The Surgeon and the Shepherd: Two Resistance Heroes in Vichy France. Meg Ostrum

The Surgeon and the Shepherd: Two Resistance Heroes in Vichy France



Download The Surgeon and the Shepherd: Two Resistance Heroes in Vichy France



The Surgeon and the Shepherd: Two Resistance Heroes in Vichy France Meg Ostrum. pdf ebook
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Language: English
Page: 247
ISBN: 0803235739, 9780803235731

From Publishers Weekly

During a hiking trip in the French Pyrenees in 1983, Ostrum stumbled upon a remarkable story of resistance to the Nazis. Now, two decades later, Ostrum, an arts consultant who has edited volumes of oral history, relies on oral histories to assemble the story of Dr. Charles Schepens, a Belgian eye surgeon who left Brussels early in the war and joined the Resistance. He moved to the Basque country and, using the pseudonym Perot, rebuilt a saw mill that he used as a front to transport both cargo and people to safety in Spain. One of his fellow conspirators was Jean Sarochar, an eccentric shepherd known for his loquaciousness and his storytelling. The author recounts how the two (and others) worked as members of the Resistance and then, when their scheme was uncovered by the Nazis, worked to save Schepens's life. Ostrum shows how war makes strong friendships, and how people, whether considered by others to be strong (the surgeon) or weak (the shepherd) can rise to the occasion. Their compelling tale is only part of the story, as themes of class, modernity and deceit are handled gracefully by the author. Ostrum also focuses on historical background-of the players and of the Basque region itself. In essence, this is as much anthropology as it is history, but whatever one may call it, Ostrum has created a compelling work of 20th-century European history. It makes an unusual diptych with another dramatic tale of Belgian resistance, The Twentieth Train, by Marion Schreiber. 27 photos, 3 maps not seen by PW.
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Review

"During a hiking trip in the French Pyrenees in 1983, Ostrum stumbled upon a remarkable story of resistance to the Nazis. . . . [The conspirators''] compelling tale is only part of the story, as themes of class, modernity and deceit are handled gracefully by the author. . . . Ostrum has created a compelling work of 20th-century European history."—Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly )

"A chance tourist encounter 20 years ago led museum professional and historical preservationist Ostrum to first learn of the intriguing tale she recounts in this accessible study. Biography, war story, and cultural history combined, it tells of two unlikely heroes who worked together in the Belgian resistance during World War II. . . . Using the interviewing skills of an oral historian and relying on careful detective work, Ostrum has pieced together a compelling and inspirational narrative that heralds the transforming effects of war. This heretofore untold story should appeal not only to scholars but also to informed laypersons interested in Basque history and World War II historiography."—Library Journal (Library Journal )

"With echoes of Schindler''s List and other stirring wartime epics, [The Surgeon and the Shepherd] tells the story of a seemingly ordinary man who took uncommon risks to subvert the Nazi war machine."—Joseph P. Kahn, The Boston Globe (Joseph P. Kahn The Boston Globe )

“An extraordinary story of wartime valor and comradeship.”—Arthur Schlesinger Jr. (Arthur Schlesinger Jr. )

"The result of many years of fastidious research, the work presents a tale of quiet heroism that, thanks to its author''s efforts, will be of singular interest to those who seek exemplars in the reading of history."—Colette G. Levin, French Review (Colette G. Levin French Review )



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