Author : Leonie Van Daalen-Roell
Publisher : Go, Not Knowing Where!
Page : 368 pages
File Size : 48,27 MB
Release : 2015-02-02
Category :
ISBN : 9782839913911
Book Description
This is Leonie van Daalen-Roell's own story of her Aristocratic Dutch family of privilege, glamour and power. She arrived in Central Java not knowing that she was living on one of the last sugar plantations owned by her mother's family in Tjepiring, the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) or that this would be the last ten years of the 300 year reign of the Dutch colony. This is not your normal memoire. It is written through the eyes of a young, bright, creative child whose life in a tropical paradise of Java suddenly breaks into pieces as the horror of war and uncertainty of life become her reality. The story intensifies when Pearl Harbor is attacked on December 7, 1941. The U.S.A. goes to war with Japan and commensurate with them the Dutch government also declares war on Japan. Everything Leonie holds dear; her home, family, loving servants, treasured animals and all personal comforts, cease to exist. Immediately, her father is called to serve in the war and must leave. The family quickly flees from chaos and mass looting. The plantation house is ransacked and all personal possessions damaged. They are evacuated in the mountains with only fl. 150- and a few family jewels hidden and secured in her mother's belt for future survival. It is a 355 page fast paced, well- written book in English. We follow her unbelievable life journey where her family is separated in different camps, men and boys from woman and children. Humiliation, starvation, and severe punishment were the norm. Rules were rigid; the work was difficult. With few tools they were frequently forced to use their hands. They served as slaves. Survival was challenging due to the cruelty exhibited by the guards. Disease and illnesses weakened the physical body as did an increasing lack of food. Their strong faith in God inspired and fed them spiritually. One is captivated by the ingenuity Leonie exhibited, enduring life in Japanese occupation and internment in East Indies camps. At age 11 she matured overnight. As she observed her mother's declining health and delicate psychology; she took grave risks caring for her mother and as well her sister, Anny and brother, Willem in three concentration camps. All too soon another separation of a family was witnessed as the Japanese guards gathered Willem and all boys over the age of 10 in trucks to be relocated to male camps. Leonie's scholarship and facts of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) wartime history and War of Independence keeps the story flowing while striking a balance between detail and creative expression. She maintains an historian's measured analysis throughout. The book holds one's interest and attention; she enables the reader to be carried into this unfortunate reality and creates comparable landscape to what is happening today in the Middle East. Her story depicting human tragedy, loss and unbelievable conditions is juxtaposed by a silent, resilient and powerful strength. This book contains family photos, original letters to family members at various camps that highlighted the psychological impact and state of mind... as well exhibits a remarkable faith in God to endure. The only book the Japanese allowed prisoners of war to have in their possession was a Bible. Leonie has her father's Bible complete with notes made while enduring slave labor on the 415 km Burma railway. Leonie returned to Holland in 1946 after nearly four years in various camps. Her reentry into life in The Netherlands was full of adjustment. She would return to Tjepiring in 1949 as her father was called back to rebuild the sugar plantation and the economic structure of this region in the midst of danger during the War of Independence. I recommend this book be included in schools, municipal libraries and universities. This is Leonie van Daalen-Roell's first book. She is a Dutch born writer residing in Switzerland.