'I was on the street and I was free - but what now?'

This is the story of Lex Lesgever: a young Jewish boy who found himself alone on the streets of wartime Amsterdam, the only survivor of his large family. He was just 11 when the Germans invaded in May 1940, and less than a year later he had already been confronted with the horrific consequences of war when his eldest brother, Wolf, was arrested during a raid. This marked the beginning of a devastating time for both the Netherlands and for the young boy who had to survive it alone.

From a cosy family home in Amsterdam's Jewish quarter, to sleeping rough, escaping Nazi raids and interrogations, and being taken in by members of the Dutch Resistance, Lex's memoir pulls no punches. Witness the growth of a naive, frightened young boy into a smart, resilient and yet sensitive survivor. Painting a picture of the unfolding events in Amsterdam during Anne Frank's time in hiding, Nobody Lives Here is vivid and often horrific, but ultimately it is a poignant snapshot of humanity in its darkest moments.

The devastating tale of a young Jewish boy, coping alone on the streets of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam

About the Author

LEX LESGEVER is the young Jewish boy whose story is unravelled within the book, a tough, resilient individual. After his ordeal in Amsterdam during the war, he spent forty years living in Leiden where he devoted himself to the Jewish community. He died on New Year's Eve, 2019. The translators, BABETTE LICHTENSTEIN and JOZEF VAN DER VOORT, are professionals in their field, the former also being a retired cellist and the latter presently working in the German Historical Institute, London. Babette grew up in Amsterdam just after the war and feels an intimate connection with Lex's story and able to bring colour in English to Amsterdam's streets.

Reviews

'This spellbinding book will take you on the streets of 1940s Amsterdam as a Jewish boy twists and turns to remain alive. Each page immerses the reader in the sights, sounds and experiences confronting Lex everywhere he looks. A captivating account of one boy's survival through his wit, courage and nine lives.'

-- Baroness Gillian Merron

'A vivid and moving account that offers a deeply personal reflection on the Holocaust in the Netherlands. Readers will be captivated ... truly inspiring.'

-- Olivia Marks-Woldman, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

'A compelling and devastating account that offers a profoundly personal and disarmingly honest insight into the human reality of the Holocaust. It deserves to be read widely, and repeatedly.'

-- James Bulgin, Head of Public History, Imperial War Museum

'Conveys vividly and sensitively the reality of the war years . . . Evocative and memorable.'

-- Gaby Glassman, psychotherapist specialising in transgenerational Holocaust trauma

'Almost an unbearably stressful read, but so extremely worth it.'

* Family Tree magazine *



Book Information
ISBN 9781803993225
Author Lex Lesgever
Format Hardback
Imprint The History Press Ltd
Publisher The History Press Ltd