Voyage of the Damned [Hardcover]

Gordon Thomas (Author), Max Morgan-Witts (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 287 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl; Rev Sub edition (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879389095
• ISBN-13: 978-0879389093
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,236,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be in every Holocaust library, July 10, 2001

By 

Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Voyage of the Damned (Hardcover)

"Voyage of the Damned" is the infamous true story of the ill-fated 1939 voyage of the S.S. St. Louis, which carried 937 Jews who were fleeing Hitler. They hoped for freedom, but found only disappointment and, in some cases, death. The St. Louis made it safely Cuba, but the passengers were turned away under the influence of Hitler's anti-Jewish propaganda. Next, they sailed for the Florida Coast, only to be refused entry into the USA because of immigration quotas. For weeks the St. Louis sailed up and down the coast while Congress debated whether to make an exception and let them in. In the end, even a plea from President Roosevelt could not open America's doors to these refugees. The St.Louis was sent back to Europe, where her passengers were dispersed to France, Belgium, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. Some perished in Hitler's concentration camps. Others lived to tell the story.

This tragic event remains an ugly blot on America's past, and is one of the reasons for the "Law of Return" in modern Israel (which allows any Jew who is fleeing persecution in any country to enter Israel immediately upon arrival with no hassles.) It is also the reason that Israel was the first country in the world to grant political asylum to Vietnamese "boat people" fleeing the Communist regime at the end of the Vietnam War. The story also had an effect on America's current immigration laws, which make better provisions for granting asylum.

"Voyage of the Damned" was first published in 1974 and became an instant bestseller. It was made into a movie in 1977, and won three Academy Award nominations. It went through a number of printings, and was re-issued in 1994 as a fine "coffee-table" hardcover with 300 pictures, including reproductions of tickets, telegrams, passports, menus, newspaper articles, official documents, etc. as well as photos of the crew and passengers. To make the story more personalized, the 1994 version also features "cameo" photo albums, focusing on three specific families. For sheer wealth of information as well as human interest, the photo edition is the one to buy -- if you can find a copy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical storytelling!, October 18, 2002

By 

Nelson Aspen "Author/Journalist" (Los Angeles & NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voyage of the Damned (Mass Market Paperback)

In the vein of Walter Lord's A NIGHT TO REMEMBER and DAY OF INFAMY, this wonderful book details the horrific journey of persecuted Jews and their desperate attempt to flee Nazi Germany. As good as the movie which it spawned. A fascinating and important read, especially for history enthusiasts.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just as they described, March 22, 2008

By 

Bay Area Commuter "Owl" (Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voyage of the Damned (Paperback)

I didn't think it would take THAT long to get the delivery, but Amazon said it could take up to three weeks and on that very last day of the time period, it arrived. The book was just as it was described. Not brand new, but not in tatters, either. It will be a great summer read.