Edith's Story: The True Story of a Young Girl's Courage and Survival During World War II
by Edith Velmans
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Biography & Autobiography. History. Nonfiction. The classic story of 'the Anne Frank who lived,' Edith's Story is based on the diaries of a Dutch young girl who survived World War II hiding in plain sight. When Hitler invaded Holland in 1939, Edith van Hessen was a popular Dutch high school student. She also happened to be Jewish. In the same month that Anne Frank's family went into hiding, Edith was sent to live with a courageous Protestant family, took a new name, and survived by posing as show more a gentile. Ultimately one-third of the hidden Dutch Jews were discovered and murdered; most of Edith's family perished in the camps. Velmans's memoir is based on her teenage diaries, wartime letters, and reflections as an adult survivor. In recounting wartime events and the details of her feelings as the war runs its course, Edith's Story ultimately affirms life, love, and extraordinary courage. "I never realized that there could be such suffering in the world, and that anyone could live through it." — from the diary, July 1, 1945."The most vivid evocation of the experience of Nazi Occupation that I have ever read." - The Independent (London)."It holds you with the same intensity as the Diary of Anne Frank and leaves you heart-broken, illuminated, and amazed at the capacity for courage." - The Guardian (London)"Velmans' candid portrayal of herself as a feisty, loving, sometimes self-absorbed teenager is thoroughly engaging and her story throws new light on the plight of Jews who survived the war hidden in plain sight." — Publishers Weekly"A significant Holocaust memoir... A valuable opportunity to see the situation just outside Anne's attic." — Kirkus Reviews"It's impossible to get through this inspiring and great-hearted volume dry-eyed, or without admiration for people who so bravely persevere through unimaginable hardship and privation." — The Washington Post"One of the best and most moving memoirs I have ever read." — Ruth Rendell, The Sunday Times. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I really liked Edith's point of view. This was a good book to get the view of someone in hiding as opposed to at a camp, and how things worked on the "outside" for Jews.
Had to read it for a book report. It was surprisingly really good!
Un diario (vero). L'Aia. La quotidianità di una ragazzina della borghesia olandese che vive all'Aja e frequenta scuole e circoli sportivi dove nessuno si cura delle origini o della religione dell'altro, ma si è semplicemente "amici e compagni", si frantuma piano piano con l'arrivo della guerra e dell'invasione nazista dell'Olanda. La famiglia di Edith, composta dai genitori (mamma tedesca e papà olandese), dai fratelli di Edith, dagli zii olandesi e tanti cugini e ad un certo punto anche dalla nonna che, convinta dalla figlia, la mamma di Edith, viene a vivere con loro, quasi senza avvedersene, piano piano si smembra e si distacca dei suoi componenti, dal fratello maggiore che il padre manda in America, alla mamma che subisce un show more intervento e ne ha lunghe conseguenze e rimane relegata in ospedale, via via fino alla "fuga" di Edith, che viene accolta e nascosta, sotto falso nome, da una famiglia d'una cittadina di provincia, che l'aiuta a salvarsi la vita. Una realtà sull'olocausto cha tutti dovrebbero conoscere, (fonte: Amazon) show less
May 13, 2020Italian
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2+ Works 263 Members
Edith Velmans took a degree in Psychology at the University of Amsterdam after the war and was Director of the War Orphanage there until 1948. In 1951 she left The Netherlands with her husband Loet Velmans and two baby daughters. She studied with Piaget in Switzerland and received a Masters of Education from Columbia University in New York City in show more 1977. Mrs. Velmans was knighted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1996. She currently lives in Sheffield, MA. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Virago Modern Classics (742)
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Common Knowledge
- Important places*
- Nederland
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 940.53 — History & geography History of Europe History of Europe 1918- World War II, 1939-1945
- LCC
- DS135 .N6 .N4613 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Asia History of Asia Israel (Palestine). The Jews Jews outside of Palestine
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 262
- Popularity
- 122,955
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.74)
- Languages
- 7 — Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 27
- ASINs
- 2




























































