The Corset Maker

“‘The Corset Maker’ is a tale of the twentieth century that celebrates human resilience. It

is an enchanting, resonant novel inspired by the life of Dora Libeskind and seen through

the eyes of Rifka. Berkovits weaves a story of a quintessential rebel in times of global

crisis and war. Threads of Nazism, Anti-Semitism, and sexism make for a compelling,

fast-paced narrative that sees a young heroine navigate the world in search of her

destiny.”

—Daniel Libeskind, architect; Founder Studio Daniel Libeskind; Author of a dozen

books including “Breaking Ground” and “Edge of Order;” Berlin and New York

“Annette Libeskind Berkovits has made central moments of twentieth century history

come alive. An Orthodox Jewish girl rebels against her family and becomes an entrepreneur only to face anti-Semitism. She travels to Palestine and Spain and France, each time to survive more violence. Love and violence are at the core of this extraordinary novel. Berkovits fills history with romance.”

—John J. Clayton, award-winning author of “Kuperman’s Fire,” “What Are Friends For,” and “Mitzvah Man;” Leverett, MA

“‘The Corset Maker’ begins in the fall of 1930. Nationalism is surfacing as Europe teeters. In Warsaw Poland 12-year-old Rifka Berg asks her beloved Ultra-Orthodox father why girls don’t have bar mitzvahs. His answer brings about an epiphany that changes the course of her life. Thus begins Rifka’s life’s journey: continents will be crossed, wars will be won, and others lost, there will be love and there will be unspeakable genocide. Even Rifka’s name and identity must change for her to survive, but Rifka’s search for the truth of experience, for the very meaning of life and her place in it will never wane. Timely and more relevant to today than is comfortable. This is the journey of the hero in the truest sense of Joseph Campbell.”

—Jim Cooper, photographer and author of “Funeral in Montauk;” Mosfellsbær, Iceland

“‘The Corset Maker’ is a compelling story of girlhood, war, survival – and against all odds, a story of finding out who you truly are. It is a beautifully written journey that weaves together the personal and the historical. I was gripped by this unique and courageous protagonist – and found myself alongside her throughout the book. It is without a doubt one of the most fascinating and meaningful books I have read.”

—Rachel Arnow, artist and author of “Kinder Kalender,” “All the World From A-Z,” and “The Wild West;” Berlin, Germany

“With her eloquent and captivating writing Annette Berkovits transports one to the riveting saga of survival, resilience, and ingenuity of a young woman from Warsaw, Poland. Set mainly in the twists and turns of the first half of 20 th century Europe, ‘The Corset Maker’ ignites the reader’s imagination of history and brings to life the hard choices and challenges facing young people during that time. The story concludes with an unexpected ending in the last decade of the century. I simply could not put the book down.”

—Zvi Jankelowitz, Director of Institutional Advancement, Yiddish Book Center; Massachusetts

“This sweep of twentieth century European history seen through the eyes of a young Orthodox Jewish woman is a truly gripping read.”

—Joanna Orwin, award-winning author of “Shifting Currents;” Christchurch, New Zealand

“A vivid narrative that poses an urgent and universal question: how to survive as a woman while balancing personal responsibility, solidarity, and pacifist ideals. Readers first meet ‘The Corset Maker’ as she rebels against her Orthodox Jewish upbringing in inter-war Warsaw, striking out for independence with her friend to open a corsetiere’s shop. The departure of her elder sister to join Jewish settlers in Palestine and the arrival of Nazism in Poland combine to send her on an odyssey through Israel and Europe during the cataclysms of the mid 20th century. As she encounters danger and suffering and the anguish of an impossible love she is plunged into political and personal conflict. She is constantly forced by circumstances to question and challenge her own deeply held principles, yet her resilience and commitment to the welfare of others continually shine through the darkest moments.

—Maybelle Wallis, physician and author of “Heart of Cruelty;” Wexford, Ireland

“What a life. What a story. What a journey! Page after page, a woman is revealed whom I wish I could have met in real life. She is an inspiration to every woman trying to find her very own path.”

—Cilia Ebert, Head of Strategy and Planning, German Federal Ministry for Family, Youth, Women and Senior Citizens; Berlin, Germany

“In ‘The Corset Maker,’ Annette Libeskind Berkovits gives us a fascinating novel, spanning

decades of the history of Europe – from Poland to Spain and France – and Palestine, where the future State of Israel is being born. Through a unique friendship between two women, the author explores profound themes such as feminism and pacifism, while placing those ideas against the stark reality of 20th-century history: the Civil War in Spain and the rise of fascism and antisemitism. The reader is drawn into the rich, powerful, and thoughtful narrative.”

—Philip Jolly, journalist; London, United Kingdom