Karl Tobien

Although it cannot compare to Dostoyevsky's House of the Dead, it is still well worth reading. Too little has been written about the atrocities of Stalin's reign. This is the true story of one woman's trials to survive, & eventually return to her own country [the U.S]. Despite what she did have to suffer, it does seem as if she had a guardian looking after her. This is especially evident in the pickpocket's confession to her. When seeing her again in the camps, he admits that at the time she had witnessed his crime [years before] he had wanted to cut her as he had other witnesses before her, but for some reason he could not move the arm that would have allowed her to do so.
The last chapter, entitled "Challenge to the Reader" is especially moving...or maybe I just find it so because it expresses what I wish I could shout from the rooftops & make everyone understand.… (mer)