Bau: Artist at War by Joseph Bau is one of the most raw, emotive, heartbreaking, thoughtful, eye-opening and informative memoirs on the Holocaust I have read. That is saying a lot as I have read every one I can find to learn more about this devastating and important time in history. Mr. Bau wrote without self pity and injected humour and wit into his intelligent observations of human nature. His art is smart and impactful yet easy to grasp. I am so thankful he captured every detail he could in words and art in the Kraków Ghetto and Plaszów, Gross-Rosen and Brněnec camps. He even had the foresight to draw important maps. But he is a hero as well.

Joseph met and married Rebecca at Plaszów camp. What a story! Miracle after miracle happened in their lives as they navigated being Jews in a horrendous time. The love wherever they lived (ghetto and Israel) with their children and neighbours must have been a comforting patchwork quilt. As Jews in the Ghetto they had nothing yet they had everything. They had no value but were invaluable. Camps were even worse.

Joseph used his talents as an artist and artistic photographer and Rebcca used her nursing, cosmetology, knowledge of nine languages and couturier to do good. They also saved hundreds of Jews. Rebecca became a manicurist for the SS at Plaszów and as such was treated slightly better than other prisoners. She also risked her own life to save Joseph's and getting him added to Oskar Schindler's list. She wrote her experiences in diaries. He designed posters which a deputy officer noticed so he brought Joseph food. Story after story shows their cheerful outlook, love for those suffering and passion to see a need and help. Both were extremely humble and their rescues only came to light decades later.

Amongst the stories which grabbed my heart and soul most are the blackout shade creations, "An Ode to Bread", harrowing camp illustrations, Bau marriage, reasons for executions, camp "food" such as "jam" and scraping spilled soup from the floor with an old chamber pot, Joseph's tour of Plaszów, liberation, Rebecca's selfless saving of her husband and providing provisions for her children, the Schindler connection, rescues, and tremendous love of this beautiful family. The reminders Joseph wrote about crushed my heart but I can imagine the associations. But the story doesn't end there. The two were honoured with awards and were asked to attend trials to testify against SS Gruen. Their "afters" are detailed as well.

There is no way to do this book sufficient justice. Just please read it. You won't regret one second.

My sincere thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this exceptional book, one I will never forget. And isn't that the point?

Reading the stories of the survivors have always been difficult but important to me because not only do their stories deserve to be told but they deserve to read and shared as well. Thank you for sharing your story!