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Two Princes and a Queen
Hanne is the teenaged son of a well-off Jewish family living a comfortable, sheltered life in Yugoslavia. In the face of persecution against Jews, Hanne and his parents joins a harrowing voyage down the Danube River, eventually meant to reach pre-State Israel. The passengers aboard the three creaking river-boats are constantly torn between hope and despair in their attempt to reach safety. On his death-bed, Hanne implores his son, Alan, to find out what became of his first love, Inge, whom he was forced to leave under tragic circumstances during the river journey. Alan becomes inexorably drawn to delving into the past. He pores over his father’s journals as well as other survivor diaries and letters, together with recorded interviews with Erica, the one survivor left in NYC, and learns the bitter truth contained in Inge’s death camp diary. Bit by bit, Alan uncovers the horrendous story of the young lovers’ harrowing voyage down the Danube River along with Hundreds of other jews attempting to flee the Nazis for Israel in a historic fiasco that came to be called the Kladovo-Sabac Affair. While focusing on a touching love story, this historical novel also tells the ill-fated, real-life stories of other people who shaped the journey.
558 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2017
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141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 19, 2017
The world has only heard about atrocities committed by Nazis on Jews. This is history lesson and we read this in terms of numbers and dates. So the real horror of situation doesn’t come out in terms of human tragedy. But through a book or movie we can see the human tragedy that the holocaust was.
Hanne is living in Yugoslavia with his family. They have to flee from there when it becomes to much a life and death struggle. They go to pre Israel in a make shift boat. What happens next?
The book is good and gives the perspective of persons who has to face this persecution first hand. I gather that this is translated from Hebrew in English and translation is good but sometimes becomes jerks. But that is understandable. You should read it if you want a human angle of those events.
Hanne is living in Yugoslavia with his family. They have to flee from there when it becomes to much a life and death struggle. They go to pre Israel in a make shift boat. What happens next?
The book is good and gives the perspective of persons who has to face this persecution first hand. I gather that this is translated from Hebrew in English and translation is good but sometimes becomes jerks. But that is understandable. You should read it if you want a human angle of those events.
April 7, 2020
this is between a 3 and 4 for me..
it wasnt my cuppa tea and the writing was slow for me.. but overall it wasnt horrible ya know.. it was an interesting story. if you enjoy this genre this would be awesome for you
it wasnt my cuppa tea and the writing was slow for me.. but overall it wasnt horrible ya know.. it was an interesting story. if you enjoy this genre this would be awesome for you
December 9, 2017
Difficult Read for non Jewish
Explanations are at back of chapters and then so complicated although the agony and deprivations that befell the Jews still came through .Hopefully we will all remember and prevent this from ever happening again
Explanations are at back of chapters and then so complicated although the agony and deprivations that befell the Jews still came through .Hopefully we will all remember and prevent this from ever happening again
February 5, 2020
‘Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan’ - A long journey to life
Israeli author Shmuel David earned his degree in natural sciences form the Hebrew University and is an expert in computer software development. He has published two books – THE IMMEDIATE SUSPECT, a collection of his short stories, and now TWO PRINCES AND A QUEEN, a novel based on the true story of Schmel’s father’s sixteen month long terrifying voyage from WWII Yugoslavia to pre-State Israel. Schmuel lives in Tel Aviv.
Translated from the Hebrew by Noel Canin, Shmuel’ s prose is quite polished and his ability to convey a sensitive subject that fulfills his father’s request to make known the ‘Kladovo-Sabac Affair’ without resorting to the maudlin is very much to his credit. With just the right degree of recollection he opens this powerful book with a moment in 1998 in New York – ‘The picture had been ingrained in his memory since childhood. A stately, beautiful woman leaning against the wooden banister of a staircase in the foyer of a mansion, a small smile on her lips as she gazes at some distant point. She is elegantly dressed, as if about to go arm in arm with her husband to see La Traviata at the grand Opera House. Draped over her shoulders is a fur shawl, and her dress falls almost to the floor. She was the grandmother he’d never met…’ And with degree of reflection, the past blends into the future and the story begins.
