Title- The Light in Hidden Places
Author- Sharon Cameron
Publisher- Penguin
Format- Kindle Edition
Pages- 405
Rating- 5/5
Summary- Stefania Podgórska was about thirteen years old when she came to work in the Diamants' shop in Przemyśl, Poland and eventually started living in their apartment like a part of their family. When she got involved in a romantic relationship with one of their sons Izio, they decided to keep it a secret as she was Catholic and Izio was a Jew and a relationship of such sort was not socially acceptable. When Przemyśl was invaded and captured by the Germans during World War 2, all the Jews including the Diamants were sent to the ghetto leaving the apartment to sixteen year old Stefania. Eventually her six year old sister Helena joined her. One day there was a knock at the door in the middle of the night and when she opened it there was Izio's brother Max at the door asking for shelter. He had jumped from the moving train while they were being transported to the Belzec extermination camp by the Nazis. In due course, she decided to shift to a small cottage in the outskirts of the city to hide Max and twelve other Jews in its attic. When the building opposite to their cottage was converted to a German army hospital she was forced to provide shelter to two German nurses whose SS soldier boyfriends visited them regularly. With four Nazis below and thirteen Jews in the attic just above them, Stefania lived her life in constant fear for several months until the nurses vacated the cottage when the hospital was shifted to Berlin.
Review- What can I say about such a fascinating book! Both the story and the way in which the author has presented it deserves praise. In a world where there was Hitler who had ordered millions of innocent Jews to be executed, there was also Stefania who had sheltered Jews like a guardian angel, not bothered by its outcome had it been discovered. The author has perfectly captured Przemyśl during the war and the dialogues which she has chosen are equally good. It is quite heart-wrenching to think how the Nazis mistreated the Jews and also prevented the other citizens from helping them-
"DEATH PENALTY FOR ALL WHO GIVE AID TO A JEW.
DEATH TO ALL WHO HARBOR A JEW.
DEATH TO ALL WHO FEED A JEW.
DEATH TO ALL WHO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO A JEW."
Stefania is a living example of absolute kindness and selflessness. She not only gave shelter to the Jews but also fed them with her meagre income. There were times when she remained hungry herself just to put food into the mouths of the Diamants. The courage with which she helped the Jews during a time when anyone who supported them could be shot was very rare. Often she almost got caught but that did not stop her from doing what was right. Her sister Helena, who was a small child during that time, was equally brave like her. Everyday she carried water for the Jews who hid in their house and emptied their waste bucket. Throughout the period she did not reveal anything about them to anyone which was quite rare for a child of her age. Even after suffering physical torture by the Nazis she did not utter anything that could jeopardize the safety of the Jews.
This book helped me to know about a war hero whose bravery knew no bounds and because of whom thirteen people got the opportunity to live their lives after the war was over. It is a must read book for all readers as it will not only help you to know about a brave woman in history but will also inculcate the values of selflessness and goodness in you.
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