Ryszard – A True Story of Courage, Love, and Survival
Set against the backdrop of war-torn Poland in the 1940s, Ryszard is a gripping and deeply personal novel based on true accounts from the life of author Marcia Wakeman’s father. When his home is bombed, young Ryszard and his family are forced to flee, finding refuge in another city. There, he meets Helena, a brave Jewish girl who becomes his first love—until his brother Jozef intervenes, and tragedy strikes.
Driven by loss and the horrors of war, Ryszard joins the Polish resistance (Armia Krajowa), forging an unlikely friendship with Franz, a fellow fighter with a troubled past. Captured by the Nazis and sent to a labour camp, their will to survive is tested daily. But when Allied forces bomb Oranienburg, they seize their chance to escape—embarking on a perilous journey toward freedom and the hope of finding the Americans.
About the author
Marcia Wakeman
Born in England and migrated to Australia in the 1960s my parents moved to the western suburbs of Sydney. Eventually moving to Port Macquarie. I now live in one of the most beautiful spots in Australia... Port Stephen. Happy married for 45 years with 3 children and 6 grandchildren, I decided in my retirement as a Visual Art teacher, to write a novel based on my father's former life in worn torn Poland in 1940s. It's taken me 5 years to complete and publish. My Dad a real clown, but also a troubled soul, died in 2020 during Covid. Writing his story has helped me to deal with my grief. I really wrote it for my grandchildren and great nieces and nephews, so they could understand what their great grandfather went through. Intentionally for the YA market, my editor, Helen West, recommended I place it in the general category. It is suited for both.
