WW II an era rife with hatred, bigotry, and war crimes it
is easy for heroes to fall through the cracks of history. Thus, THE OLD GILT
CLOCK unveils the heroism of Willem Arondeus; a Dutch artist and author. Member
of the Dutch resistance movement during said War.
is easy for heroes to fall through the cracks of history. Thus, THE OLD GILT
CLOCK unveils the heroism of Willem Arondeus; a Dutch artist and author. Member
of the Dutch resistance movement during said War.
From his painful birth on 22 August 1894; causing
detachment and rejection from his mother, His self-discovery as a homosexual,
completely incompatible with the views of his abusive drunken father.
Culminating with his execution by the German Nazi Regime on 1 July 1943. We
feel Willem’s pain, confusion, and growth. The prose in this book is powerful
and beautifully crafted. As a result, while reading I felt very connected to
the character. The book brilliantly parallels Hitler’s life as well as well-known
and lesser known historical events.
detachment and rejection from his mother, His self-discovery as a homosexual,
completely incompatible with the views of his abusive drunken father.
Culminating with his execution by the German Nazi Regime on 1 July 1943. We
feel Willem’s pain, confusion, and growth. The prose in this book is powerful
and beautifully crafted. As a result, while reading I felt very connected to
the character. The book brilliantly parallels Hitler’s life as well as well-known
and lesser known historical events.
This gave me as a reader a clear sense of the historical
timeline and an awareness of some historical data I did not know. By following
his life, we see the buildup and growth of prejudice and bigotry, that affected
the world in both world wars.
timeline and an awareness of some historical data I did not know. By following
his life, we see the buildup and growth of prejudice and bigotry, that affected
the world in both world wars.
Willem Arondeus was a homosexual man, in an era that placed
him as unacceptable in a society that murdered so many. His understanding of
suffering is key to propel the need to protect the Jewish people of Holland,
risking and eventually losing his life.
him as unacceptable in a society that murdered so many. His understanding of
suffering is key to propel the need to protect the Jewish people of Holland,
risking and eventually losing his life.
The way words are woven so beautifully, had me re-reading
here and there, as some of the lines were poetic. Inasmuch as knowingly reading
a book with a guaranteed sad ending, the author manages to shed power of love
and light in Willem’s journey through self-love, self-acceptance and the
friendships he forges.
here and there, as some of the lines were poetic. Inasmuch as knowingly reading
a book with a guaranteed sad ending, the author manages to shed power of love
and light in Willem’s journey through self-love, self-acceptance and the
friendships he forges.
As WWII celebrated 75 years of ending in Europe sealed
archives and information is revealed, I hope Paulette Mahurin and other
Historical Authors will continue to unveil forgotten heroes and moments.
archives and information is revealed, I hope Paulette Mahurin and other
Historical Authors will continue to unveil forgotten heroes and moments.
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