They fell in love because they both felt lost, and marriage seemed a perfect refuge for them. But Rachel has secrets that disrupt the “normal” life she is supposed to be leading. Her heart is a secret, even to herself. And as the book opens, after seven years of marriage, things are not so simple between them. Aaron likes married life, though marriage to a former displaced person is not as easy as he might have imagined it. She’s a refugee from the ash pit of Europe, lovely and feline and exotic—and broken. He thought he was saving her, of course. A Jew from Flatbush making the ultimate American mitzvah—saving the persecuted waif from her own brutalized past. But as it turns out, maybe he’s not the savior he thought he might have become. Maybe he needs some saving himself.
And as the story spins, both Rachel and her husband must deal with their own brands of guilt. Rachel’s guilt is triggered by her horrific experiences during the war and by the lengths she was forced to go to in order to stay alive. And Aaron’s guilt is that of one of the multitude of American Jews who, while the chimneys of Auschwitz smoked, lived lives sheltered by democracy, safe from the atrocities perpetrated across the ocean. All this is wrapped up into Aaron’s desire for children and Rachel’s resistance.
Though Rachel finds a sense of equilibrium at the end of the book, she is not “cured” of her trauma. What do you most want readers to take away from this representation of her emotional health struggles?
I don’t think that grief and guilt are easily overcome. A person can spend a lifetime coping with them. But this is a story of survival and redemption. It’s a story of the trauma, of self-preservation, and of betrayal and remorse. But in the end, I do want the reader to believe that it is also a story of hope. Because hope is a vital regenerative force.
Acknowledgments
Writing and then publishing a novel is always a team effort. There have been many people involved in bringing this book to the shelves, and I owe them all my deepest thanks and appreciation.
My everlasting gratitude goes out to my agent, the best of the best, Rebecca Gradinger of Fletcher and Company, whose commitment and hard work I depend on in every project I undertake. As always, her insights were keen and her patience immeasurable. Thank you, Rebecca. I could not have done this without you.
I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my wonderful editor at Sourcebooks Landmark, Shana Drehs. I am so indebted to you, Shana, for your unwavering support and understanding. Thank you for your encouragement and for your dedication—and most of all, for your faith in this book. It has been a real pleasure working with you.
I also wish to thank the Sourcebooks Landmark team, whose hard work and commitment have been utterly invaluable. My gratitude goes out to my marketing team for their smart and creative promotional strategies: executive director of marketing Molly Waxman, director of retail marketing & creative services Valerie Pierce, and marketing manager Cristina Arreola. I must also express my thanks to senior production editor Jessica Thelander for expertly riding herd on the book’s production, to art director Heather VenHuizen and creative director Kelly Lawler for their terrific cover-to-cover design, and to the entire Sourcebooks Landmark sales staff for their commitment to getting the book on the shelves. Thank you to all who have dedicated long hours of heavy lifting in order to bring Shadows of Berlin to readers.
My affection and appreciation goes out to those who supported me along the way. Many thanks to Christy Fletcher, founder of Fletcher and Company, who, three books and many years ago, was the first agent to express an interest in my work. Also to Kelly Karczewski of Fletcher and Company, for her priceless professional support. Thank you to my amazing writing consultant, Carol Edelstein of “A Gallery of Readers,” and to Liz Resnick for her invaluable insights as an early reader. And for their expert advice on finding the correct word in Yiddish, my thanks to Prof. Haim Gunner and to Prof. Alyssa Quint.
Also, my warmest gratitude goes out to my fellow writers for their support, in person and over social media: Jillian Cantor, Dean Cycon, Kathleen Grissom, Pam Jenoff, Dan Levy, Erika Marks, Emily Neuberger, Julie Ries, Erika Robuck, Jennifer Rosner, Anika Scott, Pat Stacy, Leah Weiss, Kate Whouley, and Andria Williams.
Finally, I cannot forget my family, who not only supported me throughout the process but provided me with respite and encouragement: my boys, Cameron Gemmell and Alexander Pavlova-Gillham.
And as always, from the depth of my heart, I am thankful to my life’s partner and wife, Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, who is still my touchstone in all things and to whom I have dedicated this book.
About the Author
David R. Gillham is a New York Times bestselling author. He studied screenwriting at the University of Southern California before becoming a novelist. After moving to New York City, Gillham spent more than a decade in the book business, and he now lives with his family in western Massachusetts.
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