Hearts of Fire [Paperback]

Ellen Brazer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

Shadowing the lives of two families, Hearts of Fire begins with the Milch twins. Raised in Berlin, Germany, Otto and Ilya are classic products of poverty and abuse. Brilliant, handsome and despotic, Otto maneuvers his way into the twisted bowels of the Nazi inner circle.

Simultaneously, we follow the life of Morgan Rabinowiszch. Born into a pious Jewish family in Vilna, Poland, she is a gifted and exceptionally beautiful girl. Determined to become an actress she makes the momentous decision to break with the traditions of her faith.

From pre-war Paris to post-war Russia, from the malaria infested swamps of Israel to the greed-filled corridors of modern day Washington, this multigenerational historical saga is a story of duplicity and outrage, courage, determination, love and triumph.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Showcase Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595099637
• ISBN-13: 978-0595099634
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,404,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ellen Brazer lives on South Beach and Clouds Across the Sun is her second book. She received the Myrtle Wreath award from Hadassah and has had her short stories published in a Carnegie Mellon anthology.

Her novels are inspired by the people she has befriended over the years: Holocaust Survivors, a Russian Olympic Gold medalist, a founder of a Kibbutz in Northern Israel and a renowned psychiatrist who treated the children of Survivors. These stories, coupled with extensive research are the backbone of her fictional characters.

As one reader said, 'I started the book yesterday morning and I could have read all night until I finished it, but my husband reasoned with me to go to sleep. I loved the book and will recommend it to everyone I know.'

Ellen's goal was to have readers see into the soul and mind of the Jewish people and she hopes that reading her book will do that. Ellen likes to hear from her readers and urges you to please contact her. She is available for speaking engagements.


Clouds Across the Sun has been a huge success in Florida where she lives. In the past few months Ellen has spoken to over 1,600 people, and 600 E-books have been downloaded. She has been the featured speaker at: The Jewish Museum, Temple Sisterhoods, Brandeis Alumni, Book stores and clubs, Libraries, Woman's Clubs, Book/Author luncheons for Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, and several Jewish Heritage Clubs. In the coming months she will appear at Woman Conferences, Rotary clubs, Central Agency for Jewish Education, Yiddish Clubs, Holocaust Documentation Center, and the Heritage Clubs. 19 major events are already booked into 2011. She recently spoke at the Jewish Book Council in New York and has been invited to Denver, Colorado and Westchester, New York..

By popular demand, Ellen Brazer is bringing Hearts Of Fire back into print. Join Ellen on her blog at https://ellenb9815.wordpress.com or visit on my website http://ellenbrazer.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Read!, October 12, 2000

By 

Pamela Waller - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts of Fire (Paperback)

Hearts Of Fire is a historical soga that lets you step back into time to feel the pain, the suffering, and experience the outrageous pre and post war human activites that have exsisted in our past. I would place this book up along the side of the classic, The Diary Of Anne Frank. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if one day this book makes it to the movie screen. You will catch yourself crying, laughing, feeling all the emotions that the characters feel. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Set into time when many of us would dare to remember. And many would seem so eager to forget. I promise you, you won't forget this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Historical Saga I have read in Ages...A Must Read!, September 20, 2000

By 

Marjorie Goldberg (Key Biscayne, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hearts of Fire (Paperback)

I have been waiting for a long time to find a book like "Hearts of Fire"...Both my husband and I loved the book and could not put it down once we started reading. The author makes the characters come alive right from the first page. The reader cannot help but get involved. I felt like I was living the characters lives with them. What a wonderful book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This novel is on fire!!!!, October 10, 2006

By 

MLRapp (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts of Fire (Paperback)

What a fabulous book!!! This is one of those novels you EXPERIENCE rather than just read. As you follow this incredible journey you literally feel a whole host of emotions - pain, sadness, hope, pity, loathing, happiness, and ultimately a tugging at your heartstrings that leaves you feeling fulfilled and satisfied, yet longing for more.

Spanning a few decades and travelling to such places as Poland, Dachau Concentration Camp, France, England, Israel, Russia, and the United States, this novel accomplishes an enormous task of telling (or re-telling?) the multi-dimensional saga of a number of fascinating indivduals whose lives are interconnected in incredible ways.

You'll read about fate, power struggles, deception, hypnosis, hatred, murder, love, overcoming obstacles, betrayal, rebirth, and most of all the power of love and hope in the future. These characters and their story will stay with you long after the novel has ended and you'll be giving copies to your friends and family and telling them its a "must-read."

Despite my glowing review, I have one small criticism - at times I thought the writing slightly weak a/o the diaglogue not the most realistic. That being said, the saga is so powerful that it overcomes any lack there may be in the writing style.