Publisher's Synopsis
Can Greta Kolbe escape Nazi Vienna and reach America before her past and the Gestapo catch up to her?
"Vienna on Fire provides a gripping and historically accurate account of the resilience of the human spirit amid the darkest of times."
-Erin Britton, San Francisco Book Review
In the heart of darkening Europe, amidst the looming war, "Vienna on Fire" by Don Gabor tells the riveting story of Greta Kolbe, an eighteen-year-old Jewish woman whose life was upended when German troops annexed Austria in 1938.
Her peaceful existence is replaced by a nightmare of terror as she, along with Vienna's Jewish community, faces an ordeal of intimidation. Greta's journey of resilience begins as she flees Nazi Vienna to escape arrest for her resistance activities, embarking on a dangerous trek to Holland, with a spiteful ex-suitor and the Gestapo closely trailing her.
Demonstrating awe-inspiring bravery, Greta smuggles diamonds for the German resistance, eludes Hermann Göring's advances, and survives numerous perils, including a harrowing ambush at the German-Dutch border. Her race against time crescendos to a nail-biting climax on the gangplank of a ship bound for New York City, where she must evade her pursuers one last time.
Authored by Don Gabor, known for "How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends," this novel is a poignant tribute to the courage against tyranny, based on his mother's real-life experiences and those who opposed the Third Reich. "Vienna on Fire" is not merely a narrative but an affirmation of the human spirit, inviting readers to witness Greta's grit, ingenuity, and her relentless pursuit of freedom during Europe's most forbidding time.
Uncover the courage that defies darkness-secure your copy of 'Vienna on Fire' now and be inspired by this remarkable story of persistence and survival.
"Libraries and readers seeking exceptional portraits of Jewish survivors in general and strong young women who foster different responses to escape and survival, refusing to become victims, will find Vienna on Fire absolutely captivating. It's powered by strong characters whose perceptions and conflicts are not just realistic, but thoroughly absorbing "you are here" experiences."
--Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review
