truly extraordinary.
John Carr has done an amazing job in retelling this story in a way that draws the reader in and transports them all over Europe during WWII. John Carr’s ability to draw the reader in is equally as impressive as the emotion he is able to radiate off the pages of this book. I had genuine laughing moments while reading this book followed by heartbreaking sobs. Reading Chaim Herszman’s story is like riding an emotional rollercoaster.
I can’t imagine living through the events that take place in this book so knowing that they were experienced by a real person made for a truly phenomenal reading experience.
I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book.
I am so glad that I read Escape From The Ghetto and I honestly think everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime.
Escape From The Ghetto by John Carr is a must-read for everyone.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
June 26, 2024
O poveste uluitoare a unui băiat evreu din Polonia care a reușit să evadeze din Europa cucerită de naziști și să uluiască prin greutățiile învinse de către acesta.
Am rămas pur impresionat de această poveste care pare să fie ruptă din domeniul fantasticului, epopeea trăită de către eroul nostru scoate în evidență în sens larg: aspecte vieții simple din anii interbelici, problema antisemitismului european, evenimentele celui de-Al Doilea Război Mondial, tragedia populațiilor asuprite de către germani, importanța educației și a luării deciziei cele mai bune în situații critice.
Naratorul personaj, Chaim Hersman a impresionat nu doar prin inteligența sa nativă, poligotism, intuiție și dibăcia de a își folosi înfățișarea sa ariana în avantajul său, ci și prin determinarea sa de a supraviețuii. Propoziția "nu voi reuși", a lipsit cu desăvârșire de pe buzele lui Chaim, el era sigur pe puterile sale și pe certitudinea că va ajunge să lupte în Armata Liberă Poloneză. Acesta a reușit să exceleze la schimbarea identităților, călătorind prin Europa nazistă, făcând asta de șase ori pe parcursul operei.
Un aspect plăcut al poveștii a fost menționarea spațiilor geografice reale și fixarea lor pe hartă, mi-a făcut mare plăcere să caut fiecare orășel și sat prin care trecea eroul noatru îndrăzneț. Evenimentele istorice și contextul războiului au ajutat și ele foarte mult la evidențierea situației în care se afla. Menționarea statului Român de două ori a fost alt aspect apreciat, chiar dacă el nu juca un rol important în operă.
O obișnuință a naratorului m-a deranjat constant pe parcursul operei. Faptul că distrugea fără rușine momentele pline de suspans, un exemplu pertinent ar fi când Chaim se ascundea în mașina unui ofițer al poliției militare de ocupație a Franței neștiind unde va ajunge, dar menționând câteva rânduri mai jos, că va ajunge în Franța neocupată, în așa numita Franță a regimului de la Vichy. Obișnuința aceasta m-a iritat, dar a compensat prin ample scene umoristice și povești palpitante.
Concluzionând, această operă veritabilă este una impresionantă care uimește lectorul în nenumărate ocazii și te lasă să contemplezi asupra acțiuniilor personajului principal silindu-te a le cântări moralitatea, alături de proverbul "Omul inteligent se va descurca oriunde în orice situație", care reflectă perfect caracterul lui Chain: meticulos, lucid și precoce. Eu am tras concluzia că determinarea și inteligența sunt cele mai importante caracteristici umane și prin cultivarea acestora ajungi să îți cunoști punctele tari, punctele slabe și valoarea ta ca om în societate.
Am rămas pur impresionat de această poveste care pare să fie ruptă din domeniul fantasticului, epopeea trăită de către eroul nostru scoate în evidență în sens larg: aspecte vieții simple din anii interbelici, problema antisemitismului european, evenimentele celui de-Al Doilea Război Mondial, tragedia populațiilor asuprite de către germani, importanța educației și a luării deciziei cele mai bune în situații critice.
