The Defiant: A True Story [Hardcover]

Shalom Yoran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996

Describes the experiences of two Jewish brothers and Holocaust survivors, who fled the approaching Nazi army and eventually joined up and fought with the resistance movement and ultimately helped defeat the Nazi army.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Yoran, a founding member of New York City's Museum of Jewish Heritage, spent his teenage years fighting alongside Soviet partisans in the forests of eastern Europe in WWII. His compelling Holocaust story begins in 1939, when he and his family fled their home in Poland, which was under German occupation. Yoran, his brother Musio and his parents lived safely in the Soviet-occupied eastern part of the country until 1941, when the Germans invaded that area as well and his parents were killed. In gripping prose, Yoran details how the brothers and several friends built a bunker in the woods, where they survived the first winter. They later joined various partisan groups and participated in blowing up German supply and communication lines. There are haunting accounts of the virulent anti-Semitism that Yoran encountered even among the partisans, as well as descriptions of the extraordinary courage displayed by Jewish resistance fighters. Photos.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Written 50 years ago in Israel and translated now into English from the original Polish, this Holocaust memoir is the personal account of Shalom Yoran, a young Polish Jew who fled eastward after the Germans invaded Poland in 1939. Shalom and his brother, Musio, joined a group of Partisans in the woods and fought against the Germans by mining and blowing up troop trains. Much of the book describes Yoran's defiance of the Germans (hence the title) after he experienced their brutish atrocities against his people in occupied Poland. Eventually, he joined the Red Army and at war's end settled in Israel. A valuable addition to Holocaust studies because of its vivid "I was there" content and style; for general readers.?Robert A. Silver, formerly with Shaker Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 293 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312145853
• ISBN-13: 978-0312145859
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,564,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not really another Hollocaust book., March 21, 2001

By 

Matthew Bowers (Pleasanton, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Defiant: A True Story (Hardcover)

I loved this book. This is very different than "Bravest Battle" or "Hiding Place". There are a half dozen points I would have never learned: - This was a 14yr old from an upper middle class family. He was able to constuct a dirt house & survive a brutally cold winter with NO supplies or knowlege. - Everyone hated them. The Russians, the Polish farmers, everyone. - At one point he lived rather free, but under Russian Rule. Even though the consequences were death or life in prison, every person under Socialism cheated and were capitalist. From kids to grannies. Rather powerful! I'm making each of my kids read this book. It was great & I read it straight through.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intreaging and heart stopping, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Defiant: A True Story (Hardcover)

Shalom Yoran is a long time frind of my grandparents. I visited him at his hous a few months ago. There i got a signed copy of this book. It is the gretest book i have ever read. This is one book every person in the world should read to learn what the jewish people went through. Find out the truth about the holocaust and what we could have prevented

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I opened the book and couldn't put it down!, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Defiant: A True Story (Hardcover)

I met Shalom and Varda at the Holocaust Museum in WA D.C. I purchased the book, had them sign it, intoduced myself to them as a person involved in k-12 education. Shalom graciously signed my book. I began reading it on the plane on the way home and could not put it down. This day by day, moment by moment dairy of a 14 year old boy whose family, friends and 6 million Jews killed because of their heritage is chilling. I felt as if I was watching a movie of Shalom's life with each word I read. Shalom and Varda came to North Central WA and spoke to 3,000 plus JR/SR students about their lives. I am hoping it changed many lives. Shalom is working with Chip Taylor productions to make a documentary. And we are looking for a "Steven Speilberg" to produce a full length film for the public. A 5 star book!!