Damned Strong Love: The True Story of Willi G. and Stefan K. : A Novel [Hardcover]

Lutz Van Dijk (Author), Elizabeth D. Crawford (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1995

Based on a true story of forbidden wartime romance, Damned Strong Love is framed by a letter to the reader from the real Stefan, who cooperated with Lutz van Dijk in creating the book. Together they have crafted a book that shows how love can fight against hate; a book that reminds readers of the importance of tolerance and passion today.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The word "damned" in this novel's title is not just an attention-grabbing expletive-it quite literally describes the consequences of the love between a teenaged Pole and a Nazi soldier during WWII. Narrator Stephan is 16 when he realizes he is gay; only months later, he meets an Austrian soldier named Willi: "Before my eyes I saw only him, this tender, handsome man-without his uniform, without the war and all of world history. Only him." Willi, equally enamored, and Stephan shut out the war (and the Nazi persecution of homosexuals) and embark on a passionate affair until Willi's unit is sent to Russia. Despite the sophisticated themes, the most striking quality of this narrative is its unblemished innocence: Stephan's easy acceptance of his sexuality makes it virtually impossible for the reader to reject it; and his susceptibility to a single individual rather than to the inimical German regime raises valuable if painful questions. Stephan's artlessness proves his downfall: he sends Willi a letter ("I can't sleep, I think only of you"), which leads to Stephan's arrest and a brutal three-year imprisonment (he is freed only when the war ends). Willi's fate, ominously, is never discovered. German writer van Dijk, identifying his story as a true one, appends an afterword by the real-life Stephan. Wrenching-and profoundly illuminating. Ages 14-up. (May) q
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up?Set in occupied Poland during World War II, this novel is based on the true story of Stefan K., a Polish boy who, at 16, fell in love with a German soldier. When their liaison was discovered by the Gestapo, the teen was tortured and sentenced to a labor camp. Readers learn how he managed to survive there until he escaped during the chaotic days before liberation. Stefan K.'s afterword, written in 1994, tells readers that he still doesn't know whether his lover survived. By assuming the first-person voice of Stefan, Van Dijk is able to deliver the story in a matter-of-fact way that engages readers. Stefan is a likable, believable character. The limitations of writing fiction from another person's memories are nonetheless evident: the immediacy of the narrative varies, and at times one is only vaguely aware of the passage of time. Still, this unusual account is an important document regarding Nazi treatment of homosexuals. Stefan K. ends the afterword, "...it is always a crime to punish love and to tolerate violence." His story will be a useful addition to Holocaust literature and to gay and lesbian history collections.?Claudia Morrow, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 138 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holth & Co (J); First Edition edition (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805037705
• ISBN-13: 978-0805037708
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #949,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Damned Strong Love, April 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Damned Strong Love: The True Story of Willi G. and Stefan K. : A Novel (Hardcover)

An excellent novel about the powerful love between a Polish boy and a German soldier during WWII. It really hits on the readers ideas about homosexuals and what rights they should have. Very well written. Appropriate for age 15 and up.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book!, January 27, 2012

By 

L. Campbell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Damned Strong Love: The True Story of Willi G. and Stefan K. : A Novel (Hardcover)

This book was amazing to read. While it wasn't very long, the story was gripping and I fell in love with the characters. While there are many holocaust stories out there, few are based on the same-sex relationships that were also torn apart. I feel like these people are often ignored or simply mentioned in passing. To find a true story as touching as this one was great. I just wish there was a happier ending...Such is life, I guess.