Forgetfulness

“Never again, the world agreed. Never again would we fall for the promises of a strongman to ‘fix this country,’ or listen to his frenzied followers declaring him God’s appointed ruler while methodically papering over truth with lies. That is, as Richard Reitsma deftly shows, what led to World War II, though not everyone saw it at the time. And it is the climate we’re living in now, though not everyone sees it that way. What other lessons might be found in Forgetfulness for today? Read Reitsma’s book to find out.”


—Angela Reitsma Bick, editor-in-chief, Christian Courier





“This novel uses a unique family story to describe strong social tensions in Christian communities and to show how moral conflicts play out in real life. It immerses the reader in the drama of confronting the Nazis during World War II and how that even affected Dutch immigrants and their children in their later years. It also explores the experiential struggle with guilt in an authentic way. The novel complements the historical accounts of trauma caused by antisemitism. It’s an excellent guide to understanding how antisemites assault human integrity and how that impacts future generations.”


—Johan Hegeman, author of The Call of Conscience: Protestant Clergy and Jews in the Netherlands, 1935–1945