The novel is appropriately lengthy and inextricably woven with researched facts, but Shmuel has condensed the action well: ‘Hanne is the teenaged son of a well-off Jewish family living a comfortable, sheltered life in Yugoslavia. In the face of persecution against Jews, Hanne and his parents joins a harrowing voyage down the Danube River, eventually meant to reach pre-State Israel. The passengers aboard the three creaking river-boats are constantly torn between hope and despair in their attempt to reach safety. On his death-bed, Hanne implores his son, Alan, to find out what became of his first love, Inge, whom he was forced to leave under tragic circumstances during the river journey. Alan becomes inexorably drawn to delving into the past. He pores over his father’s journals as well as other survivor diaries and letters, together with recorded interviews with Erica, the one survivor left in NYC, and learns the bitter truth contained in Inge’s death camp diary. Bit by bit, Alan uncovers the horrendous story of the young lovers’ harrowing voyage down the Danube River along with Hundreds of other Jews attempting to flee the Nazis for Israel in a historic fiasco that came to be called the Kladovo-Sabac Affair. While focusing on a touching love story, this historical novel also tells the ill-fated, real-life stories of other people who shaped the journey.’
With Shmuel David’s skillful writing gift and his contribution to the literature about the plight of the Jews under Nazi rule, he joins the echelon of important authors to be watched. Recommended.
Israeli author Shmuel David earned his degree in natural sciences form the Hebrew University and is an expert in computer software development. He has published two books – THE IMMEDIATE SUSPECT, a collection of his short stories, and now TWO PRINCES AND A QUEEN, a novel based on the true story of Schmel’s father’s sixteen month long terrifying voyage from WWII Yugoslavia to pre-State Israel. Schmuel lives in Tel Aviv.
Translated from the Hebrew by Noel Canin, Shmuel’ s prose is quite polished and his ability to convey a sensitive subject that fulfills his father’s request to make known the ‘Kladovo-Sabac Affair’ without resorting to the maudlin is very much to his credit. With just the right degree of recollection he opens this powerful book with a moment in 1998 in New York – ‘The picture had been ingrained in his memory since childhood. A stately, beautiful woman leaning against the wooden banister of a staircase in the foyer of a mansion, a small smile on her lips as she gazes at some distant point. She is elegantly dressed, as if about to go arm in arm with her husband to see La Traviata at the grand Opera House. Draped over her shoulders is a fur shawl, and her dress falls almost to the floor. She was the grandmother he’d never met…’ And with degree of reflection, the past blends into the future and the story begins.
The novel is appropriately lengthy and inextricably woven with researched facts, but Shmuel has condensed the action well: ‘Hanne is the teenaged son of a well-off Jewish family living a comfortable, sheltered life in Yugoslavia. In the face of persecution against Jews, Hanne and his parents joins a harrowing voyage down the Danube River, eventually meant to reach pre-State Israel. The passengers aboard the three creaking river-boats are constantly torn between hope and despair in their attempt to reach safety. On his death-bed, Hanne implores his son, Alan, to find out what became of his first love, Inge, whom he was forced to leave under tragic circumstances during the river journey. Alan becomes inexorably drawn to delving into the past. He pores over his father’s journals as well as other survivor diaries and letters, together with recorded interviews with Erica, the one survivor left in NYC, and learns the bitter truth contained in Inge’s death camp diary. Bit by bit, Alan uncovers the horrendous story of the young lovers’ harrowing voyage down the Danube River along with Hundreds of other Jews attempting to flee the Nazis for Israel in a historic fiasco that came to be called the Kladovo-Sabac Affair. While focusing on a touching love story, this historical novel also tells the ill-fated, real-life stories of other people who shaped the journey.’
With Shmuel David’s skillful writing gift and his contribution to the literature about the plight of the Jews under Nazi rule, he joins the echelon of important authors to be watched. Recommended.
November 8, 2017
Whatever flaws we might identify or frustrations we might feel are trivial in comparison to a reader's pure joy in losing himself/herself in a narrative. When all the elements come together: an intriguing plot, thoughtful, profound themes, complex, troubling, characters, and language that make us shudder for its honesty, clarity, and confidence; we gratefully set all analysis aside and give ourselves up to the sheer magic of a great book. And for me, Two Princes and a Queen, is such a book.
