The Fires of Lilliput, Paperback

(128 customer reviews)

$11.95

A JEWISH HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR is the only living witness to the life of a man the Vatican is investigating for Catholic sainthood. This is her epic story, of courage, suffering, and love.

229 in stock (can be backordered)

SKU: 9781733644129 Category:

Description

After reviewing his life for nearly thirty years, the Vatican wants to declare Polish farmer and stigmatic Jakub Chelzak a Roman Catholic saint. His miraculous healings and Crucifixion wounds brought true believers—and die-hard skeptics—from across Europe during its darkest hour.

But before the Pope can canonize Jakub, Vatican officials must hear from the most important eyewitness of all: Shosha Mordechai, then a young Warsaw resident, who disappeared with her family after she and Jakub helped each other live through the most ungodly hell in human history: the Nazi siege of Poland and the Soviet invasion that followed.

No friend of the Jewish people during this time of their greatest need, the Vatican hierarchy is seeking not only Shosha’s testimony, but a major step toward reconciliation with her people. The archbishops and cardinals face an extraordinary situation: a Jewish Holocaust survivor the only living witness to the life of a Christian saint.

The Fires of Lilliput is the story Shosha tells them, of indomitable spirits who survived the throes of war, with courage, suffering, and love.

_____________________________

For the cover, Ed Richardson created a striking abstraction of the warring forces that savaged Europe during World War II. An art director for groundbreaking films such as Badlands, Scarface, Cat People, and American Gigolo, Richardson also portrayed a journey across America’s waterways for the cover of William Least Heat-Moon’s bestseller, River-Horse.

 

Additional information

Weight 32 oz
Dimensions 9 × 6 × 2 in

128 reviews for The Fires of Lilliput, Paperback

  1. Marion Weiss –

    Super well written. You can picture what is happening. Very well done.

  2. Anne Hamm –

    Excellent book.

  3. Sharon Coulter –

    This is a great book! The characters came alive. I could not put this book down, kept my interest all the way through.

  4. Toni M –

    Five Stars

  5. Carolynne Leasure –

    This was a great story, loved it.

  6. Raul Aguero –

    Easy readable History for all.

  7. Rosemarie Litzinger –

    Just finished reading The Fires of Lilliput – highly recommend it. An excellent read if you are into learning more about the Holocaust – it is fiction based on fact.

  8. Wesley Brando –

    Sad and yet courageous on so many levels.

    I was in awe of the courage that Shosha showed throughout the book. The strength it took to continue to move forward each day, never knowing if it would be your last. I can’t even begin to imagine the strength it took to survive such a horrific act perpetrated against the Jews.

    I thank you again for the privilege to have been able to read this book and to gain further insight into just how despicable the Nazis were.

  9. Janie Camp –

    Awesome! Great book!

  10. Cindy P. A. –

    Three stars

  11. Karen Lumley –

    Good book.

  12. Tony Rozario –

    Five stars

  13. J.D. Riley –

    Three stars

  14. Kiffayat –

    5 stars

  15. Margaret –

    5 stars

  16. Renee Kingston –

    5 stars

  17. Susan Bacon –

    5 stars

  18. K Rosello –

    4 stars

  19. Book Garden –

    5 stars

  20. Lydia Meyers –

    5 stars

  21. Tara Marie –

    I just finished the book. It was a wonderful read. I learned a lot about this time that I never really thought about.

  22. Jeffrey Kiliany –

    Finished the book Nov. 29, 2019. Five Stars.

  23. Kobo Reader –

    5 Stars

    https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-fires-of-lilliput

  24. Kobo Reader –

    Five Stars
    https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-fires-of-lilliput

  25. Stephen Solender –

    Even though I am very familiar with the Polish-Jewish resistance during World War II, I could not stop reading The Fires of Lilliput.

    The novel’s capacity to weave into the factual account of this tragic period the drama and intensity of the relationship between Shosha and Jakub is remarkable.

    A very important additional benefit of the narrative is to indicate that despite the attitude of the Vatican, there were some courageous, principled Catholics who risked their lives to save Jewish people.

    The novel also dramatically describes the ways in which Joseph Stalin betrayed the Warsaw Ghetto resistance and undermined efforts of the United States and Britain to aid those incredibly courageous resisters.

    The Fires of Lilliput not only serves to remind older generations of what truly transpired during those unbelievable days, but introduces, in a most dramatic and accurate manner, younger persons to one of the most significant acts of resistance in the history of the Jewish people.

    Stephen D. Solender
    Former President and CEO, Jewish Federations of North America; Past President, North American Council, Museum of the History of Polish Jews

  26. Michael Jones –

    A tour de force, whose stunning sorties into Jewish, Catholic, German, and other histories light the way like brilliant street lamps. Shosha Mordechai is a powerful protagonist. I knew she had succeeded in getting under my skin when, in the last few sentences of the book, my legs erupted in goosebumps.

