"The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister" - Denise George, Carolyn Tomlin, John Bannister

The remarkable story of a young aristocrat who learned the true measure of humanity in a German labor camp.

Nonna Bannister wrote down her diaries as a young girl - in the heat of the moment, during the war. However, the horrors of the Holocaust she experienced almost took her with her to the grave. Her notes, rediscovered when she was an aged woman, reveal this remarkable story. Nonna Lisovskaya came from a wealthy Russian family and was the only one among her relatives to survive World War II. In 1950, she came to the US, where she married Henry Bannister. She never mentioned her experiences. She only hinted about them a few years before her death in 2004. That's when she revealed to relatives her diaries, originally written down in six languages on scraps of paper, kept throughout the war in a pillow strapped to her body.

As a Russian from a family enjoying privilege, young Nonna was sent to a German labor camp, where she quickly learned the value of human life and the importance of forgiveness. Her notes are a remarkable look at the oppressive nature of Russian communism and the cruel evil of Nazi Germany. More importantly, however, from behind the manifestations of human depravity evident in horrific acts of brutality and murder, glimmers of hope personified by human beings shine through: an Orthodox grandmother, a frail Jewish boy or a group of German Catholic nuns and priests. Through them, this memoir is heartrending, though at the same time hopeful and unforgettable. Thanks to the collaboration of the authors and Nonna's son, her memoirs have taken shape and speak even more deeply to the imagination. They provide insight into personal and painful reflections born during the darkest period in human history.

This is a story of love and loss that cannot be forgotten. However, despite the difficult subject matter, readers will feel empowered after reading this moving and hopeful story of courage, faith and forgiveness.

Denise George is the author of dozens of books published in major outlets (Penguin Random House, Tyndale House, Zondervan, LifeWay, Bethany House, etc.) and more than 1,500 articles in magazines and newspapers. He writes about civil rights, World War II and Christian life.

Carolyn Tomlin is the author of several books and writes monthly columns for several magazines and newspapers. She has published more than three thousand articles. She teaches writing.

John Bannister, Nonna's son, who decided to make his mother's extraordinary story public in memory and as a warning to future generations.

The book in Polish language version.

Technical data
Author: Denise George, Carolyn Tomlin, John Bannister
Translation: Lukasz Golovanov
Original title: The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister
Binding: soft with wings
Format: 145 x 205 mm
Year of publication: 2021
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Replika