Henry: A Polish Swimmer's True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America
"Everyone who reads Henry becomes a witness."--Jack Mayer, author of Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project and Before the Court of Heaven
- 2018 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award - Silver for Biography
- 2018 Best Published Nonfiction - Arizona Authors Association
- 2017 Gold for Adult Non-Fiction - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (UK)
This incredible true story is both a witness to the Holocaust through Polish eyes and the story of how Henry Zguda, a Polish Catholic swimmer, survives Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Buchenwald by his wits, humor, luck, and friends. At times humorous, always gut-honest, this account fills a huge gap in historical accounts of Poles during World War II.
May 30, 1942, Kraków Poland. German SS guards arrest Henry Zguda on a dark narrow street for one reason only: he was Polish at a time Germany swore to destroy all of Poland. Two weeks later he arrives at Auschwitz and is now Prisoner #39551. In March 1943 he is transferred to Buchenwald near Weimar Germany. There he is labeled Prisoner #10948
May 3, 1945, Dachau Germany. Near death, Henry writes home for the first time in three years: "Beloved mother, I am alive."
Katrina Shawver met Henry in 2002 when she wrote for the Arizona Republic, and after one meeting offered to write his story. They soon became close friends and friendship remains a theme throughout.
Relevant history is woven throughout the account, resulting in a unique perspective of both Jewish and Polish suffering in Nazi-occupied Poland. Henry's story is backed by meticulous research and original documents and photos, many in print for the first time. If you are a discerning adult looking for an intelligent read, this book is for you.
"...a top 'must have' acquisition for any collection strong in Holocaust survival accounts."-- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"Highly recommended."--James Conroyd Martin, author of The Poland Trilogy and The Boy Who Wanted Wings
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Recommended Reading on Poland - Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles
"Through all his hardships Henry Zguda never lost hope or his sense of humor which is present throughout the book. This is a much-needed addition to your library." --The Polish American Journal
"We are fortunate that Shawver had the presence of mind to bring Zguda's story to the world." --Leonard Kniffel, member of the Board of Directors of the Polish American Librarians Association and the Polish Museum of America in Chicago
"HENRY is a not-to-be-missed book, a man for all seasons, and a man to be upheld as an example of what is good amidst the world's evils." --Geraldine Bereziuk Lowrey, The Am-Pol Eagle
"We know that we should never forget the Holocaust, and Shawver is ensuring that we won't."-- John Liffiton, Professor and Director Genocide Conferences, Scottsdale Community College
"This remarkable true story will take you on a historical journey, filled with a firsthand account of how one man survived the impossible, and then found the love of his life."--J.L. Witterick, International Best Selling Author of My Mother's Secret
"This book is an important addition to Holocaust literature." Valerie Foster, Author, The Risk of Sorrow: Conversations with Holocaust Survivor, Helen Handler
"I've read dozens of memoirs of people who survived the camps, and Katrina Shawver's book is among the best."--John Guzlowski, author of Echoes of Tattered Tongues: Memory Unfolded, winner of the Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Award
"Henry is both poignant and inspiring."--Andrew Nagorski, author of The Nazi Hunters and Hitlerland
"Those brave souls who survived World War II are some of the finest examples of courage in our lifetime. Fortunately, Katrina Shawver knew exactly how to bring Henry Zguda's courage to life."-- Judith L. Pearson, author of The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy
"I worked as a counterintelligence agent in Germany for twenty-five years . . . From those who were victims of the Nazis or those who spoke honestly about their experiences, I can attest that Shawver knows what she is talking about."--Robert Dukelow, author of Four Strong Women: A Glimpse of Germany's Untold History 1938-1957
"Shawver weaves together a riveting, unforgettable tale that captures the unstoppable flight of the human spirit."--Greg Archer, author of Grace Revealed and Huffington Post columnist
"A remarkable feat of writing! Bravo for humanity!"--Marcia Fine, author of Hidden Ones, The Blind Eye, and Paper Children - An Immigrant's Legacy
"This reader read every single word and even went back. It's one you won't want to miss and shouldn't miss. Highly recommend story." Amy's Bookshelf Reviews - ranked #2 book of 2017.
"Extraordinarily Powerful" and "Flawlessly Written" - Book Viral
