At the Edge of the Abyss: A Concentration Camp Diary, 1943-1944

Koker, David

ISBN 10: 0810126362 / ISBN 13: 9780810126367

Published by Northwestern University Press, 2012

About this Item

At the Edge of the Abyss: A Concentration Camp Diary, 1943-1944. Northwestern University Press, United States, 2012. Hardback. Condition: Fine. Dustjacket: Fine. Inscribed by the editor. ?David Koker's diary is a rare and notable account of the life in a German concentration camp. First brought to public attention when the Dutch historian Jacob Presser - Koker's history teacher in high school - quoted from in The Destruction of the Dutch Jews, the diary became a part of the Dutch literary canon when it was published in 1977 as Dagboek geschreven in Vught (Diary Written in Vught). Weaving poetry and powerful insights into the emotional life of a camp prisoner, At the Edge of the Abyss is remarkable for its combination of historical sibnifnicance and penetrating eloquence. During his time in the Vught concentration camp, the 21-year-old David recorded his observations, thoughts, and feelings almost daily. He mercilessly probed the abyss that opened around him and, at times, within himself. David's diary covers almost a year, charting his life in Vught as it developed and tracing his spiritual evolution as a writer and poet. While imprisoned, David was able to smuggle some 73,000 words out of the camp to his best friend Karel van het Reve. With an informative introduction, annotations, and a biographical appendix by Robert Jan van Pelt, At the Edge of the Abyss offers an immediate and wholly original look into the life of a concentration camp prisoner.?.

Seller Inventory # 000389

Bibliographic Details

• Title: At the Edge of the Abyss: A Concentration Camp Diary, 1943-1944
• Publisher: Northwestern University Press
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0810126362
• ISBN 13: 9780810126367
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)

About this title

Synopsis

Finalist for 2012 National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust category

David Koker's diary is one of the most notable accounts of life in a German concentration camp written by a Jew during the years of the Holocaust. First brought to attention when the Dutch historian Jacob Presser-Koker's history teacher in high school-quoted from Koker's diary in his monumental history, published in English as The Destruction of the Dutch Jews (1968), the diary itself became a part of the Dutch literary canon when it was published in 1977 as Dagboek geschreven in Vught (Diary Written in Vught). It has remained in print ever since, and is notable for its literary qualities, weaving poetry and powerful observations of the emotional life of a camp prisoner, including reflections after an in-person visit by Heinrich Himmler. Surprisingly, the book has never before been translated into English.

During his time in the Vught concentration camp, the 21-year-old David recorded on an almost daily basis his observations, thoughts, and feelings. He mercilessly probed the abyss that opened around him and, at times, within himself. David's diary covers almost a year, both charting his daily life in Vught as it developed over time and tracing his spiritual evolution as a writer. Until early February 1944, David was able to smuggle some 73,000 words from the camp to his best friend Karel van het Reve, a non-Jew. 

With an informative introduction, annotation, and list of dramatis personae by Robert Jan van Pelt, At the Edge of the Abyss offers an immediate and wholly original look into the life of a concentration camp prisoner.

About the Author

DAVID KOKER (1921–1945) was transported to the Vught Concentration Camp in 1943. During his time in Vught, David recorded on an almost daily basis his observations, thoughts and feelings. Unlike Anne Frank, who had a purposefully made diary book available in her hiding place, David did not have such a luxury in the camp. He wrote his entries on whatever scraps of paper he was able to find. Most of the paper was the rolling paper for cigarettes-available as the result of a lack of cigarette tobacco. Until early February 1944, David was able to smuggle some 73,000 words from the camp to his best friend Karel van het Reeve, a non-Jew. The part of the diary that David kept between 8 February 1944 and June 1944, when he was deported to Poland, did not survive the war.