  27. Allison –

    One of the most engaging novels I’ve read in a while. Tender moments with soaring prose punctuate the most intense, dire situations. Humor pops up unpredictably. The interactions between the characters-especially the women -are “felt life” at its most profound. A great read about real heroes with real passion, real love, and real commitment.

  28. Shirley Herman –

    A great, well-researched, and captivating novel! A very good read!

  29. Kathy Taylor –

    Couldn’t put it down- such sadness and bravery. A powerful and personal book – a book I will read again.

  30. Debbi Smith –

    A Great Read

    This book is one of the best I have read about the Jewish people of Poland during the Holocaust. Based on facts, the characters make you love them, and the details will break your heart.

    I highly recommend this for anyone interested in this historical era.

    Goodreads

  31. Paula Howard –

    I absolutely loved this book. The author’s writing pulled me completely into the story. Reviewed on my Facebook page and Goodreads.

    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43808701-the-fires-of-lilliput

  32. Ruth –

    A very well written book. It gave you an insight into the suffering of the people in Poland during the Holocaust. I highly recommend this book.

    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3808563988

  33. Lynn Wheeldon –

    Just finished reading this, really good read. Couldn’t put this book down, have recommended this to many of my friends.

  34. JD –

    So hard to review this book. Harrowing, heartbreaking, powerful. I can’t find the words. It was truly a struggle to read and to continue reading to the end.

    But it needs to be read. The true horror of war and the inhumanity that war brings is horribly clear in this moving work.

    It’s a book I will never forget.

    From Amazon

  35. Raymond Gold –

    Five stars

  36. Sandra Crew –

    Four stars

  37. MaryLee Midgette –

    Five stars

  38. Mary Ellen Putnam –

    Three stars

  39. Tracy Bowen –

    Four stars

  40. Freda Annis –

    Five stars

  41. Jill Rose –

    Five stars

  42. Cindy –

    Three stars

  43. Gail –

    Four stars

  44. Barry and Carol Morse –

    Five stars

  45. Susie Seeber –

    Four stars

  46. Randy Spiker –

    Five stars

  47. Marcia Pokarney –

    Five stars from Goodreads

  48. Catherine L. Faulkner –

    Five stars from Goodreads

  49. David Marquez –

    Four stars from Goodreads

  50. Mary E –

    Five stars from Goodreads

  51. Aloma Arp –

    A great read!!!!

  52. Lisa Moletzsky –

    Great book!!

  53. Elisheva H. Levin –

    A very different story of the Shoah.

    This is an interesting book.

    The fictional story of a a Catholic saint, a stigmatic, who was a simple person, and through his very simplicity he protected, cared for, and saved the lives of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, and then in the camps.

    The conditions in the Ghetto and the camps are plainly and powerfully described, as are the actions of the characters for good and evil. It is a reminder of what people can endure and survive.

    I also learned something about stigmatics and the procedures for making a saint, as well as the desire of the Catholic hierarchy to find saints within the Holocaust because of their refusal to speak with one voice against the Nazi nightmare in 1938, when it might have mattered.

    I did not enjoy this book. It is not that kind of book. But it remains with me.

    From Amazon

  54. Holly W –

    A haunting account of the daily life of all victims of the third Reich, including the officers and their families. A story of survival, friendships and miracles.

    Goodreads

  55. Dbs1975 –

    Could have been so much better. Beginning was a slog to get through. The parts about the canonization process were somewhat interesting but otherwise the characters were very one dimensional. So many characters conflicts should have been more deeply explored. I was very disappointed in this novel.

    Goodreads

  56. Marsha –

    A difficult read. Martin gives a detailed view of life in the Warsaw ghetto sparing no details. I did have to stop once or twice to wonder how I could read the horrors and go on with my day as usual. The characters are well developed and their story compelling.

    Goodreads

  57. Diane Koch –

    This was a haunting book but a good read. From the perspective of Polish citizens being conquered and ruled over by Nazi Germany and its eugenics program as Law. How does one survive? This book is relevant and important. Since it is only with time -and distance- one could recognize the true saints that were victims of such evil. Faith was important to the characters in that the hope that faith brings to those with small or large hearts.

    Goodreads

  58. Michael Zelekovic –

    An excellent read on Warsaw Ghetto

    The story is fast moving and riveting, hard to put the book down. The author puts you into their shoes, Jew, Gentle, and those that ran the death camps. Learn of the heroism of those that taught the Nazis, small arms against the military might of the Germans. Learn about the Poles that helped.

