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A review by english_lady03
The Swiss Nurse by Mario Escobar
4.0
This novel is based on a true story of a woman who served in a hospital and refugee camp in France during the 1930s: it explores (in the first part) the events of the Spanish Civil War, which might be unfamiliar to many of my followers.
The Spanish Civil War was a political conflict between left- and right-wing parties in Spain the 1930s, and many civilians were caught in the middle. Neither side were averse to killing women and children. Although there is a subplot with who of the characters (a married couple who are separated by war)
They are American minister’s son who entered the war with high ideals and a Spanish woman Isabel Dueñas who married in the midst of war the titular Swiss Nurse Elisabeth Eidenbenz who fought tirelessly to protect the innocent from the forces of evil. It’s a heart-breaking, moving but eventually hopeful story. I see one of the most important themes of this novel to be a warning against the evils of extremism.
The 20th century was one of the worst in history for this: millions were killed by totalitarian regimes of both the left and the right.
Let me share a passage which I think summarizes this well:
Yeah: that.
A must-read book.
I requested a PDF of this title via Harper Muse on Netgalley. I wasn’t required to write a review, either positive or negative and all opinions expressed are my own.
The Spanish Civil War was a political conflict between left- and right-wing parties in Spain the 1930s, and many civilians were caught in the middle. Neither side were averse to killing women and children. Although there is a subplot with who of the characters (a married couple who are separated by war)
They are American minister’s son who entered the war with high ideals and a Spanish woman Isabel Dueñas who married in the midst of war the titular Swiss Nurse Elisabeth Eidenbenz who fought tirelessly to protect the innocent from the forces of evil. It’s a heart-breaking, moving but eventually hopeful story. I see one of the most important themes of this novel to be a warning against the evils of extremism.
The 20th century was one of the worst in history for this: millions were killed by totalitarian regimes of both the left and the right.
Let me share a passage which I think summarizes this well:
“We’re all responsible for the lack of values that currently prevails in this world created by Marxism, Fascism, and Nazism... By getting rid of God, we thought we were freeing ourselves from divine tyranny. But all we did was turn men into gods and our ideologies into the new religion.
Nihilism and historical realism erased everything that was once sacred and of value in our world. We destroyed moral values and erected the most atrocious relativism in their place. The only new beginning we can reach for is to destroy all the tyrants and lay a foundation of hope for a world that is truly fraternal and is ruled by love for others and respect for human life and dignity.”
Yeah: that.
A must-read book.
I requested a PDF of this title via Harper Muse on Netgalley. I wasn’t required to write a review, either positive or negative and all opinions expressed are my own.