Working for the British organisation, the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning, Esther worked tirelessly and dedicated her life to helping scientists, doctors and intellectuals, escape to freedom from Austria, Germany and Czechoslovakia to the United Kingdom and America. The Society rescued thousands of academics and scholars in the 1930s and 1940s.

In this story, we read how Esther took enormous risks to facilitate many rescues, at times ignoring the advice of the Society members. There are several tense and gripping moments, which made me wonder how she would survive. I remember when my husband wanted to speak to me in the middle of one of these moments, I put a hand and said, shhh... I had to find out what happened! 

Thirteen of her "children" as she called them, went onto become Nobel Laureates and eighteen were knighted. Many of these scientists are well-known and played a major part in Britain and the US's war effort. The head of the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning  and Esther's colleague and friend, A.V., said on a few occasions that he was grateful that these people were either expelled or sort refuge as it was Britain's gain and Germany's loss.

A considerable part of the story is about a fictional, albeit realistic, story of a Jewish family, the Singers. Otto Singer is a highly regarded professor, at the university in Vienna, his wife Hanna and their academic and accomplished musician son, Harry.  Some years before war broke out, they realised the dangerous times in which they were living, but Otto believed they would be safe. They enjoyed rich cultural lives and felt that their friends would stand up for them against the Nazis which sadly they did not.

Esther travelled to interview potential grantees for the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning and was advised not to become emotionally involved with any of the academics.  But she could not stop her feelings and the developing.loving friendship with Harry Singer.

Against his parents wishes, and his own desire not to leave them in Vienna, eventually Harry agrees to apply to the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning to live in safety in England. Through Esther, he secures a position at Imperial College where his work, helping the war effort, is valued and respected. 

At last, life for Harry and Esther is going well and they make plans for their future after the War.  Their happiness is short lived, as they are forcibly separated when all foreigners originating from enemy countries are interned.

It is difficult for them to understand, as all the scholars have had background checks and references verified. Harry is sent to the Isle of Man together with many other aliens, I found reading Harry's and his friend's experiences, quite upsetting. The need for security is understandable, but the way in which they were treated both physically and mentally was unduly harsh.

Esther Simpson was recognised and highly decorated for her humanitarian work. This absorbing and thoughtfully written story, pays tribute to Esther Simpson and her achievements. It is certainly worth reading and a good addition to your library or for your book club.

The author, Caroline Beecham grew up at the English seaside and relocated to Australia to continue her career as a writer and producer in film and television. She has worked on a documentary about Princess Diana lookalikes, a series about journeys to the ends of the earth, as well as a feature film about finding the end of the rainbow. Caroline has an MA in Film & Television and a MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband and two sons by Sydney harbour. Her first novel, Maggie's Kitchen, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2016.

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He begins by saying that always considered himself to be a good German who was proud of his country, although he knew there was rampant anti-semitism and studied at boarding school under an assumed name so that his religion would not be revealed. 

However that all changed dramatically in 1938 when after he returned home to see his loving parents, from studying several hours away. He arrived home to find they were missing, hoping they had escaped the Nazis. As he was tired from the journey he went to sleep in his bed in his old childhood room. He was brutally awoken by ten Nazis who pulled him out of his bed and was badly beaten and his beloved dog was shot trying to protect him. This was on the infamous Kristellnacht - Night of the Broken Glass. 

He was arrested and from there he lived through the horrors of Buchenwald, Auschwitz and then forced to march as so many others were, on the death march.  

Eddie Jaku OAM has written this book as if he was talking to the reader as someone would talk with a friend explaining in some detail what happened throughout the coming years.  

Fortunately and thanks to his father insisting on him getting a good education as an engineer, not only did it save his life, but there were times when some guards or factory managers showed a little kindness to him. He was considered to be economically viable to the German war efforts and therefore saved from being sent to the gas chambers.

His determination to live shines through.Despite so much suffering he felt he owed his survival to his parents who were murdered, his sister whom he eventually found and was suffering as she worked in unimaginably cruel circumstances in the concentration camp factory and for all his relations who were killed.

Not only did Eddie Jaku OAM survive against all odds, he went on to create a happy and successful life in Sydney. He vowed that once free he would do what he could to lead a happy life.

Indeed, he did and married, came to live in Australia, had children, grand children and great grandchildren. He also was an integral part of founding the Sydney Jewish Museum. He spoke to thousands of school children, was invited and spoke at a TEDx in Sydney that has now been viewed almost 1.4 million times on YouTube.

You can watch it TEDx talk here.

Highly recommend reading, it will keep you riveted and you may be inspired by Eddie Jaku's outlook that happiness can be achieved despite all the odds.

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