The Miracle Typist

The powerful true story of one soldier's long journey home

Leon Silver

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781760854362
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

In the tradition of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ, a heartbreaking true story of love, loss and survival against all odds during the Second World war. Conscripted into the Polish army as Hitler's forces draw closer, Jewish soldier Tolek Klings vows to return to his wife, Klara, and son, Juliusz. However, the army is rife with anti-Semitism and Tolek is relentlessly tormented. As the Germans invade Poland, he is faced with a terrible dilemma: flee home to protect his family – and risk being shot as a deserter – or remain a soldier, hoping reports of women and children being spared by the occupying forces are true. What follows is an extraordinary odyssey that will take Tolek – via a daring escape from a Hungarian internment camp – to Palestine, where his ability to type earns him the title of 'The Miracle Typist', then on to fight in Egypt, Tobruk and Italy. A broken telegram from Klara, ending with the haunting words, 'We trouble', makes Tolek even more determined to find his way home and fulfil his promise. This heartbreakingly inspiring true story is brought vividly to life by Tolek's son-in-law, Melbourne writer Leon Silver.'Told in gripping prose, The Miracle Typist is the story of one man's journey from World War II battlefields to Palestine and Italy and finally Australia. Tolek's courage and his determination to save his family is a wonder to read – made even more so by the fact that it is based on a heart wrenching true story. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction.' Anita Abriel, author of The Light After the War 'Incredible, heart-wrenching and inspirational.' Better Reading

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Map of Tolek’s war
• Dedication
• Author’s note
• Prologue
• Chapter 1: Thus the war begins
• Chapter 2: The war’s weight
• Chapter 3: Into exile
• Chapter 4: Escape to nowhere
• Chapter 5: That moment of absolute loss
• Chapter 6: Goodbye Europe; hello, Palestine
• Chapter 7: Old home friend and new enemy within
• Chapter 8: Eliezer’s prophecy
• Chapter 9: The miracle telegram
• Chapter 10: Stay or go?
• Chapter 11: West of Suez
• Chapter 12: The Home Army delivers
• Chapter 13: Klara’s message
• Chapter 14: The Jan enigma – friend or foe?
• Chapter 15: Go climb a mountain
• Chapter 16: Farewell to fatherland
• Chapter 17: Suddenly the war ends
• Chapter 18: The Modena Speakers
• Chapter 19: Terror strikes
• Chapter 20: Starting a new life
• Chapter 21: G’day, sport…
• Epilogue
• Photographs
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Copyright