Blood and Silver: A True Story of Survival and a Son's Search for his Family Treasure

Jan (‘Janek) is born in Paarl in 1953 to Polish immigrants and discovers he is HIV+ in 1985. He goes on to have a successful law career and sets out on a quest to unearth family silver buried by his father in former Poland now Ukraine.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2023
Publisher: Tafelberg Publishers Ltd

Jan (‘Janek) was born in Paarl, South Africa, in 1953 to Polish immigrants. Despite being a severe haemophiliac, he managed to survive, but his life was marked by significant challenges. When he was just seven years old, his mother passed away, and when his father remarried a Catholic widow, Jan became part of a large family. However, he was always considered different and was not allowed to play any sports for fear of bleeding. In 1985, as Jan was about to start lecturing at the University of Cape Town (UCT), he received a devastating diagnosis – he was HIV+ due to receiving contaminated blood during a medical procedure. This was during the early days of the AIDS pandemic, and there was severe stigma and shame associated with the disease. Despite the challenges, Jan eventually went public with his diagnosis, and he was met with widespread support. He went on to have a successful law career, contributing to the new South African Constitution. However, Jan's true passion lay in uncovering the family silver that had been buried by his father at the onset of World War II in former Poland, now Ukraine. With only a rough sketch map drawn by his father and the assistance of a metal detector man and a few other shady characters, Jan embarked on a quest to find his family's treasure. Along the way, he faced numerous misadventures, but he never gave up. Finally, after years of searching, Jan discovered the family silver buried in a remote forest in Ukraine. The experience was both exhilarating and emotional, and it brought Jan closer to his family's history and his own identity. Jan's journey to uncover his family's silver was not just about finding treasure; it was also about connecting with his roots and understanding his family's history. It was a testament to his resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

Weight: 500g
ISBN-13: 9780624093695