The project

This book tells the true story of my father's journey as a seven-year-old Jewish boy, fleeing his native Czechoslovakia for Paris, then Toulouse, and eventually Switzerland, where he survived the war. At its core, the book is built around personal letters, family documents, and photographs that have never been published—materials that have guided my research and shaped the narrative.

While intended for a general audience with an interest in the Holocaust, 20th-century European history, and personal biographies, this work also has strong educational potential. Its mix of deeply personal storytelling and carefully researched historical context makes it well-suited as a supplementary reading for high school and lower-division college courses on the Holocaust or World War II in Europe.

What sets this project apart is its use of original family letters, Swiss, French, and Czech national archives, and the rich, layered perspective that emerges from these primary sources. In addition to recounting the dramatic survival of one family, I also reflect on the remarkable encounters I've had along the way—strangers who became collaborators, and discoveries that altered what I thought I knew. These encounters have not only enriched my understanding of my family's past but have become an integral part of the story itself.

Through my journey, readers are made aware of the detective work involved in reconstructing lost lives—particularly when none of the witnesses remain to speak. This book is both a tribute and a testimony: it sheds light on personal histories too often erased, while helping readers understand the universal impact of war, displacement, and survival.

The result is an accessible narrative that I hope will touch the heart while opening a window into the complexities of memory, history, and identity.

A lot more details about the genesis of the project can be found in the sections "How my journey began" and "Notes to my future readers."

I have sent the manuscript to a couple of publishers and am waiting to hear back.