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Fragments of a Forgotten People

Henry Fast
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2007)
ISBN 9781931741866
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (2/08)

“Fragments of a Forgotten People” is an incredible memoir written by Henry Fast about his and his mother Rena’s experiences during World War II. Henry and Rena Fast lived in an apartment in Bochnia, Poland. After two army officers boarding with them told them that the enemy was nearing and that they should gather their belongings and go, they packed what they could and set out on a journey far longer and more painful than they ever expected. Their original intention was to travel to Rena’s brother’s house in Brzesko anticipating that he would take them in. Upon arriving in Brzesko they were received rather coldly by his brother’s family who was also planning on evacuating. Henry’s Uncle Roman was leaving to report for duty and his Aunt Dora and cousin Zenek were going to flee East with family friends. You would think that family would be more than willing to assist each other in times like these but that was not the case. They were incredibly rude to Rena and Henry, took advantage of them, and refused to let them ride in the wagon or share their food. The way that they treated them was terribly cruel and finally they abandoned them altogether. Things did not get much better for Henry and Rena as they moved from place to place, severely lacking nourishment and proper clothing. They tried to stay with another brother of Rena’s and received the same unwelcoming reception as they had with Henry’s other uncle. It is horrifying the way that these people acted toward one another during these events. Although there were some people that helped each other out, they were few and far between. After all of the running, like the fate of many during this time period, they were arrested and the deportation process began. “Fragments of a Forgotten People” is a very well-written story chronicling a family’s hardships during that terrible period of war. Watching Henry and his mother struggle to survive with little assistance from other family members is heartbreaking. I was shocked at the things that were done to them by their own family! The photographs and the maps in the center of the book are very helpful in fully grasping the story that Henry has to tell. I think that anyone with any inkling of interest in memoirs or history will be intrigued by this book. “Fragments of a Forgotten People” is very eye-opening and is a book that you better not start reading unless you have the time to finish it because it is not possible to put it down!

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