I entered a contest: 50 Great Writers You Should be Reading (The Authors Show). I need your vote!

I have a favor to ask. I entered a writing contest that is somewhat like a television talent show: winners are chosen by popular vote. If you could please vote for me, I truly appreciate it. I don’t think there’s a limit how many times you can vote. There are two links – one to read my submission, and the other a voting page. Unfortunately, the names on the voting page aren’t listed in any order, so you have to scroll down a bit. Thanks for your vote! 

Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship From Auschwitz to America comes from a journalist who interviewed eighty-five-year-old Henry Zguda after receiving a phone tip, discovering that his memory contained a treasure trove of experiences about the Holocaust and his world which needed to be written down and exposed to a wider audience than just herself.

And so, she did – and Henry is the result: an unassuming title for what evolves into a momentous series of sharp recollections about tumultuous times. What began as a series of twice-weekly interviews soon became a growing friendship as Katrina Shawver endeavored to understand not only the mechanics of Henry’s transformations and survival, but his ability to live in the modern world without bitterness and anger about the past.

These are lessons and examples that could be employed by any survivor, revealing stories and encounters backed by images and newspaper accounts which are reproduced in this book for maximum impact, much as the author experienced in the course of her conversations with Henry.

Lest one think this singular experience was somehow inconsequential, given the bigger picture, it should be pointed out that not only did Henry possess a huge collection of original documents and images, but his encounters with others during his experience, paired with his struggles as a former champion swimmer turned political prisoner, make for an unusual perspective unequalled in Holocaust survival chronicles.

Henry’s original photos and some unique documents, such as his letters, form the foundation of this account; but many of the other photos and documents included were the result of Katrina Shawver’s substantial research. They come from multiple museums and other sources, many not seen elsewhere. The historical background that’s included adds significantly to the context and setting, something else that sets Henry apart from most Holocaust memoirs.

Underlying this survivor’s encounters is a sense of not just how he survived, but how he later lived his life; developing principles that continued to guide him long after the Holocaust was over.

It’s these facets that all coalesce to make for a unique series of stories that form a different kind of story: one that takes the macrocosm of the greater Holocaust experience, synthesizes it into one man’s life and perspective, and adds an overlay of life values that reflect a powerful saga filled with personal moments, vividly recalled: “We had a little freedom, not much, but we could walk outside the barracks. The Germans just watched as we gather a little wood, or catch a few frogs. I met my two good friends there Yost Slagboom and Hubert Lapailles. We have the nice frog legs, we cooked them in a small iron oven, cooked with wood from the forest. We take the frog legs, put them in red-hot oven, they are very nice piece of meat. So, I survived the quarry; I was strong from the milk and frog legs and bread.”

The treasure trove of documents and images, from vintage photos from the Buchenwald Memorial to Henry’s letters (some 70 original photos and rare German documents) is just one more thing that sets Henry apart from any other survivor’s story, making it a top ‘must have’ acquisition for any collection strong in Holocaust survival accounts. Henry is especially recommended for any holding strong in Polish community heritage, World War II history, and the world of competitive swimming.

D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Click here to read more Advance Praise for Henry.