Customer Reviews

For Those I Loved

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

It was with great dismay that I read some of the comments questioning Martin Gray's life and history. They are obviously written by Holocaust deniers and individuals who will not accept the fact of the brutality and rabid hatred of many Eastern European's in assisting the Germans. Several years ago I read the book and had the honor to make the acquaintence of Martin Gray. I have been to his home several times to interview him. As a historian of the holocaust I fully researched his account and have talked at length with Martin about his many experiences. Not only are ALL his facts accurate but his personal ans unambiqious rendition can only lead one to the unmistakenable conclusion that he did personally suffer through those terrible times. His book is touching and horrifying and permits the readers to comprehend the vile and vicious treamtent of the Jews by the Poles, Ukraiains and Germans alike. These historical facts are well known.

As for Martin's involvemnt in the "KGB", he was never in the KGB as there was no KGB in WWII. It was called the NKVD. His work for them involved finding Nazis in hiding and collaborators in Eastern Europe. He left to America because he realized the NKVD would soon turn into a State supported police orgainzation.

Martin is a decent and honest man who suffered horribly.. He lost his entire family in Treblinka and had the courage to tell the world about it. His book should be read by anyone interested in this topic and anyone who wants to learn how one can build a new life despite experiencing such horror. The "reviewers" who discount the book base their opinion on incorrect information and unsupported allegations. Readers should make the effort to find and this book.

I read this book because someone close to me had revealed a tragedy they suffered in their lives, and I wanted some way to understand how a human being copes with such things. Needless to say, I got much more than I bargained for.

This story is about Martin Gray and the utterly incredible life he lived and endured. He escapes from the clutches of death so many times that you lose count, his will to survive and the cleverness he employs to that end is amazing, and the schemes he conjures to bring food into the ghetto or escape from the death camps or to make his fortune are phenomenal.

With a life story like his, it'd almost be hard to write a non-engaging book. For myself, I read about 350 pages in around 3 days; it was just that riveting. But the writing style is powerful, too. Most of the book is written in the first-person and interspersed with dialogue; it's basically a window into Martin's inner thoughts.

Most people know the horrors of the Holocaust but actually reading a first-hand account of them, and the subsequent thought process Martin had to try to make sense of it all was so powerful.

Why read this book? I'll be honest, a large part of me wasn't enthused about absorbing the lowest depths of humanity through a Holocaust memoir. But the curiosity of how this man lived to write this memoir in the first place and how he dealt with it all propelled me forward. Martin writes so viscerally that I feel I've come away with a deeper understanding of the range of the human experience, how our emotions respond to the world around us, and how one man lives his life.

Strange as it may sound, being Jewish myself, I feel like I have a piece of Martin inside of me now. Sadly, all he had at the end of this book was a story to tell and a cause to pursue; nearly everything else in his life had been taken from him. It makes me feel good that I have aided his quest, read his story, suffered with him, and can now tell others about the life he endured.

I have read this book several times; it is one of the most powerful accounts of a Holocaust experience that I have ever read. I find that after years (I first read it about 17 years ago) this story has stayed with me.

I was always curious to know what happened to Martin Gray and I looked up Max Gallo (who collaborated with Gray in writing the book) on the Internet and was happy to find out that Martin Gray is alive and well (as of this writing) and living in Brussels, and has 4 children. He has written over 10 books in French since having written For Those I Loved.

I first read this book 27 years ago. The same age as Martin Gray when we was living in the Warsaw ghetto. I pulled it of a shelf at random in my school library, read the first couple of pages and I was hooked.

Martin Gray's incredible story made such an impression on me that I have never forgotten it. Over the years I have recommended it to others. It is as powerful and moving today as it was 27 years ago!

Highly recommended!

This book has been a main stay in my library for many years and I have re-read it countless times. It has ben passed on to numerous friends and relatives who were also very moved by Martin Gray's struggle and survival. He is an honorable man that suffered horribly and had the strength and character to tell us about his life during WWII under the Nazis.

I was disheartened to read the reviews by the "revisionists" who claim this book is fiction. I studied in France for several years and correspond with many collegues there. When I read these revisionist accounts I contacted my former professor and friends in France to research their claims. The archives of the periodicals "Le Monde" and "Le Figaro" were reviewed. The claims made by these revisionists are simply false and misleading. Yes, Martin Gray was in the NKVD. His his sole responsiblity was to hunt Nazi's hiding in Eastern Europe that escaped the Russian Army's occupation. He was even assigned to trail Martin Bormann without success. He was never involved in any other manner in this organization.

