Defying the Nazis, Artemis Joukowsky
Defying the Nazis, Artemis Joukowsky
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Defying the Nazis
The Sharps’ War

Author: Artemis Joukowsky

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 7 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/06/2016

Synopsis

In 1939, Rev. Waitstill Sharp, a young Unitarian minister, and his wife, Martha, a social worker, accepted a mission from the American Unitarian Association: They were to leave their home and young children in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and travel to Prague, Czechoslovakia, to help address the mounting refugee crisis. Armed with only $40,000, the Sharps quickly learned the art of spy craft and covertly sheltered political dissidents and Jews, and helped them escape the Nazis. After narrowly avoiding the Gestapo themselves, the Sharps returned to Europe in 1940 as representatives of the newly formed Unitarian Service Committee and continued their relief efforts in Vichy France. This riveting true story offers listeners a rare glimpse at high-stakes international relief efforts during World War II. Defying the Nazis is a fascinating portrait of resistance as told through the story of one courageous couple.

About Artemis Joukowsky

Artemis Joukowsky, the grandson of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, has spent decades researching his grandparents' efforts. The author of Defying the Nazis (Beacon Press), he is also codirector and coproducer, with Ken Burns, of the companion PBS documentary film of the same name. He lives in the Boston suburbs with his four daughters.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Annia Lennox on January 20, 2018

This was an interesting story. It blended the Sharps personal and "professional" life very well. And it was eye-opening. Now, I don't read a lot about the Nazis and World War II, but I've been exposed to a decent amount through school. But it does show me that through all the horror there were people......more

Goodreads review by Katie on August 07, 2017

I spotted this book on the new arrivals shelf at the library and recognized it from the substantial buzz the accompanying documentary drew in UU circles. Waitstill and Martha Sharp were a Unitarian couple (he was a minister in Massachusetts) who were sent to Prague to help refugees there... right be......more

Goodreads review by Luke on December 30, 2016

Defying the Nazis is the true story, written by the grandson, of a family who helped children escape from war torn regions of Europe during WWII. The stories first third takes place is Czechlovakia, the middle in Vichy France, and the rest back home in the U.S. Yes comparisons to Schindler's List ar......more

Goodreads review by Kate on October 03, 2016

Here it is 77 years later and stories of heroism in World War II still stir emotion and great interest in the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. This is a story of The Sharps, an amazing couple serving in Czechoslovakia in 1939 and beyond: he, a Unitarian minister with a Wellesley, Massachusett......more

Goodreads review by Liz on November 07, 2016

Really interesting story - but would have moved so much faster if it had been written in first person - or had some more interesting movement with voice. Read like a list of facts more than the dramatic story it is! Nevertheless, I'm glad I read it and look forward to the film.......more

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