    Amazon

  59. Salmcg –

    Great story

    I really enjoyed this book. Traveling through time with Shosha. Sad story but it told what a lot of people went through.

    Amazon

  60. Mary Alaga –

    Goodreads

  61. Richard Garcia –

    Goodreads

  62. Patricia Koch –

    Goodreads

  63. Michael C. Agresti –

    Goodreads

  64. Sheryl J. Aydelott –

    Goodreads

  65. Karen Magnotta –

    Goodreads

  66. Marci Fletcher –

    Goodreads

  67. Helen Pires –

    Goodreads

  68. Karen Foye –

    Goodreads

  69. Elaine DiBenedetto –

    Goodreads

  70. Donna DeCarl –

    Goodreads

  71. Janet –

    Goodreads

  72. Karen A. Schubert –

    Goodreads

  73. David R. Billingsley –

    Goodreads

  74. Jean Jordet –

    Goodreads

  75. Cheryl J. Stanek –

    Goodreads

  76. Mary Yamaguchi –

    Goodreads

  77. Mary –

    Goodreads

  78. Janice Weaver –

    Goodreads

  79. Sherley Schoenhaus –

    Goodreads

  80. Carol M. Rota –

    Goodreads

  81. Marcia Ditter –

    Goodreads

  82. P.A. Hawkes –

    Goodreads

  83. Christine –

    Goodreads

  84. Neil Randall –

    Grueling read, very much recommended but hard to get into for the first third of the book.

    Goodreads

  85. Irma A. Stachura –

    Goodreads

  86. Patricia Capolino –

    Goodreads

  87. Nancy B Ranquist –

    Goodreads

  88. Anne Backus –

    Goodreads

  89. cheryl favoroso –

    Goodreads

  90. Marg –

    Goodreads

  91. lindayorke –

    Goodreads

  92. Judy –

    Goodreads

  93. Sharon Petersen –

    Goodreads

  94. diane mccarthy –

    Goodreads

  95. Michele Ward –

    Goodreads

  96. JOANNE BERG –

    Goodreads

  97. Jayne Klemme –

    Goodreads

  98. Mary Delgizzi –

    Goodreads

  99. Dolores Dudley –

    This book is heartbreaking and amazing. The courage of the Jewish resistance in Warsaw vs. the cowardice of the Nazis is an example of the best and the worst of humanity. In dealing with the same forms of white supremacy we see in the world today, especially in the USA, we need all of the courage we can muster.

  100. Carol Stewart –

    Good book, great insight.

  101. Kindle Customer –

    I could not put this book down. It takes you into the darkness of life in the Warsaw ghetto. But throughout you can feel the glimmer of love, hope, and survival.

    Amazon.co.uk

  102. Judy Baker –

    An incredible read. Sad and very moving. Highly recommend it for those who want to learn more about the horrors of this era in history!

  103. Ruth Ann Crowder –

    This was a very good book.

  104. Patty Crespan –

    A must read!!!

  105. Nan Kelly Wilson –

    Reading the book now. I urge others to order a copy and read a magnificent story.

  106. Ellie Wilcox –

    Great book.

  107. Mary Jordan Weaver –

    Loved this, but so heart wrenching!!

  108. Barbara Nolan –

    Incredible story, it was very well written.

  109. Fran Milteer –

    Great book.

  110. Carolyn Bonastia –

    Well written story of the horrors and suffering in the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland.

  111. Ilene Whittaker –

    Great book.

  112. Joyce Clever-Hubbard –

    I read this and it is excellent.

  113. Susan W McDaniel –

    Good read. Well researched.

  114. Barbara Weber –

    It was an interesting read.

  115. Sue Decoteau –

    Enjoyed this…really sad to know the true story.

  116. Ruth Ann Parrish –

    This is another beautiful story of hope & help in times of terrible anguish! We need to continue hearing these stories – they feed our souls with love & hope!

  117. Sallie Robins –

    Good read!

  118. Vivian Spiker –

    Good historical fiction. Based on true history and historical events but characters are fiction, like Gone with the Wind. Gives a clear picture of what the Jewish people in Poland went through.

  119. Karen Schubert –

    This was a difficult book to read. It was mind-blowing what these people endured and fought on with what ever they had!

  120. James G. Settle –

    Painfully poignant. Michael Martin artfully brings together the life threads of a group of key survivors of the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, and a nearby Nazi death camp.

  121. H D Katz –

    Goodreads

  122. mark songy –

    Goodreads

  123. Teri Burg –

    Goodreads

  124. Vickie –

    Goodreads

  125. russell robert reeve –

    Goodreads

  126. sue mcmahon –

    Goodreads

  127. Peg –

    Goodreads

  128. Donna Davis –

    Goodreads

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