Gitta Sereny, the author responsible for disclosing the truth about Albert Speer, never confronted or commented about Martin Gray. There is no credible record of her comments. This and the other allegations are simply false and the work of uninformed and uneducated revisionists.

My friends in France have only the greatest admiration for Martin Gray and praise him for his forthright and honest portyal of his experiences. A six hour movie, starring Michael York, was made of his life and shown in France and England.

This book will be difficult to find, but I strongly urge anyone who has one to lend it to a friend to read. If you do not have one, try the library or make an effort to locate it. It is a wonderful book that will certainly have an impact on you and will teach you about the horrors, sacrifice and struggles of a heroic person. Martin Gray is a rare person who displays a sense of determinationa and dignity seldom found anymore. Find and read the book!

This is a truly great story written by a remarkable man who with incredable determination survived the horrors of Warsaw the ghetoe,s and the gas chambers of Treblinka, saw his family and friends humiliated then murdered by the Natzi "beasts".---Of how he joined with the Polish underground then the Russian army becoming an officer and as such becoming amongst the first to enter Berlin at the end of the War.It also shows a man of wonderful compassion , tho" he had suffered shocking humiliation and degradation by the "beasts" demonstrating this in helping the two German lads in Berlin
After the war Martin Gray further demonstrates his fantastic determination and strength of charicture by moving to America and altho not speaking a word of English he became a vey successful buisiness man within a period of about 10 years
Met his lovely wife Dina and they moved to France (near Cannes} where they built their dream "fortress" and had four children.
Happiness was not to last for Martin Gray , he was once again torn to the depths of despair when his wife Dina with their four children perished in a huge forrest fire
For Those I Loved is not an easy book to read , it is for the most a very sad story.It must be noted also that this story with the colaberation of Max Gallo was written six months after the fire
Like many others who have read this book I would like to know the whereabouts of Mr. Gray today and would appreciate vey much anybody letting me know

I read this book for the first time when I was 16 years old; and have read it countless times since. I am about the same age as Mr. Gray's oldest daughter and it has touched not only my heart, but my soul. It is not only a testimony of his spirit but also a mirror of his soul. Mr Gray's story is the most increadible story I have ever read . My children will read this book. I will ALWAYS remember the people that were forever lost at that horrible time in history. From the first day that I read this book, I have thought of Martin's family and have never forgotten them. Not for even a day. If you have not read this book, I urge you to. Thank you Martin for sharing your life with me; with all of us.

The book For Those I Loved is a harrowing story of a Holocaust survivor and the trials he endured. The book is very good and can keep the reader's attention. If anyone makes negative comments about too many books about surviving the Holocaust then they have not read the book For Those I Loved. In the book I liked how Martin Gray chose to tell his story, but still manage to not seem to desire pity from the readers. He only seemed to have the desire to tell others his story and the hardships he went through. For Those I Loved is a book that shows the inhumanity of war and the fate of life. It is a very good book and in my opinion can help to inspire people to keep trying, no matter what may come their way. The faith and strength shown by Martin Gray is truly evident in For Those I Loved.

I first read Martin Gray's story when I was only 22 years old, and his haunting story has lingered in my mind. Without explanation, the image of this man's face will flit through my mind and I will pause and send him good wishes. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Holocaust OR in the triumph of the human spirit. We all have our crosses to bear, but Martin Gray's will to survive is nothing less than remarkable. Besides, it's a beautifully written and heartfelt book. I long for further information about this man's life. If ANYONE knows any other details of his life -- is he alive? Dead? What happened to him after the publishing of his book? Did he ever reconstruct his life after losing his entire family, yet a second time? Please do write to me at [...]and let me know. Jean Sasson

[....] It is a horrifying account of one man's struggle and survivial during the holocaust and after. And to think that in this day and age some say the Holocaust never happened?! You NEED to read this book! People, we can't forget that this happened to these people. I don't reccommend it for reading by anyone at a young age, there are some very graphic and violent depictions described. But it was what this man, Martin Gray had seen, had to endure, until he was free and came to America to live on, for those he loved. [....] Where is Mr. Gray now? We would all love to know how he is and let him know that his story, his life, lives on through his words, this book he left for us to read and learn, and try to understand what he went through. However, no one can understand quite fully what he went through, the horrors he experienced and having his family ripped away from him. You will be forever changed if you read this book. I know I am. Thank you Martin for sharing your life and the tragedy you went through with so many of us. WE will NEVER forget you..... and those you loved.........Jenny.