Author Shmuel David weaves a tragic but fascinating story of lost love and survival, with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader's attention from the beginning. The author paints this true-life story in a very vivid and moving way.
The book description says it all; 'Hanne is the teenaged son of a well-off Jewish family living a comfortable, sheltered life in Yugoslavia. In the face of persecution against Jews, Hanne and his parents joins a harrowing voyage down the Danube River, eventually meant to reach pre-State Israel. The passengers aboard the three creaking river-boats are constantly torn between hope and despair in their attempt to reach safety.
On his death-bed, Hanne implores his son, Alan, to find out what became of his first love, Inge, whom he was forced to leave under tragic circumstances during the river journey. Alan becomes inexorably drawn to delving into the past. He pores over his father’s journals as well as other survivor diaries and letters, together with recorded interviews with Erica, the one survivor left in NYC, and learns the bitter truth contained in Inge’s death camp diary.
Bit by bit, Alan uncovers the horrendous story of the young lovers’ harrowing voyage down the Danube River along with Hundreds of other jews attempting to flee the Nazis for Israel in a historic fiasco that came to be called the Kladovo-Sabac Affair. While focusing on a touching love story, this historical novel also tells the ill-fated, real-life stories of other people who shaped the journey.'
Each Holocaust survivor has a unique and individual story. However, these survivors’ stories didn’t end in 1945. They continue through to the present day. Their testimonies provide us with an understanding of how the events of the Holocaust have shaped their lives and are an ongoing testimony to the strength of the human spirit.
This commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author displays exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on an unforgettable journey. It’s one of those books that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end.
I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Shmuel David in the future. I would definitely recommend this book. Five stars from me.
Author Shmuel David weaves a tragic but fascinating story of lost love and survival, with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader's attention from the beginning. The author paints this true-life story in a very vivid and moving way.
The book description says it all; 'Hanne is the teenaged son of a well-off Jewish family living a comfortable, sheltered life in Yugoslavia. In the face of persecution against Jews, Hanne and his parents joins a harrowing voyage down the Danube River, eventually meant to reach pre-State Israel. The passengers aboard the three creaking river-boats are constantly torn between hope and despair in their attempt to reach safety.
On his death-bed, Hanne implores his son, Alan, to find out what became of his first love, Inge, whom he was forced to leave under tragic circumstances during the river journey. Alan becomes inexorably drawn to delving into the past. He pores over his father’s journals as well as other survivor diaries and letters, together with recorded interviews with Erica, the one survivor left in NYC, and learns the bitter truth contained in Inge’s death camp diary.
Bit by bit, Alan uncovers the horrendous story of the young lovers’ harrowing voyage down the Danube River along with Hundreds of other jews attempting to flee the Nazis for Israel in a historic fiasco that came to be called the Kladovo-Sabac Affair. While focusing on a touching love story, this historical novel also tells the ill-fated, real-life stories of other people who shaped the journey.'
Each Holocaust survivor has a unique and individual story. However, these survivors’ stories didn’t end in 1945. They continue through to the present day. Their testimonies provide us with an understanding of how the events of the Holocaust have shaped their lives and are an ongoing testimony to the strength of the human spirit.
This commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author displays exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on an unforgettable journey. It’s one of those books that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end.
I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Shmuel David in the future. I would definitely recommend this book. Five stars from me.
October 10, 2017
http://pebbleinthestillwaters.com/two...
Two Princes and a Queen by Shmuel David About Kladovo-Sabac Affair
Two Princes and a Queen by Shmuel David is a historical novel about Kladovo-Sabac Affair. It talks about the historical voyage on a rundown river-boat down the Danube River by hundreds of Jews who for the sake of sake of saving their life from Nazis were moving to Israel through this dangerous route. This historic fiasco is what they call as Kladovo-Sabac Affair. The book also covers real-life stories of people who were part of this journey in one way or the other. When it becomes a point of saving your life, any kind of risk averting death looks small. The story revolves around Hanne, his parents, and his son Alan. Basically, it involves three generations. Such kind of stories takes a wider frame to reflect the differences and similarities between the three generations. It reflects very well when you see Hanne's and Alan's childhoods in this interesting story.
