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[review] The Brigade: Howard Blum

Discussion in 'WWII Books & Publications' started by theblackalchemist, Jan 8, 2010.

  1. theblackalchemist

    theblackalchemist Member

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    Summary in Brief:


    Name: The Brigade

    Author: Howard Blum

    Movie: NA

    War Theater: Italian

    Book Theme: The theme of the book is varied but coherent. It has a likeable mix of vengeance, horror, helplessness, and later on protectiveness, wants for liberation leading to the feeling of brotherhood that the Jews from Palestine feel for those imprisoned by the Reich.

    Perspective: the book employs a Third Person style and perspective of a Jew dealing mainly with the micro-perspectives of three men namely Isreal Carmi, Johanan Peltz and Arie Pinchuck, and to some extent the experiences of immediate family of the central have been discussed. At some places the movement of the entire Brigade has been discussed, just for the sake of continuing the plot though and not from a strategic point of view though.
    The Book moves from Mid-war to post war eras with the Brigade.

    Fluency: The book is fluent throughout and hardly the reader feels broken off, as the plot and writing style are engaging.


    Review:

    Introduction & Plot [SPOLIER WARNING: General idea flow discussed below]
    This book is a unique specimen of the time as it does not focus on the common soldier in a battle that changed the world, but rather accounts for the Brigade of about 5000 Palestinians who were sent as a token unit in-order to politically maintain good relations with Palestine.
    However trivial this may be for the British, it sent a ray of hope for all Jews, who were given the opportunity to Don the Star of David on their shoulders voluntarily rather than forcefully.
    It starts with the appointment of the CO for the Brigade, the Training of the Brigade, their first operations , and a few other operations, the sidelining of the Brigade because of disciplinary issues, and finally the complete isolation of the Brigade from the war.
    Then the book focuses more on the point of view of the three men who were mentioned above. Their feelings still not fully unleashed against their oppressors lasts out till the war ends in Europe. In a bloody thirst for revenge, they begin a systematic extermination of German (Majorly SS) officers who were involved either directly or indirectly in the concentration camps spread across Germany.
    A Chance encounter with an Orphan, who suffers because of neglect drastically changes the viewpoint of the three men. Instead of exterminating their enemy and casting themselves down to their level to become mindless beats, they choose to elevate their souls by helping (read Smuggling) Jewish War Orphans to reach their place of birth, where they will be respected, and live amongst their own people.
    The Book then trails out to the men who in old age still have the spark that carried them throughout the war, and serves as a fitting memorial for those Jews who wielded arms and those who wielded nothing but hope.


    Writing Style
    Characteristic of first person accounts, this book successfully captures the feelings and pent up emotions at most of the places.
    Though in a few paragraphs, the writing style appears to be slightly mechanical, it is overridden by the various emotions of desperation, vengeance, and initial helplessness. Edited and written well, this book has a definitive pace which suits the authors style of writing, capturing the essence that is meant to be conveyed.
    The writing style though refined, is simple and can be understood without much effort. As mentioned above, the perspective focuses on the three central characters as well as the immediate family of Pinchuck. The suffering of that family in the hands of the Nazis is portrayed, and the miraculous Escape of Leah (sister of Arie) from the hands of the Nazis, her struggle for survival in a hostile world where even the local authorities were against her, is well recorded.
    The placing of these small sub-plots provides a minor-motivation for some of the characters , and hence maintains the continuity of the story even after the war, during an extended period of vengeance and later on acting as the messiahs for the Jews trapped in bundles of Red Tape.


    Closing Comments:
    It makes a light reading, worth spending time upon, and those interested in the non-mainstream incidences of the war must read this book.It is well presented, and a treat to read whenever it is picked up.

    Regards,
    TBA
     

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