Naratorul personaj, Chaim Hersman a impresionat nu doar prin inteligența sa nativă, poligotism, intuiție și dibăcia de a își folosi înfățișarea sa ariana în avantajul său, ci și prin determinarea sa de a supraviețuii. Propoziția "nu voi reuși", a lipsit cu desăvârșire de pe buzele lui Chaim, el era sigur pe puterile sale și pe certitudinea că va ajunge să lupte în Armata Liberă Poloneză. Acesta a reușit să exceleze la schimbarea identităților, călătorind prin Europa nazistă, făcând asta de șase ori pe parcursul operei.
Un aspect plăcut al poveștii a fost menționarea spațiilor geografice reale și fixarea lor pe hartă, mi-a făcut mare plăcere să caut fiecare orășel și sat prin care trecea eroul noatru îndrăzneț. Evenimentele istorice și contextul războiului au ajutat și ele foarte mult la evidențierea situației în care se afla. Menționarea statului Român de două ori a fost alt aspect apreciat, chiar dacă el nu juca un rol important în operă.
O obișnuință a naratorului m-a deranjat constant pe parcursul operei. Faptul că distrugea fără rușine momentele pline de suspans, un exemplu pertinent ar fi când Chaim se ascundea în mașina unui ofițer al poliției militare de ocupație a Franței neștiind unde va ajunge, dar menționând câteva rânduri mai jos, că va ajunge în Franța neocupată, în așa numita Franță a regimului de la Vichy. Obișnuința aceasta m-a iritat, dar a compensat prin ample scene umoristice și povești palpitante.
Concluzionând, această operă veritabilă este una impresionantă care uimește lectorul în nenumărate ocazii și te lasă să contemplezi asupra acțiuniilor personajului principal silindu-te a le cântări moralitatea, alături de proverbul "Omul inteligent se va descurca oriunde în orice situație", care reflectă perfect caracterul lui Chain: meticulos, lucid și precoce. Eu am tras concluzia că determinarea și inteligența sunt cele mai importante caracteristici umane și prin cultivarea acestora ajungi să îți cunoști punctele tari, punctele slabe și valoarea ta ca om în societate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2022
Bij het zien van de schitterende cover van Ontsnapping uit het getto van John Carr wil je weten wie de man op de cover is en wat zijn verhaal is. De titel en subtitel maken je nieuwsgierig naar het verhaal. Je wilt weten hoe de jongen dat voor elkaar heeft weten te krijgen en hoe hij wist te overleven. De foto's in het boek maken het boek compleet.
In Ontsnapping uit het getto van John Carr vertelt de vader van de auteur wie zijn vader werkelijk is en waarom hij een aantal keren van naam is veranderd. Als Chaim dertien jaar is steekt hij een Duitse bewaker dood omdat de bewaker dreigde om zijn broertje neer te schieten. Chaim slaat op de vlucht en belandt uiteindelijk in een Duitse troepentrein die hem naar Berlijn brengt, waarna hij onder een valse identiteit in de Elzas terechtkomt. Door een bepaalde gebeurtenis moet hij uiteindelijk weer op de vlucht en weet hij, verstopt in een Duitse politiewagen, de grens met Frankrijk te passeren. Na nog wat tussenstops komt hij uiteindelijk in Engeland aan, gaat hij in dienst bij het Britse leger en raakt betrokken bij de verovering van Duitsland. Hij heeft mazzel dat hij er niet Joods uit ziet waardoor hij niet opviel, maar ook door geregeld van identiteit te veranderen en een hele grote dosis lef, maar zeker ook door gelukkig toeval en veel mensen die door zijn verhalen hem gunstig gezind waren, wist hij te overleven.
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.com/2022/... .
