A Time to Risk All: The incredible untold story of Mary Elmes, the Irish woman who saved children from Nazi Concentration Camps

by Clodagh Finn

Clodagh Finn has travelled throughout Europe to piece together the story of this remarkable, unknown Irish woman, meeting many of those children Mary Elmes saved. Here, in a book packed with courage, heroism, adventure and tragedy, her story is finally remembered. The children called her 'Miss Mary', and they remember her kindness still. She gave them food and shelter and later risked her life to help them escape the convoys bound for Auschwitz. Turning her back on a brilliant academic career, Mary Elmes ventured into a war zone to help children in the Spanish Civil War. In 1939, she fled Franco’s forces but continued to work with refugees in France when the Second World War broke out. In 1942, when it became evident that Jews were being deported to their deaths, she smuggled children to safety in the boot of her car. She was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo, but went straight back to work after her release. When the war was over, Mary married and settled down, never speaking about what she had done. Her story was forgotten. In A Time to Risk All her remarkable story is finally remembered as it should be. 'A compelling portrait of an unsung Irish heroine of two wars.' Madeleine Keane, Literary Editor, Sunday Independent 'Brings to light the life of Mary Elmes, showing a remarkable, independent and courageous woman whose compassion knew no borders.' Yvonne Altman O Connor, Culture and Education Director, Irish Jewish Museum 'A truly amazing and uplifting story, I’d recommend it to anybody.' Marian Finucane 'This is the Irish Schindler story … remarkable' Ivan Yates

Genres: Nonfiction, Holocaust

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2017

Reviews

[Anne-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very impressive biography, written in a history book type style. While it IS a great story, I am giving 3 stars, as the ‘history format’ is a little dull and formal. It feels ripe for a movie script to flesh it out and amplify its greatness! Mary Elmes is an energetic and highly driven character, emanating a total ‘woman on a mission’ vibe. Her work started in Spain (1930’s) and transitioned to France (1940’s), in tandem with the mass exodus of Spanish refugees escaping Franco, to the rather unwelcoming France. The secondary aspect focuses on the role France played during WWII. It addresses the contentious debate (in France) on the role Vichy government played, in rounding up Jews for deportation to extermination camps, often without prompting from Germany. The sheer commitment of Mary to her humanitarian work was commendable. She was wholly engaged. But then her total withdrawal, into ‘family life’ in 1945, does seem surprising for a lady of such strength and character. I was not sure what to make of that!

[Mary Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating view into the humanitarian work done by the Quakers during the Spanish Civil War and in Vichy France in WW2. It opened my eyes to the desperate plight of Spanish refugees flying to France only to find a not so friendly welcome. Once the war broke out, Jew joined the ranks in the camps. Conditions were appalling and starvation was a real threat.
Mary Elmes comes across as a stoic, but unemotional woman who had amazing administrative skills. Once the aid workers realised that the trains were taking woman and children out of France to a certain death in Auschwitz, they did everything they could to get the children to safety.
A highly detailed book ruined by a colourless and formal narrative which was dull to read.

[Adri Dosi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ehm, tak se přiznám, že tohle mě vůbec nebavilo. Je to životopis, v němž je opěvovaná Elisabeth Elmesová, která během druhé světové války zachránila ohromný počet dětí. Jde to od jejich rodičů... dětství, proč taková byla...no... takové rozbory, čísla...postava zajímavá, ale ten formát je strašný. Nebavilo mě to. Je to jako kdybyste měli referát. Vygooglili si informace a natáhli to na 200 stran. I přes zajímavost a vážnost.... tohle člověka moc nebaví číst, jde to přece i jinak. Existuje tolik knih o osobnostech války a byly zpracovány mnohem lépe a zazivneji. Ne jakoby to byla těžká učební lekce.

[Penny Haw · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a woman. What a story. And what a remarkable work of research and writing.

Mary Elmes might’ve lived decades ago but her story is as relevant and inspiring as ever. Themes of war, bigotry, displacement, hunger, human trafficking, education, books and compassion prevail. The story is fascinating and she is an exceptional woman. Calm, capable, pragmatic, intelligent, conciliatory and yet remarkably tough. Driven by humanity and selflessness.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Mary Elmes and events in history I didn't previously know much about in this excellently researched and written book.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another person sees a need and just gets to it.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable person.

[Laura Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3

[knihomůra Terez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Těžko se mi hodnotí, protože to není běžná próza.
Za můj čas to stálo, ale čím víc jsem četla, tím víc zničená jsem byla. Je to kniha s tragickým dějem, avšak zaslouží si pozornost.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Once the story got going it was very interesting. However the first few chapters were too padded out and needed to be edited. The author was trying to find reasons for Marys philanthropy in her early life experiences but it didn't work. It would have been better to give a synopsis of her early life and education and just move onto the story

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story. Reason for three stars is that the early chapters on Mary's early life were padded out too much. A brief introduction to her early life would have sufficed. Once I got to Mary's life in Spain and then France the book was impossible to put down.