The Crime and the Silence A Quest for the Truth of a Wartime Massacre
The Crime and the Silence: A Quest for the Truth of a Wartime Massacre by Anna Bikont is a profound exploration of a tragic event that took place in the Polish town of Jedwabne on July 10, 1941. Published by William Heinemann in 2015, this first edition spans 544 pages and is presented in English. The book delves into the massacre of the town’s Jewish population, detailing the events of that day and the subsequent suppression of the truth for over sixty years.
Readers will find a blend of history, memoir, and investigation as Bikont recounts the oral histories of survivors and witnesses. The narrative examines the complex dynamics within the town, highlighting both the actions of heroes and perpetrators. Through this account, the author addresses the roots of hatred and the impact of unacknowledged atrocities on society. The work invites reflection on the myths that arise from hidden memories and the consequences of a community grappling with its dark past.
Official synopsis Publisher
“On 10 July 1941 a horrifying crime was committed in the small Polish town of Jedwadbne. Early in the afternoon, the town s Jewish population hundreds of men, women and children were ordered out of their homes, and marched into the town square. By the end of the day most would be dead. It was a massacre on a shocking scale, and one that was widely condemned. But only a few people were brought to justice for their part in the atrocity. The truth of what actually happened on that day was to be suppressed for more than sixty years. Part history, part memoir, part investigation, The Crime and the Silenceis an award-winning journalist’s account of the events of that day- both the story of a massacre told through oral histories of survivors and witnesses, and a portrait of a Polish town coming to terms with its dark past. Including the perspectives of both heroes and perpetrators, Anna Bikont chronicles the sources of the hatred that exploded against Jews and asks what myths grow on hidden memories, what destruction they cause, and what happens to a society that refuses to accept a horrific truth. Provocative, profoundly moving and ingeniously structured, The Crime and
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