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An unforgettable account of how an entire town in Poland resists the devastating blow of the occupying Nazi forces, using wit, courage, and determination as its only weapons. Occupied by the Germans, the strategically located town of Sofia, Poland, stands on the brink of annihilation in 1941. As every arrest and execution brings total obliteration closer to reality, two medical doctors devise an ingenious plan -- to stage a typus epidemic that will force the Nazis to evacuate. The locals and show more their enemy swiftly become enmeshed in what soon becomes the most daring act of resistance in World War II. Jan Szukalski--A brilliant doctor, he masterminds the hoax with his partner, Mary Duszynska, whose work binds them together more strongly than love itself. Maximillian Hartung--A German officer, he is ruthless in his lust for personal power and determined to win Hitler's personal attention by breaking the resistance in Sofia. David Ryz--A young Jewish leader of a zealous band of partisans, he helps incite the town to violence and unwittingly puts the medical hoax in jeopardy. Gripping and powerful, Night Trains brilliantly illuminates the classic conflict between active and passive resistance in one town's fight for survival. show less

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Los trenes de la noche, trenes oscuros que pasan por la pequeña ciudad polaca de Sofía, conducen a una oscuridad aún mayor: van a Auschwitz. Algunos en Sofía lo saben: el doctor Jan Szukalski y su ayudante, la doctora Maria Duszynska, el joven soldado Hans Kepler, incapaz de soportar su «trabajo» en el campo de la muerte, los guerrilleros que actúan en los alrededores de la ciudad... Poco pueden hacer, pero lo intentan. Jan y Maria lo harán de la forma más original, provocando una falsa epidemia de tifus que aleje a los alemanes. Aunque engañarlos y ocultar el secreto de la conspiración no será nada fácil...
Los trenes de la noche, trenes oscuros que pasan por la pequeña ciudad polaca de Sofía, conducen a una oscuridad aún mayor: van a Auschwitz. Algunos en Sofía lo saben: el doctor Jan Szukalski y su ayudante, la doctora Maria Duszynska, el joven soldado Hans Kepler, incapaz de soportar su «trabajo» en el campo de la muerte, los guerrilleros que actúan en los alrededores de la ciudad... Poco pueden hacer, pero lo intentan. Jan y Maria lo harán de la forma más original, provocando una falsa epidemia de tifus que aleje a los alemanes. Aunque engañarlos y ocultar el secreto de la conspiración no será nada fácil... Trenes nocturnos es una historia de heroísmos ocultos, de conductas humanas conducidas hasta los límites de su show more grandeza o su abyección, de amores que fructifican o se desgarran. Una obra que puede leerse como una apasionante novela de sentimientos, pero también como una apología del ser humano, capaz también de lo sublime, como un recordatorio de los horrores de la ocupación y, sobre todo, una llamada a la esperanza. show less

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Night Trains
Original title
Night Trains
Alternate titles*
Arts als Partizaan : roman
Original publication date
1979-09
People/Characters
Jan Szukalski; Maria Duszynska; Hans Kepler; Father Piotr Wajda; Maximillian Hartung; David Ryz
Important places
Sofia, Poland
Important events
World War II (1939 | 1945)
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Alfons Lewandowski
who was there when it happened
and whose experiences gave us
what no history books could;

To Pope John Paul II;

And to the nameless thousands who, like h... (show all)im,
fought in the Polish Resistance.

This is their memorial.
First words
BUENOS AIRES - THE PRESENT
Adrian Hartman opened the side door to his palatial home at 3600 Avenida del Libertador and stepped out into the crisp morning air. ...
ONE
POLAND, DECEMBER, 1941
SS-Rottenführer... (show all)Hans Kepler stood on the platform of the railway station at Oświęcim waiting for the train.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And Maria replied softly, 'I think they would have been proud of us.'
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
DDC/MDS
813Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English
LCC
PZ4 .W87Language and LiteratureFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction in English
BISAC

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Members
98
Popularity
327,646
Reviews
2
Rating
(3.06)
Languages
5 — Dutch, English, German, Spanish, Swedish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
22
ASINs
3