In Alexander Rosenberg’s most recent novel, The Girl from Krakow, the forces of good and evil are challenged to their utmost. This novel chiefly concerns two characters who function within the grey area of morality. Our two protagonists, Rita Feuerstahl and Tadeusz Sommermann meet under some pretty shady circumstances.
Tadeusz Sommermann is Rita’s husband’s childhood best friend. Unfortunately, he finds himself coveting the forbidden fruit, and Rita reciprocates. While all of this is going on, it’s 1939, and the Nazi takeover of Europe is imminent. The chief pilot of the novel concerns how Rita and Tadeusz survive the war. The reader needs to know that both main characters assume new identities to stay under Nazi radar. Both characters are Jewish, so slipping into the shadows is imperative.
Rita’s path to safety begins when she separates from her husband. Her small Polish town is about to undergo ghettoization. During Rita’s time in the ghetto, she comes across the works of Charles Darwin. She soon realizes that these are the principles on which the Nazi’s base their policy of extermination. She uses Darwinian ideals to dispel the Third Reich’s theories. It is established from the very beginning of the novel that Rita is an atheist. Therefore, faith in God will not bolster her will to survive. Rita’s sanity throughout the ensuing years is maintained because she has found a way to understand the madness that is World War 2.
She soon finds that the ghetto she is living in will be liquidated. She escapes with the help of some false documents and assumes the identity of a vox Deutsche or part German. She obtains employment in the home of a Nazi banker. At this point, the story transfers to Tadeusz’s point of view. Tadeusz assumes the identity of Dr. Guillermo Romero or Gil. He works in a women’s clinic as a gynecologist. He assists in both births and abortions. Not only is the work in which he participates dangerous, but it could be the key to discovering the fact that he is Jewish. This tale of two lives, irrevocably intertwined, shows the reader the epic struggle between what the mind knows and what the heart wants. However, the writing leaves something to be desired.
The language in this novel is very cerebral. The author spends a lot of time inside the minds of his two characters. Consequently, descriptions of the protagonists’ environments are lacking in fullness. Also, the Darwinian principles are explained on a very high level. This makes rooting for the protagonists complex because they seem cold and unemotional. The only scenes in which these two are genuinely passionate are when they are with each other. These stories should elicit strong emotions in favor of those who suffered. Nazi Europe is a challenging setting to take in. It’s bleak and frightening. That is why it caught me by surprise when I found myself detached from a man and woman who have gone through some harrowing experiences.
My overall opinion about this novel is that it’s got the bones of a good story, but it doesn’t have great characters to drive it. A reader should be happy when something good happens and be sad when something bad happens. I found myself thoroughly unemotional about this novel, which is pretty amazing when you consider its subject matter. Even when suffering is involved, the author doesn’t convey fear or sadness well. Instead, the reader encounters cold rationality from both Rita and Tadeusz. In summation, the novel could use some beefing up with the personalities of its main characters. The essential elements of a great story are there. It just feels like Rosenberg was trying too hard.

I liked the idea and premise of this book, but if I'm entirely honest with myself, the style and tone make it difficult to recommend. The novel plods from one point to the next and I never felt drawn to or particularly interested in any of the characters.

The plot had huge potential, but was a little rough around the edges. There were parts of the book that were engaging and others that I felt like I had to work through.