THE BOOK
This book describes the history of George H. Goldsteen’s grandparents, parents and other relatives from 1905 until about 1946 with a few details of a later period. It gives an insight into their daily lives and the problems encountered during World War I, the various revolts in Germany following that war and its hyperinflation period, the crisis years during the 1930s, World War II and life in the Nazi concentration camps. It is based on the voluminous diaries kept during the war by the author’s mother and an uncle, on extensive recorded interviews with them and research by the author in various archives.
REVIEWS
27/12/22:
I started reading your book yesterday. I am so enjoying it – thank you for your efforts on this over the years and Mazel tov! It is terrific!!!
Cynthia Wagner
28/12/22
Now I am very sad that I have finished the book. Even though I had heard some of the stories you related in class, it was captivating to actually read about them. Your Father’s letters at the end are wonderful and thank you for openly sharing something so very personal. I would have loved to meet your Uncle Carl and now understand why so much of the book could not have been written without him or your Mother and their writings and recollections. Your explanations throughout the book were most helpful and toward the end I always knew who was who! It indeed was a delight to read and I had trouble putting it down!
Cynthia Wagner
17/01/23
I am enjoying your book, little by little. It is fascinating reading of a personal family experience that builds on the “Modern Jewish History” I read some years ago. Thank you.
Mary Barnard.
27/01/23:
I am now more than half way through your book. It is precisely because of the detail of the diary descriptions that the contents penetrate me deeply. The most heartbreaking I find chapter 18, where your mother expresses her hopes and despairs.
Jos Engels
16/02/23
I have now read the book completely with much pleasure, even though the contents often made me feel sad. I then often have to think of the people in Ukraine, who now also have troubles already for a year. Humanity has learned little or nothing from the past, but it is good that your descendants can now read how their family fared, in the war and the period before that. Obviously you’ve done a lot of research, but fortunately you also had a lot of first-hand (diary) material.
Jos Engels
