- The Deceptions, by Suzanne Leal. Allen & Unwin. $29.99.
It seems the world will never tire of stories arising from WWII and the Jewish Holocaust.
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And for good reason. Humanity has a habit of failing to learn from history. Therefore, constant reminders of the cruelty and atrocities perpetrated against the Jews by the Nazi regime under Hitler are essential, lest we forget.
The Holocaust was not the first genocide of a race accused of being "other" by a racist regime. And, sadly, it probably won't be the last - we humans seems to specialise in alienating and ostracising others for not being what we deem as "superior" or "correct".
However, the Jewish Holocaust was an appalling event that still lives fresh in the minds of many. And it is still fertile ground for exploring human behaviour, the miracle of survival under extreme adversity, and the long term impacts of trauma on individuals and families.
It is this reverberating Holocaust truth and its far-reaching fallout that Suzanne Leal brings to life so effectively in her new novel, The Deceptions.
Although the work is fictional, Leal draws on the stories of real people, as told to her by Jewish Holocaust survivors. The tales of human suffering she explores are not new, but it is the way Leal weaves this knowledge into her character narratives that makes this novel so special.
This is a stunning and unexpected story intertwining the past and present. It's a tale conveyed in several voices. A Jewish woman. A Czech gendarme. The gendarme's grand-daughter. And a church minister.
Hana is a Jew imprisoned at Theresienstadt, a concentration camp in the Czech Republic. Here, in a desperate attempt to protect her life, she has an affair with a gendarme. It's a dangerous undertaking. But what choice does a young Jewish woman have in such a situation?
And what happens after? Secrets are hard to keep in a ghetto. Eyes are everywhere. Punishment for stepping out of line is instant death or transfer to Auschwitz. And the camps are brutal. Where does one find the strength, courage and luck to survive war time imprisonment?
Karel, the gendarme, is a proud man, trying to make the best of a terrible job. "It was not how he had imagined the posting." He's a dutiful husband to Irena, but the passion in his marriage is gone, and he is drawn to Hana.
Decades later, Tessa is the descendant of Czech immigrants living in Sydney. She's in a toxic relationship with her married boss, but it's hard to break free. Betrayal underscores their liaison. Yet, perhaps there is hope
Like many post-war immigrants, Tessa's grandparents carry wartime stories and secrets they are unwilling to share. It's not unusual for witnesses and survivors of war to keep their tales to themselves. The memories are too painful.
And how do you choose what to reveal when your life and sense of self have been drastically altered by trauma? It's easier to remain silent and become someone else. Not yourself. Not the person who saw things that can't be unseen.
It is not the tales of hardship and suffering that makes The Deceptions so moving - although these are starkly and emotionally rendered.
Rather, it is the compassionate and tender way Leal brings her characters to life that captivates the reader. She has a sensitive understanding of human nature and idiosyncrasies.
Karel notes: 'It was true that Irena had been dear to him. Very dear. And then not so dear at all. But still yoked to him. For he had kept his vows, he had stayed married to her.'
The spare prose is fitting, because Holocaust stories are confronting and require no embellishment. Hana's blunt unadorned voice allows the reality of her experiences to hit hard.
As with numerous other Holocaust novels, Leal suggests that many people, including Germans and those in positions of power, acted in immoral and wrong ways in order to survive themselves. "For though the Nazis were German, the Germans were not necessarily Nazis. So, they should not be lumped together."
This doesn't make their brutal actions acceptable, but it does perhaps make them more understandable.
Leal also explores the cost of cruelty and betrayal on self, soul, and faith. The burden of moral boundaries transgressed. Of liberties taken. Of knowing the worst one is capable of. In the ghetto, Hana's mother tells her, 'You must be ruthless ... This is not about what you want and what you do not want. This is about how to survive in a place like this ... Do whatever it takes.'
And so Hana does. But actions undertaken for survival can have long term ramifications, marring people and affecting them for life.
The Deceptions is a story encompassing many sad truths about behavior, love, betrayal and lies. It's a compelling and emotional read.
- Karen Viggers is an internationally bestselling author. Her latest novel is The Orchardist's Daughter.