Joana, Emilia, Florian and Alfred. Four young people with a different story each. “Salt to the Sea” is a book about their lives before and during the Second World War. It is a very well told story that speaks in each character’s voice. However difficult the subject is, you can’t put the book down.
A girl from Lithuania raised in a manor and with German heritage, a Baltic German. Similar to many Estonians invited back to Germany by Hitler during the war. She became a nurse helping those in need. And sadly there were many. A girl from Poland who had to hide her identity and her terrible story, because the Polish were an inferior nationality for Hitler. A German boy hiding from the things he did not believe in. Another German boy wanting to please the Fürer in his naivety. Their last hope was to get on the ship Wilhelm Gustloff fleeing from the Russian army.
Author tells a moving story inspired by the biggest disaster in maritime history. The story is very sad, moving and fascinating at the same time. How did they get here and what sort of future can they have is such hopelessness… and jet some of them do.
London: Penguin Books, 2016
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Jaanika Tappo
Department of Literature in Foreign Languages