Gertruda's Oath Explained
Gertruda's Oath: A Child, a Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II is a 2009 book (originally published in Israel as ha-Shevu'ah in 2007) by Ram Oren and translated by Barbara Harshav. It follows the story of a Jewish boy, Michael Stolowitzky, and his Catholic nanny, Gertruda Bablinska, and their escape from Poland to Palestine during WWII.
Publication history
- 2007, ha-Shevu'ah, Israel, Keshet
Reception
A review in Booklist of Gertruda's Oath wrote "this is memoir uses the techniques of historical fiction, but the author points out that although he has invented dialogue and detail, the characters and events are true." and "The story is never sentimentalized, and the reality of the genocide is always there.".[1]
Gertruda's Oath has also been reviewed by The Polish Review,[2] the Catholic Standard,[3] Yad Vashem,[4] and the Jewish Book Council.[5]
External links
Notes and References
- Mother's Day Surprise . Booklist . American Library Association. 2009 . March 6, 2019.
- September 2009 . Gertruda's Oath: A Child, a Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II . The Polish Review . Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (United States) . 54 . 3 . 378 . March 6, 2019.
- News: September 4, 2009 . Tales of Holocaust survivors can challenge, uplift Catholic readers . Eugene J. Fisher . Catholic Standard . March 6, 2019.
- Web site: Gertruda's Oath: A Child, A Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II - Ram Oren . Yael Weinstock Mashbaum . This touching story is a testament to the human spirit as well as to the righteousness of a select few, who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. This book has difficult parts, but grips the reader immediately, and has you identifying with the characters on an emotional level. It could be used in a high school classroom and would bring up the issue of an SS man married to a Jew, a topic not often discussed. . yadvashem.org . Yad Vashem . March 6, 2019.
- Web site: Gertruda's Oath . David Cohen . One could complain about certain elements— the author’s knowledge of World War II history is a little weak (the Soviet Union, for instance, also invaded Poland in 1939) and some of the sentences spoken by the very young sound contrived. Still, there’s no getting around what an astounding story this is. In the spirit of Gone With the Wind, this is a true tale of people caught up in the pulverizing sweep of history, as well as of survival under the most trying circumstances imaginable. . jewishbookcouncil.org . Jewish Book Council . March 6, 2019.