In Ontsnapping uit het getto van John Carr vertelt de vader van de auteur wie zijn vader werkelijk is en waarom hij een aantal keren van naam is veranderd. Als Chaim dertien jaar is steekt hij een Duitse bewaker dood omdat de bewaker dreigde om zijn broertje neer te schieten. Chaim slaat op de vlucht en belandt uiteindelijk in een Duitse troepentrein die hem naar Berlijn brengt, waarna hij onder een valse identiteit in de Elzas terechtkomt. Door een bepaalde gebeurtenis moet hij uiteindelijk weer op de vlucht en weet hij, verstopt in een Duitse politiewagen, de grens met Frankrijk te passeren. Na nog wat tussenstops komt hij uiteindelijk in Engeland aan, gaat hij in dienst bij het Britse leger en raakt betrokken bij de verovering van Duitsland. Hij heeft mazzel dat hij er niet Joods uit ziet waardoor hij niet opviel, maar ook door geregeld van identiteit te veranderen en een hele grote dosis lef, maar zeker ook door gelukkig toeval en veel mensen die door zijn verhalen hem gunstig gezind waren, wist hij te overleven.
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.com/2022/... .
July 13, 2023
This is a book everyone should read to gain a perspective of life in the ghetto and the determined drive of a young teen to escape the dread of Hitler's war. He desired that the story be told without dealing in detail with the depressing tales of horror, but only of his escape experiences and the help received by Jews, Christians, and German nationals.
The story begins at the time the Nazis invaded East Poland and his"gang" did what young teens did to assist their families survive, steal from others to feed the family. During an outing, his brother got caught in the wire fence and he killed a German guard which led to his escape from the ghetto at age thirteen.
For the next four years, everything this teen did was a hassle, a hustle, or a crime as he moved across Poland, Germany, France, and Spain to gain his freedom. A language student who spoke 3-4 languages with a passable degree and a physique that passed as a blue-eyed, blond-haired Catholic boy that did not resemble a Jew. His skills to survive in a war-torn country as a teen is truly remarkable.
He did reach England in time to join the Polish/British armies in their final assault against the Nazis.
His older brother and one friend were the only survivors of his "gang in the ghetto".
The story begins at the time the Nazis invaded East Poland and his"gang" did what young teens did to assist their families survive, steal from others to feed the family. During an outing, his brother got caught in the wire fence and he killed a German guard which led to his escape from the ghetto at age thirteen.
For the next four years, everything this teen did was a hassle, a hustle, or a crime as he moved across Poland, Germany, France, and Spain to gain his freedom. A language student who spoke 3-4 languages with a passable degree and a physique that passed as a blue-eyed, blond-haired Catholic boy that did not resemble a Jew. His skills to survive in a war-torn country as a teen is truly remarkable.
He did reach England in time to join the Polish/British armies in their final assault against the Nazis.
His older brother and one friend were the only survivors of his "gang in the ghetto".
October 15, 2023
This is a fascinating journey of a 13 year old Polish Jewish boy's escape from Lodz Ghetto in Poland to travel all across Europe to end up in the UK.
Chaim risks everything to escape the Nazis which obviously starts with him trying to escape the Ghetto that he and his family have put into, he was only planning on getting some food and coming back, but because of what happens he has no choice other than to run and escape.
This is a true story with so many risks to the young boys life and how quick witted and clever he was to stay alive.
This is a fascinating story which starts with a boy but ends up with a grown man who fights for his country.
Really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many perils set in his way. Well worth a read*
Chaim risks everything to escape the Nazis which obviously starts with him trying to escape the Ghetto that he and his family have put into, he was only planning on getting some food and coming back, but because of what happens he has no choice other than to run and escape.
This is a true story with so many risks to the young boys life and how quick witted and clever he was to stay alive.
This is a fascinating story which starts with a boy but ends up with a grown man who fights for his country.
Really well written and because it's so well written you forget that it is a true story as there are so many perils set in his way. Well worth a read*
May 4, 2022
Chaim Herszman es un joven judío de 13 años que vive en Lodz. Cuando los alemanes encierran a los judíos en el gueto de la ciudad, él y sus amigos estudian la alambrada para escapar y poder robar comida para sus familias. Sin embargo, lo que empezó como un juego termina con la huida de Chaim del gueto y de Polonia.
