What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets cover art

What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

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What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

By: Mel Laytner
Narrated by: Colin Martin
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About this listen

What if you uncovered a Nazi paper trail that revealed your father as a man very different from the quiet, introspective Dad you knew…or thought you knew?

In this “great detective story and important work of history” (Ann Kirschner, Sala’s Gift) author Mel Laytner grew up seeing his father a quintessential Type B, passive and retiring. As he uncovers evidence the Nazis didn’t burn, another man emerges - a black market ringleader and wily camp survivor who made his own luck.

“A harrowing and heartwarming personal saga of discovery” (Scott Miller, Refuge Denied), What They Didn't Burn melds the intimacy of personal memoir with the rigors of investigative journalism to tell its inspirational story of resistance, resilience, and ultimate redemption.

“A compelling blend of memoir and historical research, beautifully written,” (Kenneth S. Stern, Bard Center for the Study of Hate) tells of a reporter's quest, a son's revelation, and a father's unlikely saga of survival - corroborated by the Nazis themselves.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Mel Laytner (P)2021 Mel Laytner
20th Century Biographies & Memoirs Judaism Military War Heartfelt

Critic Reviews

"What a thrilling story of wartime survival!...Chasing after hidden diamonds and digging up damning Nazi documents, Laytner weaves a tale of courage and luck that brings to life an unforgettable cast of characters. A great detective story - and an important work of history. (Ann Kirschner, author of Sala’s Gift)

"A compelling blend of memoir and historical research, beautifully written. (Ken Stern, director, Bard Center for Study of Hate)

"What They Didn’t Burn offers the reader both an emotional account of a son retracing his father’s traumatic experiences under Nazi persecution, and a gripping detective story of a savvy journalist uncovering “what they didn’t burn”. This beautifully written and deeply felt book, a powerful tribute to his father’s fortitude, also serves as a reminder that the long shadow of the Nazi past stretches over generations." (Gabrielle Robinson, author of Api’s Berlin Diaries)

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Fascinating

so interesting to learn about the sleuthing to discover the real story about Mel's father. This account reveals the persistence and resilience of the author and gives an insight to records that I never ever considered were kept on people who endured the most heinous atrocities.

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