Katrina Shawver

Henry – A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America by Katrina Shawver is a biography on a Polish national who survived the horrors of concentration camps and World War II. Ms. Shawver is a journalist and a public speaker who happened to live near Mr. Zguda.

This is one of those books I take pleasure in reading. The book combines personal experiences of the subject, the author, and a bit of history to create a fascinating narrative.

Mr. Zguda was considered a threat by the regime, he was not Jewish but was considered a political threat. An athlete with good connections, he managed to survive three years in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Mr. Zguda tells his story as if it was nothing remarkable, with dark humor and a positive attitude.

The book includes original documents and photographs, many of which Mr. Zguda had in his possession not knowing their historical value. At the end, Mr. Zguda points out the good years have been much more that the bad years, and that is what he wants to get across. A lesson we should all take to heart.

This is not a polished books, as the author mentioned. She tried to get across the story as told to her by Henry Zguda, including his personality. I believe she succeeded, as I felt as if I knew Mr. Zguda by the end of the book even though I never met him.

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