The survivors of that devastating river-boat voyage are known as heroes of Kladovo-Sabac Affair. Hanne was also one of the survivors who were there in one of the river-boat escaping to Israel. He was a teenager at that time and was traveling with his parents. The opening chapter of Two Princes and a Queen by Shmuel David shows Alan living with Rachael in one of the five boroughs of New York City. In fact, Queens is the easternmost and largest in the area among those five boroughs. Alan still misses Israel badly in terms of summers, the smell of eath after plowing, and his mother tongue Hebrew which is not very common here. Rachael keeps forcing Alan to visit a therapist to get a cure of his dreams full of nightmares and anxiety but to no avail. Alan's grandfather Emil David was Belgrade Architect in 1930s.
Alan is working for an investment bank. They have two daughters. The elder one is Nina, eight-year-old. They have a big frame photograph of Alan's grandparents in their house. Alan's grandmother's name was Louisa. When Hanne was on his deathbed, he tells Alan to explore about his first love, Inge, and find out her whereabouts. Inge had to leave Hanne forcefully under some strange circumstance during the river journey. Hanne was a teenager when he was traveling with his parents in one of those three creaking river-boats. It was a matter of hanging between the two extremities of hope and despair. In fact, it was a bleak attempt of reaching safely to their destination. Alan investigates a number of journals and newspapers to find out the truth. During his research, he finds out a number of astonishing facts. Overall Two Princes And A Queen Is an interesting historical story.
Two Princes and a Queen by Shmuel David About Kladovo-Sabac Affair
Two Princes and a Queen by Shmuel David is a historical novel about Kladovo-Sabac Affair. It talks about the historical voyage on a rundown river-boat down the Danube River by hundreds of Jews who for the sake of sake of saving their life from Nazis were moving to Israel through this dangerous route. This historic fiasco is what they call as Kladovo-Sabac Affair. The book also covers real-life stories of people who were part of this journey in one way or the other. When it becomes a point of saving your life, any kind of risk averting death looks small. The story revolves around Hanne, his parents, and his son Alan. Basically, it involves three generations. Such kind of stories takes a wider frame to reflect the differences and similarities between the three generations. It reflects very well when you see Hanne's and Alan's childhoods in this interesting story.
The survivors of that devastating river-boat voyage are known as heroes of Kladovo-Sabac Affair. Hanne was also one of the survivors who were there in one of the river-boat escaping to Israel. He was a teenager at that time and was traveling with his parents. The opening chapter of Two Princes and a Queen by Shmuel David shows Alan living with Rachael in one of the five boroughs of New York City. In fact, Queens is the easternmost and largest in the area among those five boroughs. Alan still misses Israel badly in terms of summers, the smell of eath after plowing, and his mother tongue Hebrew which is not very common here. Rachael keeps forcing Alan to visit a therapist to get a cure of his dreams full of nightmares and anxiety but to no avail. Alan's grandfather Emil David was Belgrade Architect in 1930s.
Alan is working for an investment bank. They have two daughters. The elder one is Nina, eight-year-old. They have a big frame photograph of Alan's grandparents in their house. Alan's grandmother's name was Louisa. When Hanne was on his deathbed, he tells Alan to explore about his first love, Inge, and find out her whereabouts. Inge had to leave Hanne forcefully under some strange circumstance during the river journey. Hanne was a teenager when he was traveling with his parents in one of those three creaking river-boats. It was a matter of hanging between the two extremities of hope and despair. In fact, it was a bleak attempt of reaching safely to their destination. Alan investigates a number of journals and newspapers to find out the truth. During his research, he finds out a number of astonishing facts. Overall Two Princes And A Queen Is an interesting historical story.
October 30, 2017
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
In Two Princes and a Queen, Shmuel David creates a touching love story about Hanne and Inge, two young lovers during the Holocaust who are forced to flee from prosecution. Hanne and his parents are forced on a voyage down the Danube River, meant to reach Israel, but the journey is far from easy. Meanwhile, Hanne falls in love with Inge, but is then forced to leave her under tragic circumstances during their journey across the river.