Opinión: La novela está basada en la historia real del padre de John Carr (Henry Carr), que tuvo que huir del gueto y atravesó toda Europa escapando de la guerra y de la muerte. Como se dice en el libro, todos los casos de judíos que lograron escapar son historias heroicas en las que se une la astucia, la sangre fría y la suerte, y por supuesto este caso no es diferente. Es espeluznante leer lo que tuvo que sufrir este pobre chaval para poder sobrevivir. Nota: 7/10.
Opinión: La novela está basada en la historia real del padre de John Carr (Henry Carr), que tuvo que huir del gueto y atravesó toda Europa escapando de la guerra y de la muerte. Como se dice en el libro, todos los casos de judíos que lograron escapar son historias heroicas en las que se une la astucia, la sangre fría y la suerte, y por supuesto este caso no es diferente. Es espeluznante leer lo que tuvo que sufrir este pobre chaval para poder sobrevivir. Nota: 7/10.
May 12, 2025
This was one of the best, moving, history-learning books I've ever read. With my paternal heritage from Brzeziny, Poland, I wanted more insight into life in Poland during WWII, a time when the remainder of my family was lost in the Holocaust. What I read in Mr. Carr's nonfiction book, one that I read with the ease of comfortable fiction and non-textbook-like, was so eye-opening to everyday life in Poland that it taught me about different perspectives of how and why this evil war was fought. I highly recommend this book.
September 4, 2022
This book shows you the impact of the Holocaust through the experiences of a young adult. It how’s the personal side of the effects of the Holocaust, It reads like an adventure story with twists and turns. It reminds us of the goodness of some people in the time of evil and it reminds us of why we need to fight to fascism and religious hatred whenever and wherever it emerges.
October 2, 2024
True story which reads like a fictional adventure story, but is the true story of a 13 1/2 year old Jewish boy living in Lodz, Poland at the time Nazi German troops invaded and conquered Poland who escaped from the ghetto in Lodz to finally end up in Great Britain to serve in British forces at the end of World War II. Well worth the read.
January 3, 2022
What an incredible story and very well written. It was written so well that I found it enjoyable and easy to follow from start to end . I'm so glad John Carr shared his father's story I believe it was an important one to share. Absolutely loved this book, highly recommend to read it 👍.
July 11, 2022
Extraordinary detail from a first person account of the terrors of the ghetto and escape to freedom. At times, the narrative and story seem impossible, but through determination and persistance and a little luck, the author's father survives the Holocaust.
August 20, 2022
This was a very good read. I was impressed with the way the author was able to tell the story as his father , the person who had gone through all the terrors of being a Polish Jew during WW II. By telling this true story this way the reader felt much closer to the story.
October 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this recount of a young boy’s determination to survive during WW2.
I found it an easy, interesting read and beautifully written. In addition it gave me a a greater insight into German occupied Poland.
Definitely a worthy read👌🏻
I found it an easy, interesting read and beautifully written. In addition it gave me a a greater insight into German occupied Poland.
Definitely a worthy read👌🏻
August 17, 2021
Poignant and fascinating.
A fascinating read for everyone, this part of history must not be forgotten.
Interesting as I live in Holmfirth and know Peter Carr.
A fascinating read for everyone, this part of history must not be forgotten.
Interesting as I live in Holmfirth and know Peter Carr.
January 12, 2022
Breathtaking. An extrordinary journey of a young boy and the hardships he had to face alone.
May 17, 2022
Interesting account of escaping the Ghetto and the passage to England. Different style of story but still shoes the resilience to survive.
January 23, 2023
El autor se enrolla como una persiana
May 3, 2023
Molt interessant. Història amb un transfons trist però que mostra l’esperança i desesperació per la supervivència del protagonista.
August 15, 2023
Incredible story, very gripping and well documented
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews