Book Review

 The Dancing Bear by Frances Faviell

    For a short time, as a young woman I resided in the Los Angeles, California area.  I was hired at a small hospital as a staff nurse. Our unit secretary was a lady named Inge. Years earlier, a few short years after WWII, she and her family immigrated from Germany to California. She was a young woman in Berlin when the Russians came. 

Memories of Inge came back to me often while I read this book. It takes place over the early years of the allied occupation of Berlin. As the book progressed I wondered if the author experienced these things first hand and thought she must have. Thanks to an afterword at the end of the story by her son John, my impression was confirmed. 

It is a haunting story. As in all horrific situations the worst and the best of humanity shows itself. The complexities of life that were unique to Berlin itself become a stark reality as it is described so well. Even as Ms. Faviell lived it she was continually overwhelmed by the contrast between the daily existence of the victors and the losers. Although she could have sequestered herself and her son in the comfort of being the British wife of a man of some importance, Frances chose to move in all circles of society. She makes herself useful, does a great deal of good, and shares her own resources with the Berliners when able. The locals are cold and hungry; some are starving. All bear scars from the arrival of the Russians the year before when they vent their revenge upon Germany without impunity. 

The story centers around the author's friendship with the Altman family after a chance encounter with Mrs. Altman. The Altmans and their children, and later a more distant relative, come to embody why the Berliners survive - and why some do not.  Frances grows especially fond of Mrs. Altman and the younger daughter. She empathizes with Mrs. Altman's inability to understand or adapt to the complete change of ideals and culture that now rule her existence. Forced to depend upon her older daughter's lifestyle in order to survive, she cannot completely forgive Ursula for doing what she sees is the only path open to providing for her ailing father and the rest of the family. The surviving son is proud, arrogant, and bitter. 

Each member of the Altman family and other Berliners that Ms. Faviell tell us about take a different path through what life hands them in 1946; as different as their personalities and opportunities. Some remain defiant and resentful, many appreciate the kindnesses of the occupiers when offered, and almost all refuse to discuss the atrocities that came to light. The occupiers respond according to their level of compassion and depth of character as well. To a great degree you are ever exposed to the dog-eat-dog world of stark survival.

The story is well told and one that will stay with me. It describes the victors and the losers in countless times and cultures. 

Because of a miraculous circumstance, Inge was one of the few young women in Berlin not raped by the Russians. Her wounded husband miraculously survived a hospital ward where Russians systematically killed all of the patients.  

Their children were unborn or too young to remember the flight to the west or the displacement camp. They grew up in California as Americans. Inge adapted to the western culture. Her husband never really did. 

 Five stars for Frances Faviell's memoirs of her years in Berlin.  

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Bear-Frances-Faviell-ebook/dp/B01M12EH2E/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhdywv_fZ6wIVg4bACh1sBA3WEAMYASAAEgLc8_D_BwE&hvadid=409942918704&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9029086&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4473836079103566653&hvtargid=kwd-1497935779&hydadcr=24659_11410797&keywords=the+dancing+bear&qid=1599580993&sr=8-2&tag=googhydr-20