To Dream of Shadows: A Gripping Holocaust Novel Inspired by a Heartbreaking True Story, Book 1 of the series “World War II Historical Fiction”: by Steve N. Lee is a gripping novel that takes place in Eastern Europe, 1943.
Inge Zaleska, 18, travels with her Jewish family in a crowded cattle car after being forced out of their Czechoslovakian home. Once they reach their destination she is torn from her family and placed in a Nazi concentration camp. The detainees are forced into hard labor with no decent food, warmth, adequate clothing, or medical attention.
Although SS Sergeant Rudi Kruse has been force-fed the poisonous hate-Jews philosophy since childhood, he begins to question the unnecessary cruelty he sees at the concentration camp. Harsh conditions take lives unnecessarily. Prisoners are starved, beaten, forced to stand in the cold for hours during roll call. Their treatment is not only counter-productive, it’s sadistic.
When the commandant is injured and must leave the camp for treatment, Rudi is placed in charge pro tem and will stay at the commandant’s home. At the same time, the commandant’s housekeeper, a prisoner, is recovering from a broken leg in the infirmary and Inge is ordered to temporarily fulfill those duties.
As Rudi and Inge become acquainted, Rudi learns more about the plight of Jewish prisoners. He begins to see them as people, not really different than other people. He realizes the huge difference between being a good German and a good Nazi. Rudi and Inge see each other as just people with the same wants and desires. At her suggestions, he makes some comfort changes in the camp: warm coats, adequate shoes, more and better food. But at some point it has to end, the commandant will return to duty. But even more troubling, Rudi and Inge begin to fall in love. Is it even possible for them to have a future together?
To Dream of Shadows is a gripping story of hate, but also awakening compassion and surprisingly, love. I would recommend this book especially to those interested in World War II and how people in that time and place were affected. It profoundly shows how honesty, decency and kindness can change the world.
Thank you for sharing my book with your readers, Mary. I so pleased you enjoyed it.
It was my pleasure, Steve. The world needs to know these facts.
Nice review, Mary. I have been watching quite a few movies and documentaries similar to this Holocaust story. From what I have gleaned, there were many instances much like Rudi and Inge’s story that took place during WWII.
Thank you for your comment, Alice. It’s dismaying how all this could have gone on for so long. This book contains many graphic details on the suffering of Jews in those times. Terrible!