Book Recommendations
The American Agent, A Maisie Dobbs mystery by Jacqueline Winspear
If you aren't a Masie Dobbs fan as yet, I recommend you begin at the first one, although following them in order isn't a must. This is number 15, and Maisie is now in her early 40's, ever resilient, brilliant at what she does, but human and likeable. Winspear hasn't lost her touch, this may be one of my favorites in the series.
The Long Walk, the true story of a trek to freedom by Slavomir Rawicz.
According to Donald Downing, who wrote the forward to this book, he went looking for Slavomir Rawicz to get a story on a siting in the Himalayas of yeti. What he got was a far more incredible story, which the former officer in the Polish army and former Russian prisoner agreed to tell if Downing would write it down for him. Write it down he did and the first publication came out in 1956.
Two things about this book: It isn't a light read, it is the story of a Polish officer taken prisoner by the Russians at the very onset of World War II who suffered just as horribly at their hands as he would have if being taken prisoner by the Germans. Knowing they would die eventually anyway, he and six others decided to take the slim chance they could escape their captors at Yakutsk and make their way to freedom. It was a brutal journey. Not all of them made it. But some did, thanks to extraordinary encounters, kindnesses extended by villagers, and perhaps even a miracle or two.
It is also a controverial story. Not everyone believes it is completely true, and another Pole came forward after publication to insist he was the one who escaped Russia and made the walk. Because of how Ronald Downing happened upon Mr. Rawicz, and due to the quiet and unassuming character of this man, I chose to believe Slavomir Rawicz' account.
A move with Ed Harris called The Way Back came out in 2010, which has taken some liberties but is based upon The Long Walk.
I've read this book and it is gripping especially since it is supposedly a true story and I agree with you about Mr. Rawicz. If it isn't true in the particulars, it is no doubt true in the main. Definitely worth the read.
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