Mila 18 by Leon Uris (1961, Hardcover)

Description: Mila 18 is a novel by Leon Uris set in German-occupied Warsaw, Poland, before and during World War II. Mila 18 debuted at #7 on The New YorkTimes Best Seller List (the second-highest debut of anyUris novel ever, bested only by the #6 debut of Trinity in 1976) andpeaked at #2 in August 1961.[1] Leon Uris's work, based on real events,covers the Nazi occupation of Poland andthe atrocities of systematically dehumanizing and eliminating the Jewish people of Poland.The name "Mila 18" is taken from the headquarters bunker of Jewish resistance fighters underneaththe building at ulica Mia 18 (18 Mila Street, in English, 18Pleasant Street). (See Mia 18.) The term ghetto takes on a clearer meaning as the courageousJewish leaders fight a losing battle against not only the Nazis and theirhenchmen, but also profiteers and collaborators among themselves. Eventually,as the ghetto is reduced to rubble, a few courageous individuals with fewweapons and no outside help assume command of ghetto defense, form a makeshiftarmy and make a stand. Summary As in many other books by Uris, the story is largely toldfrom the standpoint of a newspaperman; in this case, an American-Italian journalist,Christopher de Monti, who is assigned to Warsaw after covering the Spanish civil war. Although meant to be a dispassionate andneutral observer, he meets and becomes intimate with both the Nazi hierarchyand the Jews of Warsaw. He has a passionate affair with the wife of one of theJewish community leaders, while also dealing with prostitutes provided by theNazis. As the ghetto is surrounded and reduced to rubble, hethrows in his lot with the gallant defenders. He is one of the few survivorsand manages to escape with a young woman, Gabriela Rak, who is pregnant withthe child of one of the defenders, Andrei Androfski, a former Polish army officer.[5] Characters Andrei Androfski is a Polish army Ulany Brigadeofficer, and a Jew. He is hot-headed and several other characters comment thathe is best at leading cavalry charges i.e., hopelessly fighting until theend. He remains in the ghetto after the fall of the bunker at Mila 18 and ispresumed dead afterwards. Gabriela Rak is Andrei Androfski's girlfriend,although they decide not to marry due to Andrei's Jewish descent. She worked atthe American Embassy in Warsaw before the war and at the end of the book wascarrying Andrei's child. Christopher de Monti is a journalist whose father isItalian, and mother is American. While opposed to fascism and being determinedto bring out the truth to the world, he does not aid the fighters on the ghettountil he is compelled to enter the ghetto by the Nazi propaganda officer inPoland. He is the only person to know the location of all the ghetto's diaries. Alexander Brandel is one of the leaders of theuprising and the father of Wolf Brandel. He started a diary, which was laterexpanded to 24 volumes by members of the ghetto. Loosely based on Emanuel Ringelblum. Wolf Brandel is the son of Alexander and one of theleaders of the uprising. He escapes the ghetto with a handful of survivorsincluding his girlfriend, Rachael Bronski. At the end of the book Christopherde Monti writes that Rachael and Wolf are off fighting in another Jewishresistance group. Rachael Bronski is the daughter of Paul and DeborahBronski and the girlfriend of Wolf Brandel. Along with being a talentedmusician and an excellent soldier she assists Wolf with the command of his partof the army. When the uprising comes to an end Rachael and Wolf escape with afew others out of the sewers and to safety. Deborah Bronski is Christopher de Monti's lover andthe wife of Paul Bronski. She is also the sister of Andrei Androfski. WhileDeborah does not feel any love for Paul, especially after he opposes theresistance in the ghetto, she refuses to leave him until he dies. Deborah hastwo children Rachael and Stephan Bronski. Paul Bronski is the husband of Deborah Bronski and,although a Jew, does not wish to be associated with other Jews in any way. Heworks at the Jewish Council and believes incooperating with the Germans and opposing the Jewish resistance. He commitssuicide eventually after not being able to cope with the pressure from bothsides. Loosely based on Adam Czerniakw. Franz Koenig is an ethnic German living in Polandwho receives higher and higher status after the Nazi invasion. As the warprogresses, Koenig becomes more and more corrupted. He succeeds Paul Bronski inleading the Warsaw Medical Institute.

Price: 21.5 USD

Location: Brooklyn, New York

End Time: 2024-12-03T22:56:08.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.38 USD