…He was caught taking the yellow patch off his clothes and trying to sneak back into the city.

Many books have been written about the experiences of Europe’s Jews during the Second World War, but few stand comparison with this account.

Based on the author’s own experience, as a teenage partisan interned in a concentration camp in his native Bulgaria, this book paints a vivid picture of the harsh realities of the daily routine. A varied cast of characters – ranging from sadistic paramilitaries to skeletal inmates engaged in a grotesque struggle for survival – is brought vividly to life. The style is terse, direct and uncompromising, making no concessions to sentimentality and eschewing conventional literary flourishes. Interspersed in the text there are quotations from various religious sources – Jewish, Christian, and mystical – underlining the author’s belief in the survival of the human spirit in the face of adversity

“Athar” is a highly original, and worthwhile contribution to the literature of the Holocaust, a work of supreme authenticity and artistry.

“An extremely original and well-written book.” Juliet Annan, Penguin UK

(A note to the reader: Almost 75% of Amazon customer reviews give ATHAR the best possible rating – 5 stars and highly praise it. It seems that the work’s unique literary style is a barrier for others. You may try reading the opening pages by clicking on the “Look inside” banner located at the top of the cover image. We hope that ultimately your reading experience will be as positive as that expressed by the majority of readers).

Want more? Visit Shlomo Kalo’s BookGorilla Author Page