Once We Were Brothers

By: Ronald H. Balson

Narrated by: Fred Berman

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

The gripping tale about two boys, once as close as brothers, who find themselves on opposite sides of the Holocaust.

Elliot Rosenzweig, a respected civic leader and philanthropist, is attending a fundraiser when he is suddenly accosted and accused of being a former Nazi SS officer named Otto Piatek, the Butcher of Zamosc. Although the charges are denounced as preposterous, his accuser is convinced he is right and engages attorney Catherine Lockhart to bring Rosenzweig to justice. Solomon persuades attorney Catherine Lockhart to take his case, revealing that the true Piatek was abandoned as a child and raised by Solomon's own family only to betray them during the Nazi occupation. But has Solomon accused the right man?

Once We Were Brothers is Ronald H. Balson's compelling tale of two boys and a family who struggle to survive in war-torn Poland, and a young love that struggles to endure the unspeakable cruelty of the Holocaust. Two lives, two worlds, and 60 years converge in an explosive race to redemption that makes for a moving and powerful tale of love, survival, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit.

©2009 Ronald H. Balson (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Amazing WWII story

This book was difficult to absorb due to the subject matter at hand, but it was amazing. I had to take it in sessions to break up the intensity. Fred Berman is an absolutely fantastic reader, he is an artist!

Part lesson part mystery all heart

Not to be missed. A good story tolld in a way that captures you lomg after the last page! You will thunk about these people and their story long after.

Fantastic.

Fantastic. Best audiobook I've listened to in quite awhile. Narration was great and the story kept me interested and intrigued from the beginning to the end. So moving.

Incredibly impactful and thoughtful book

This book gives the reader an insight into the depth of the evil of which men are capable. Maybe more importantly it gives insight into the courage, goodness, heroism and menschlekeit of which people are capable. This Brooke is bone devastating and uplifting. A must read

Waaay better than expected

It is always a pleasant surprise to start a book thinking it will be good only to find it is so so much more than you thought. The description seemed intriguing enough so I thought I would give it a try since I love historical fiction. Even if I didn’t love historical fiction I would have loved this book. It is an absolutely incredible story, incredibly tasteful, well written and captivating. The performance as an audiobook was likewise.

Thought provoking

good story telling. A deep message into a history which should not be forgotten. We as humanity should learn from our history

BRAVO.

This was an amazing work. Great story. I was engaged the whole book. I Didn't want it to end.

Amazing story

I can't think of but a few books ever to bring me this close to character. I've never even been compelled to write a review before this book. Awesome storyline, I would suggest this book to anyone with heart.

Trust, never know who to trust during tragedy and war

Beautifully story told during WII in Poland. Hard to imagine such horror so many had to endure, especially when you think all is well.

Amazing narration and story.

What made this book different is most of the book is told through Ben’s narration about what happened to his family and town durning the war. The narration was outstanding.