Dancing Under the Red Star: The Extraordinary Story of Margaret Werner, the Only American Woman to Survive Stalin's Gulag

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 show more especially moving...or maybe I just find it so because it expresses what I wish I could shout from the rooftops & make everyone understand. show less

Margaret and her family leave the U.S. to settle in Russia with hundreds of other Ford Motor workers. After years of living in Russia, father Carl is arrested as an enemy of the state. Margaret and her mother Elisabeth are left in poverty, struggling to eat and survive the harsh temperatures. After Margaret is arrested, she is sentenced to 10 years hard labor in Siberia. What unravels is her remarkable story of survival.

What an amazing woman! Margaret was a strong woman determined to survive. While I found her references to God repetitive, I understand that this was a major part of her survival. Her son has created a nice legacy for his Mom and has documented her journey for future generations!

One of the best & most compelling books I've ever read.