QB VII

All Leon Uris novels are 5 star masterpieces, and QB VII is no exception. Uris is one of the best authors in the historical fiction genre. QBVII, like many of his other novels, deals with recent Jewish history, such as Israel and the Holocaust. Uris masterfully combines fictional characters with real historical figures, and it is, at times, difficult to tell the difference. I frequently find myself checking Wikipedia to see if a person or place really exists or existed.This novel recounts a fictional libel trial in England, where a Polish surgeon (Dr. Adam Kelno) sues a fictional author, Abraham Cady for libel, because of the latter's mention of the former as a prisoner/physician collaborating with the Nazis in horrendous experimental surgeries at the infamous (fictional) Jadwiga concentration camp during World War II. in his popular book, "The Holocaust."As the trial proceeds, the reader finds himself sympathizing with the defendant's case, as more and more witnesses testify to the brutality, Nazi collaboration, and anti-Semitism of Dr. Kelno.SPOILER ALERT! The novel ends with a judgement for Dr. Kelno, but damages awarded only for the lowest valued English currency, one half-penny. This result left me a bit confused, since it implies that Dr. Kelno's reputation was indeed libeled, but that his reputation wasn't worth very much in the first place, presumably because he was actually guilty of the allegations made against him. If this was indeed the case, then why the judgement in favor of the plaintiff, (Dr. Kelno)? This judgement, under British law, obligates the losing party (author Abraham Cady) to pay the legal expenses of the the plaintiff, Dr. Kelno. This is the real penalty, since these expenses far exceed the mere half-penny awarded to Dr.Kelno.In short, this is a masterpiece that is well worth your time, especially if you are interested in the Holocaust. This novel, like all historical fiction, is based on a real event: the author's experience being sued for libel based on this negatively writing about a still living (at the time) physician who allegedly cooperated with the Nazis in medical atrocities. This is the third Leon Uris novel that I have read (in addition to Exodus and The Haj). All are highly recommended.

People like Adam Kelno were probably the impetus behind Stanley Milgram's studies at Yale. Dr. Milgram showed just how far people would go in shocking/hurting their fellow human beings when given the go-ahead by someone in authority. Not everyone followed through with administering what they believed to be electric shock, but some did, and those "some" might have felt right at home with Dr. Kelno, a doctor in a concentration camp who was accused of brutally "butchering" men and women without anesthesia in order to avoid punishment by the Nazis.A master story teller, Leon Uris describes Dr. Adam Kelno, a kind and caring doctor practicing in London until accused of war crimes. Following his release from prison, Kelno and his family flee to Sarawak, a destination in Borneo that was "about as far away as a man could run and deep as a man could hide." Dr. Kelno lives an exemplary life there, even implementing sanitary measures.While Adam Kelno is living his life as a devoted husband and father in Sarawak, Abraham Cady's fame as a writer is growing. In one of his books describing German atrocities against Jews, Cady specifically mentions Kelno as a concentration camp doctor performing experimental surgery on them. At the prompting of his family, Kelno files suit, and the book and its cast of characters end in London at QB VII.Uris's images of people and scenes are well described and graphic. I could see and smell the conditions of Sarawak, hear the screams of the "patients" on whom Kelno operated, and visualize the courtroom where the dramatic trial took place. Was Kelno guilty? That's something Uris leaves up to the reader to decide.In addition to enjoying Uris's phenomenal writing, I learned some things about other cultures and historical eras. I was also reminded that appearances can be deceiving and that evil too horrible to contemplate can surface again.

QBVII is my favorite Leon Uris book..a fictional autobiography, it covers the career of two men, Abraham Cady, and Dr. (Sir) Adam Kelno. Cady, a writer, has, in one of his books, accused Kelno of taking an active part in the Holocaust. He responds by suing Cady and then...<drumroll> there is a trial... Oddly I've never seen the mini-series based on this book, though I do know it too was highly regarded. QBVII is fast paced, highly readable novel...

Recommended to anyone who likes Legal thrillers!

This is the first serious or important book I've read since I started on Kindle. I've mostly been reading books to divert me such as thrillers, mysteries and horror. All of my serious reading was done years ago. So I feel a bit daunted in reviewing this book. In the Siskel and Ebert styles of review, I'll play the Ebert role and give an "everyman" review, rather than purporting to be an expert in the art of writing. I simply loved this book. The only other Uris book I read was "Exodus" and that was many years ago. This feels just as good a book. Some people may be put off by the exposition of the story in three parts - one man's story, the other man's story, then the trial which takes up the second half of the book. I loved it all. The characters did not feel two dimensional to me and when I got to the trial, I was riveted to my Kindle. As a Jew who lost family in the Holocaust, I feel that this is an important book, well-told and another one of those stories that reminds us of a part of our history that we should never forget. If the subject matter is one that interests you, read this book. You won't be sorry. A minor point - Kindle folks, keep Otto Flensberg's name consistent, and not Otto Hensberg.