Book Review: Encounters With Albion: Britain and the British in Texts by Jewish Refugees From Nazism

Grenville’s reading of Zweig is particularly interesting. He points out how often Zweig compares himself to a fly trapped in a spider’s web, to a condemned man in his cell, or sees his existence as dependent on “the fickle roll of a roulette wheel.” He contrasts the more positive image of exile in Alfred Kerr’s diaries with the bleaker account in Judith Kerr’s famous trilogy.

Both writers were impressed by the decency, order and maturity of British life. This is a recurring theme in many of the accounts by exiles. Zweig, in particular, admired British tolerance, its long tradition of democracy and respect for the law. It is no coincidence that some of the great works on British government and Parliament were written by émigrés and refugees from central Europe.

Of course, there was a darker side, too. Internment was a bitter blow. For many refugees, exile was a time of struggle and insecurity. For the elderly, in particular, it marked a cruel loss of status. Many couldn’t adjust to the new language, the terrible food and the lack of proper central heating.

Some of the most moving stories, though, are written by less well-known figures: tales of loneliness; the humiliating treatment of domestic servants; stories of loss by children who arrived with the Kindertransport.

Grenville has trawled the archives of the AJR and numerous books and diaries for stories which help us understand the experience of refugees. It is hard to think of anyone who has done more to open up their world and bring it to life.

 

David Herman is a senior JC reviewer