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Georgia HunterA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 1, Chapters 1-3
Part 1, Chapters 4-8
Part 1, Chapters 9-11
Part 1, Chapters 12-14
Part 2, Chapters 15-17
Part 2, Chapters 18-21
Part 2, Chapters 22-25
Part 2, Chapters 26-30
Part 2, Chapters 31-34
Part 2, Chapters 35-38
Part 2, Chapters 39-43
Part 2, Chapters 44-47
Part 2, Chapters 48-49 and 51
Part 2, Chapters 50 and 52-53
Part 3, Chapters 54-57
Part 3, Chapters 58-60
Part 3, Chapter 61-Epilogue
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
The Kurc family is living in Łódź. They stayed in Warsaw for a time, but the city became uninhabitable due to the bombings. They considered trying to return to Radom, but Halina discovered that a Polish family was living in their old apartment, with no intention of relinquishing it. Nechuma and Sol decided to remain with the Górskis, for their safety.
Halina found two apartments large enough to accommodate the whole family in Łódź: “The city’s ghetto had been liquidated later than most, which meant there were hundreds of vacant homes in the old Jewish Quarter and not enough Poles to fill them” (335). There have been changes within the family: Bella is now six months pregnant. Felicia is still recovering from the scurvy she contracted in the convent bunker. At first, it was too painful for her to eat, but now she is finally regaining her appetite.
The family gathers to listen to a live radio broadcast by the President of the United States, translated into Polish. They hear Harry Truman’s voice proclaiming that Germany has surrendered: “He pauses for effect, and then adds, ‘The flags of freedom fly all over Europe!’” (335). The family is overcome with emotion, hearing this announcement.
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