Years later, on his deathbed, Hanne implores his son, Alan, to uncover what happened to Inge all those years back. Alan, in the mean time, grows deeply involved in his father’s story, and the tragedy he went through. Set during some of history’s darkest times, the book sketches the characters and plot well, and creates an astonishing plot that moves swiftly yet touches deeply.
Fans of historical fiction set during the Holocaust should pick up this book and give it a shot.
In Two Princes and a Queen, Shmuel David creates a touching love story about Hanne and Inge, two young lovers during the Holocaust who are forced to flee from prosecution. Hanne and his parents are forced on a voyage down the Danube River, meant to reach Israel, but the journey is far from easy. Meanwhile, Hanne falls in love with Inge, but is then forced to leave her under tragic circumstances during their journey across the river.
Years later, on his deathbed, Hanne implores his son, Alan, to uncover what happened to Inge all those years back. Alan, in the mean time, grows deeply involved in his father’s story, and the tragedy he went through. Set during some of history’s darkest times, the book sketches the characters and plot well, and creates an astonishing plot that moves swiftly yet touches deeply.
Fans of historical fiction set during the Holocaust should pick up this book and give it a shot.
May 4, 2020
I enjoyed reading this story. It was an emotional read. There were details about that time in history that I didn't know and learned from this historical novel. It was heart wrenching to read about what these people suffered during holocaust. It put a whole different spin on it. I don't know what I would of done had I been in their situation. This book made me question how strong I would be and what decisions I would make if I were in their shoes. It also makes me question how and why a humans can be so cruel and evil. I liked a lot of the characters and found myself immersed in the retelling of their lives. I would recommend this book to history buffs and those who are into this genre. I am sure they will agree it is well worth the read.
February 13, 2018
How could you not believe?
Many involved in this time period did not speak to their children about the horrific times they lived through thinking they needed to move on. Some could and did write it down while it was happening or afterwards.
Many involved in this time period did not speak to their children about the horrific times they lived through thinking they needed to move on. Some could and did write it down while it was happening or afterwards.
October 21, 2018
Riveting
I gave the story 5 stars because it was intriguing. I had never heard of this tormented group trying to immigrate to Israel. Although extremely Sad, there are many moments of heroism and valor.
I gave the story 5 stars because it was intriguing. I had never heard of this tormented group trying to immigrate to Israel. Although extremely Sad, there are many moments of heroism and valor.
November 18, 2019
Personal story from holocaust
This adds faces and personal stories to the numbers of the many lost to the insanity of the holocaust. It's an excellent book for youth to gain understanding of growing up during that period. Great for class reading.
This adds faces and personal stories to the numbers of the many lost to the insanity of the holocaust. It's an excellent book for youth to gain understanding of growing up during that period. Great for class reading.
November 7, 2020
A moving narrative of a group of Jewish people who wanted freedom.
The realistic portrayal of the determination, in spite of set backs, to migrate to Israel is intriguing and heart wrenching.
The realistic portrayal of the determination, in spite of set backs, to migrate to Israel is intriguing and heart wrenching.
March 7, 2018
Survive
How could anyone survive? The story told is one of bravery and hardship, both fascinating and horrifying. Well written and sensitive.
How could anyone survive? The story told is one of bravery and hardship, both fascinating and horrifying. Well written and sensitive.
April 23, 2018
Slow start, better after halfway.
Starts out very slow, took several days to read the first half of the book and could not put it down when got into the 2nd half. Very informative.
Starts out very slow, took several days to read the first half of the book and could not put it down when got into the 2nd half. Very informative.
April 28, 2018
Two Princes
I had never heard of the people being left on the river. A fascinating story. Once again as I read I cannot fathom the suffering and pain these people had to indure.
I had never heard of the people being left on the river. A fascinating story. Once again as I read I cannot fathom the suffering and pain these people had to indure.
August 15, 2018
Good book, but was hard for me to read right through. The atrocities that these people endured is something I just can't fathom. Even tho I knew what was coming at the end, I did enjoy the book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews