Henry

A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America

By: Katrina Shawver

Narrated by: Cynthia Barrett, Chris Kayser

A top “must-have” for any listener of Holocaust and World War II survival accounts. This incredible true story is both a witness to the Holocaust through Polish eyes and the story of how Henry Zguda, a Polish Catholic swimmer, survives Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Buchenwald.

At times humorous, always gut-honest, this account fills a huge gap in historical accounts of Poles during World War II. Winner of 2018 Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest - First Place for Published Nonfiction, 2018 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award – Silver for Biography, and other recognitions.

©2017 Katrina Shawver (P)2020 Katrina Shawver

Fascinating. Brilliantly written, performed.

A totally unrelated internet search last week led me to the story of Katrina Shawver’s serendipitous encounter with Henry Zguda and an introduction to this book. Fascinated, I had to get it and am so glad I did. Shawver’s keen sensibility in preserving Henry’s story is evident throughout as she brilliantly brings him to life by blending material from interviews, historical records and facts, and personal insights. The story has much to teach about the many unknown aspects of the Holocaust, horrors of that period, and at the same time - of human strength, resilience and love. I felt like I got to know Henry and was sad to reach the end of the book. Brava, Ms. Shawver, and thank you.

Found this fascinating

Loved her back and forth with Henry and how involved she was in his life

disappointing

Henry's story has the potential to be an amazing contribution to history unfortunately the author has ruined his story and he's no longer around to retell it. I was EXTREMELY disappointed tht rather than a memoir type book this was more of an interview with the author injecting her own random thoughts, observations, n musings that not only didn't contribute to the story but distracted from it. I'm happy to see that this is the only book that I can find that has been written by this author. hopefully she won't have an opportunity to ruin another important story that is part of history.