Description: A personal depiction of life in Poland set against the Nazi and Soviet takeovers of Europe and their cataclysmic aftermaths. It is the compelling memoir of Alexander Kimel, taking him from a shtetl to a Nazi ghetto to liberation and the parallel Holocaust story of his beloved wife, written by their son. It is also the harrowing story of his wife, Eva, whose father was murdered in the "Holocaust by Bullets."
Brief description: Alexander Kimel was born in Podhajce, Poland (now Pidhaitsi, Ukraine) in 1926. After the war, he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in electrical engineering at the Wroclaw Polytechnic University in Poland. In the U.S., he started and ran his own consulting engineering firm. Poems from his award-winning website on the Holocaust have been used in schools, universities and exhibits, widely reprinted, and recited on YouTube. He also contributed a chapter to the anthology, Life in the Ghettos during the Holocaust. He died in 2018.
Review Quotes:
"[A] must-read for any-one seek-ing a per-son-al, cross-gen-er-a-tional, deeply researched, and mov-ing account of what Pol-ish Jews faced [before, during and after the Holocaust]."
- Jewish Book Council
-- David Patterson, Hillel A. Feinberg Distinguished Chair in Holocaust Studies, University of Texas at Dallas
"A compelling memoir of Jewish life in Russian occupied Poland in World War 2, the German invasion of Russia and life underground during the ensuing Holocaust of bullets. Alexander Kimel's story is interwoven at every step with his son Martin's magnificent work of narrative nonfiction to provide a wide-angle view with other first-hand accounts and the larger historical context, including the parallel survivor journey of Alexander's wife, Eva. Beautifully written and deeply researched, The Pessimist's Son is a riveting testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit when faced with impossible circumstances. Everyone should read it."
-- Scott Lenga, Author of The Watchmakers
"This manuscript bridges the past and present, weaving a profound dialogue across generations. Authored by the son of Holocaust survivors, it delves into the harrowing experiences of his parents during one of history's darkest periods. The narrative, rich with personal anecdotes and historical context, offers a unique lens into the lives of survivors and the enduring impact of their stories on their descendants. It's a moving testament to resilience and the unbreakable bonds of family, providing invaluable insights into the collective memory of the Holocaust and its lasting legacy."
-- Dr. Daniela Ozacky Stern, Western Galilee College, Israel
"This remarkable book is an account of the lives of two holocaust survivors, Alexander Kimel and Ewa Najnudel.... The book is based on a memoir by Alexander, edited by his son Martin, who has written an account of Ewa's survival and the subsequent history of the couple. It provides a moving analysis of the Nazi mass murder of the Jews of Poland and of the situation of Jews under the Polish communist regime from liberation until 1956. It is essential reading for all interested in the fate of the Jews in East-Central Europe under Nazism and Communism."
-- Antony Polonsky, Emeritus Professor of Holocaust Studies, Brandeis University, Chief Historian, Global Education Outreach Project, Museum of Polish Jews in Warsaw
"The Pessimist's Son is a profoundly moving account of the Kimel family's experiences during World War II. Alexander Kimel's narrative spans his childhood in Russian-occupied Poland, his time in the Rohatyn ghetto, and his survival of the ghetto's liquidation. Meanwhile, his wife Eva's remarkable story of perseverance under Nazi occupation, including her hiding in the Ukrainian forests, is equally pow