We Are On Our Own: A Memoir

In her memoir We Are on Our Own, Miriam Katin recounts her escape from German-occupied Hungary as a child, led by her determined mother. The two fled Budapest near the end of WWII and at the age of sixty-three Katin enshrined her memory in these extraordinary pages. The book explores the theological dilemma of victims and survivors of the Shoah, combining poetic words of the Torah with images of war.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2023
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly

In this poignant and harrowing WWII memoir, Miriam Katin recounts her escape from German-occupied Hungary as a child, led by her resilient mother. Through the heart-wrenching We Are on Our Own, Katin shares the story of their daring escape from Budapest near the end of the war, at the age of sixty-three. Originally published in hardcover more than fifteen years ago, these extraordinary pages encapsulate Katin's memory and the resilience she displayed during her childhood.

In 1944, Miriam is a young girl adored by her loyal dog, Rexy, but their lives are turned upside down when her mother is compelled to surrender their beloved Jewish dog to the German authorities. This tragic event marks the beginning of a tumultuous journey for the family. Fearing for their lives, they flee to the countryside, where they pretend to be dead and navigate through treacherous lands covered in snow. Miriam's fragmented childhood memories of forests, chocolate, strange men, and the sounds of war come alive in this beautifully woven narrative, where the innocence of a child juxtaposes against the unthinkable violence of the war.

A profound crisis of faith follows the family on their path. Struggling to reunite with Miriam's father, who has been conscripted into the Hungarian army, mother and daughter grapple with the question of God's involvement in this destruction. Poetic words from the Torah intertwine with images of war as Miriam delves into the theological dilemma faced by both victims and survivors of the Shoah. When Miriam and her mother seek refuge with a winemaker, they find solace in the tonic, reciting the comforting words, "God is red. God is in the glass. God, they realize, resides in the unwavering human will to survive, and in their pursuit of survival, they are truly on their own.

Through her memoir, Miriam Katin pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of the human heart and the unwavering determination to overcome adversity. Her story serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength that can be found even in the darkest of times. We Are on Our Own is a testament to the power of love, hope, and the human capacity for survival.

Dimension: 203 x 213 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781770466357