The Island of Extraordinary Captives

A Painter, a Poet, an Heiress, and a Spy in a World War II British Internment Camp

De: Simon Parkin

Narrado por: Elliot Fitzpatrick

Duración: 12 h y 47 m

Resumen del Editor

The “riveting…truly shocking” (The New York Times Book Review) story of a Jewish orphan who fled Nazi Germany for London, only to be arrested and sent to a British internment camp for suspected foreign agents on the Isle of Man, alongside a renowned group of refugee musicians, intellectuals, artists, and—possibly—genuine spies.

Following the events of Kristallnacht in 1938, Peter Fleischmann evaded the Gestapo’s roundups in Berlin by way of a perilous journey to England on a Kindertransport rescue, an effort sanctioned by the UK government to evacuate minors from Nazi-controlled areas.train. But he could not escape the British police, who came for him in the early hours and shipped him off to Hutchinson Camp on the Isle of Man, under suspicion of being a spy for the very regime he had fled.

During Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s, tens of thousands of German and Austrian Jews like Peter escaped and found refuge in Britain. After war broke out and paranoia gripped the nation, Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered that these innocent asylum seekers—so-called “enemy aliens”—be interned.

When Peter arrived at Hutchinson Camp, he found one of history’s most astounding prison populations: renowned professors, composers, journalists, and artists. Together, they created a thriving cultural community, complete with art exhibitions, lectures, musical performances, and poetry readings. The artists welcomed Peter as their pupil and forever changed the course of his life. Meanwhile, suspicions grew that a real spy was hiding among them—one connected to a vivacious heiress from Peter’s past.

Drawing from unpublished first-person accounts and newly declassified government documents, award-winning journalist Simon Parkin reveals an “extraordinary yet previously untold true story” (Daily Express) that serves as a “testimony to human fortitude despite callous, hypocritical injustice” (The New Yorker) and “an example of how individuals can find joy and meaning in the absurd and mundane” (The Spectator).

©2022 Simon Parkin (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Can’t get into it

It feels like so many facts just being relayed, and it’s not easy to get sucked into the story. Narration has a strong accent so maybe that’s why.

Riveting narrative

A riveting history of a dark and “hidden” chapter in Britain’s WW2 policies and practices regarding immigrants and refugees. Remarkable for the impeccably detailed accounts. Brilliantly written. The narration is superb.

Preaching

Too much preaching about the unfairness of interning enemy aliens. Of course it’s awful but I wanted more about the artists.

Fascinating, well written history

I was totally ignorant of this part of history as I imagine are most people. This work is alarming yet beautiful, sobering yet intriguing. I loved it !

I learned something compelling

A little-covered story about internment of German refugees in British internment camps during WWII. The story paints a picture of life in the camps, following a German boy taken to Britain as part of an orphan rescue and soon arrested as a possible threat to national security. The other internees bring life to the story and boost his future as an artist.

The narrator was effective and not distracting. The story is compelling and makes me want to research more about this slice of history regarding WWII.

Fascinating story

Such an unknown story is finally brought to life. I particularly loved the anecdotes about the Dada artist Kurt Schwitters: a great man whose absurdist poetry was greatly appreciated by his fellow imates.

Eye Opening and Tragic Chapter in English History

Wow, this is an Eyeopening story of FEAR and STEREOTYPING of THE OTHER. Not unlike the American interment of the Japanese, this English corollary is equally shameful and apparently remains relatively unknown. I recommend this book. There were parts where I sped up to 1.5x and even 4.0x for the bibliography but for most of the book it was riveting and history totally unknown to me and I’m a World War Two history buff.

fascinating history that I was completely unaware of!

The author chose his central character well! A very sympathetic young man. All the people in the book have fascinating histories. The book is well researched and well written. just goes to prove the American saying " We're from the government and we're here to" HELP" you!" ....RUN!

Amazing unknown story

Here to fore unknown stories of WW2, just when I thought we not retell the story another way. Absolutely fascinating.

A new favorite for me

In internment, some people prosper. Others despair. Not all heroic wins are won by people always acting heroically. This is a good commentary on the bad actions of good people. The casualties of epic struggles aren’t always on the battlefield. The forgotten don’t always disappear.