Troller, Norbert. Theresienstadt; Hitler's gift to the Jews.

TROLLER, Norbert. Theresienstadt; Hitler's gift to the Jews. Tr. from the Czech by Susa E. Cernyak-Spatz. Univ. of North Carolina Press. 182p. illus. notes. index. c1991. 0-8078-5584-7. $18.95. SA

This memoir of Troller's time in Theresienstadt is an interesting addition to other Holocaust accounts. While it does not have the literary quality of similar narratives by Elie Wiesel or Primo Levi, it does cast light on the Nazi's "model city," which existed only to demonstrate to the Red Cross that the Jews were well treated. Of course, when no one was looking, which was most of the time, the Jews were subjected to the same vicious living conditions as at Auschwitz, although Thereisenstadt did not come equipped with assembly-line gas ovens.

Troller reinforces many of the themes in Primo Levi's work: the virtuous did not survive, the ruthless pursuit of any advantage by those who lived, the death of compassion, and the ability of humans to adapt to any circumstance. Troller alone, however, discusses physical love among prisoners, which occurred when their hunger was appeased by some strategy. (Troller's was his architectural training.) He reiterates the "tortuously transitory" nature of such relationships due to the ever-present threat of selection for transport to the East. The index, and Troller's artwork, which miraculously survived the war, make this a useful resource for students doing research into aspects of life in Thereisenstadt. Myrna Marler, Assoc. Prof. of English, BYU, Provo, UT

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code help librarian and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.