| Dick Estell The Radio Reader Public Radio's Reading Program |
| (non-fiction) |
| Airs October 9 thru November 14, 2007 |
When author Franks’ father began slipping into dementia, he began finally to
speak about a part of his life he had always kept hidden. Franks knew her father
had served in World War II, but she never suspected the truth - that he was a spy
who risked his life behind enemy lines (in the guise of an SS officer) and, near the
end of the war, visited one of the first concentration camps liberated by the Allies.
Like Scott Turow’s recent novel Ordinary Heroes, which tackled many of the
same themes in a fictional context, Franks’ memoir works on many levels. It’s
the story of a man who became a hero and spent the rest of his life keeping it a
secret, but it’s also an almost heartbreakingly tender story of reconciliation, of a
daughter coming to know her father even as he is slipping away from her. The
book is beautifully written, packed with raw emotion, deep affection, and
newfound, unexpected respect for a man his daughter hardly knew until it was
almost too late.
speak about a part of his life he had always kept hidden. Franks knew her father
had served in World War II, but she never suspected the truth - that he was a spy
who risked his life behind enemy lines (in the guise of an SS officer) and, near the
end of the war, visited one of the first concentration camps liberated by the Allies.
Like Scott Turow’s recent novel Ordinary Heroes, which tackled many of the
same themes in a fictional context, Franks’ memoir works on many levels. It’s
the story of a man who became a hero and spent the rest of his life keeping it a
secret, but it’s also an almost heartbreakingly tender story of reconciliation, of a
daughter coming to know her father even as he is slipping away from her. The
book is beautifully written, packed with raw emotion, deep affection, and
newfound, unexpected respect for a man his daughter hardly knew until it was
almost too late.
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