Out of Colditz: My Father the POW and the Nazi Who Controlled His Fate by David Lascelles

 

David Lascelles is the 8th Earl of Harewood.   He is the grandson of the late Princess Mary, Princess Royal, who married Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood, in 1922.

During the Second World War, Lord Harewood's father, George, 7th Earl of Harewood (1923-2011), was a POW held by the Germans at Colditz with other prominent POWs.

From Amazon:

"The astonishing true story of the high-profile hostages in Colditz Castle and the Nazi general who spared their lives, from David Lascelles, the son of one of the prisoners, George, Earl of Harewood

The nephew of the King. The son of the Viceroy of India. Churchill's nephew. Held captive at the notorious Colditz prisoner of war camp, they were the Prominente: scions of the British establishment, and pawns in the hands of Nazi leaders.

As a German defeat loomed, the SS head of the POW camps Gottlob Berger made a pivotal decision: he would disobey direct orders and spare their lives. "Please remember what I have done for you when the war ends," he asked. This Nazi overseer, who would later be convicted of war crimes, held their future in his hands.

Eighty years later, David Lascelles―who would never have been born if his father had been executed―retraces the Prominentes' extraordinary journey and wonders who Gottlob Berger was and what motivated his fateful decision: compassion? Remorse? Or self-interest?"

The UK edition (Profile) was published earlier this month.  The US edition (St. Martin's Press)  will be available in January 2027.

https://amzn.to/3VZYzal  (US)

https://link.amazon/B0fIR5jcH (UK)

I look forward to early 2027 when I can order the book.    I do have other books ready to read.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2022/02/princess-mary-weds-her-viscount.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/02/princess-mary-marries-lord-lascelles.html 

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2019/09/lord-harewood-marries-miss-stein.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2019/06/george-vis-nephew-german-captive.html   

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/06/lord-lascelles-captured.html  

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2013/03/princess-marys-son-george-is-baptized.html 

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/07/george-henry-hubert-lascelles-7th-earl.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-may-have-led-to-estrangement.html 

Folkets Konge by Trond Norén Isaksen

 

Trond Norén Isaksen is the historian to go to when you want to know about the Norwegian Royal Family.  He has been on speed dial since King Harald V's death on August 28th, doing TV and print interviews in Norway and other countries.

Folkets Konge is a photobiography of the King.

He was able to do a quick update before hitting the submit button to his publisher.   The book will be available in Norwegian bookstores on September 25th.   This is Trond's eighth book.

From his Facebook page:

"King Harald was one of the most photographed people in Norwegian history, and many publications have been filled with the same well-known photos of the late King. But for the past 2 1/2 years I have been digging through archives both at home and abroad in search of the photos we have not seen. 322 unpublished or rare images have been collected from sources ranging from the dusty basements of Norwegian and Swedish agencies to American presidential libraries and the private albums of King Baudouin of the Belgians.

But this is not merely a picture book; it is also the first full biography of King Harald. We meet the little prince who grew up as a refugee, the young yachtsman, the crown prince who fought for the love of his life, the heir who was kept on a tight leash by King Olav, the evironmental pioneer who already in the 1980s warned about climate change, the husband, father and grandfather, and not least the king who with warmth and dignity was at his people’s side throughout dark times and great changes.

This book is for everyone who wants to remember King Harald and get to know him better."

Several people asked Trond if the book would be available in English.  His repeated response, which I love: 

That is not for the author to decide, but if a foreign-language publisher is interested in purchasing the translation rights and willing to cover the cost of translating, illustrating, printing, distributing, and marketing it, they should feel free to contact me."

I do not know if Norwegian bookstores sell outside the country, especially outside Scandinavia.   You can contact a bookstore and ask.

The publisher is Aschehoug. Their email is epost@aschehoug.no

Here are two Norwegian bookshops.   Trond recommended Norli.no, but the website shows a 403 Forbidden error when you click the link.

Trond has included more information on how to order the book through Norli.

"The bookshop Norli Bokhuset in Tromsø has agreed to ship it abroad. Orders can be sent to their email address Bokhuset.tromso@norli.no and must include name, address, mobile phone number and email address. The bookstore will then send customers a payment link, and it is possible to pay by card or by the Norwegian payment app Vipps."

https://www.ark.no/produkt/folkets-konge-9788203454493  

https://www.bokklubben.no/biografier-kongelige/folkets-konge-trond-noren-isaksen/produkt.do?produktId=230228478&srsltid=AfmBOor7ZTpd9CObiMFHDdO5R9oNK2Iz1ErCGQtmpRSGJZMtBBPtVY08