Through the Eyes of Rose: A Mother's Flight to Freedom in a Memory Mosaic

by John Kozak

Through the Eyes of Rose details the story of Rose Kozak and how she successfully defied the Czechoslovakian Communists in October 1949 and escaped with her children through the wilderness of the Bohemian Forest to the freedom of West Germany. John Kozak was just seven when he escaped with his mother and older sister from oppressive Communist rule. His emotional retelling of his mother's struggle to feed her family during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, her near drowning in the Danube River, and her reaction to the news that the Czech Communists had fabricated criminal charges against her husband all make for an intriguing look into the lives of a family deeply affected by the Communist takeover of their native country. When Rose's husband Anthony is unable to return from Switzerland to Prague where he faces imprisonment due to fabricated charges by the new Communist regime, Rose decides to escape. During her journey to seek a better life, she is betrayed by a money-hungry guide, hunted by tracking dogs, and nearly captured by a Soviet patrol. One woman's courage and dogged determination to seek freedom for her family proves that a mother's love will always persevere over evil.

Genres: Nonfiction

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[A Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by a man we’ve known through a friendly and long business relationship. He mentioned some of his background in our conversations over the years. But I wanted to read the whole story, which he lovingly put into a book. This is an incredible story of his family, and the bravery of his mother as she planned and took risks to escape communist Czechoslovakia to West Germany. Just fascinating. What an incredible woman Rose was. A great story.

[Jessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of a mother doing anything she can for her family.

[S. Willett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author John Kozak writes of his brave mother, Rose, and her flight from Czechoslovakia in the 1940’s. We travel with Rose and her family to West Germany and then Switzerland to find freedom. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about communism, how strong a Mother’s love can be, and the ingenuity of a resourceful woman.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and well written biography of Rose Kozak written by her son John. The author has visited several local libraries to promote this book about his mother's life. I discovered "Through the Eyes of Rose" by accident and thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended.