“This remarkable true story will take you on a historical journey, filled with a firsthand account of how one man survived the impossible, and then found the love of his life.”––J.L. Witterick, International Best-Selling Author of My Mother's Secret “Stories like this one are gifts and a privilege to read. Don’t let this one pass you by. I guarantee you will be better for having read it.”—Goodreads reviewer "Extraordinarily Powerful" and "Flawlessly Written" —Book Viral Forged in the fires of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, this powerful account of a Christian persecuted by Nazis is a gripping tale of love, loss, and loyalty that sheds light on some of the lesser-known evils of the Holocaust. 2018 Polish Heritage Award, the Polish American Congress - Arizona division 2018 Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest—Winner—Best Published Nonfiction 2018 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award – Silver for Biography 2018 First Place Category Winner of the 2018 Journey Book Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction. 2017 The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (UK)—Gold for Adult Non-Fiction Poland, 1942. Henry Zguda was at home in the water. But one night in May, the German SS arrested the celebrated competitive swimmer in Kraków for the sole crime of being Polish. Two weeks later, he was far from the life he’d known, interred as political prisoner #39551 at Auschwitz. On the verge of dying from starvation, the terrified man was rescued when a former teammate helped move him from hard labor to a safer kitchen job until his transfer to Buchenwald in 1943. And as he clung to the friendships with his fellow inmates, he continued to hope even when forced on a death march to Dachau… Told through a series of heartfelt conversations with the author, Henry recounts his gut-wrenching story of miraculous survival and of refusing to succumb, even amidst the most brutal of horrors. If you like honest accounts, emotional storytelling, and extraordinary human perseverance, then you’ll be moved by Katrina Shawver’s eloquent narrative of connections and fate. Meticulous research and original photos and documents add a depth of history that goes beyond one man's story. Learn more at: https://katrinashawver.com/ Recommended Reading on Poland - Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles "Through all his hardships Henry Zguda never lost hope or his sense of humor which is present throughout the book. This is a much-needed addition to your library." -- The Polish American Journal "We are fortunate that Shawver had the presence of mind to bring Zguda's story to the world." --Leonard Kniffel, member of the Board of Directors of the Polish American Librarians Association and the Polish Museum of America in Chicago "HENRY is a not-to-be-missed book, a man for all seasons, and a man to be upheld as an example of what is good amidst the world's evils." --Geraldine Bereziuk Lowrey, The Am-Pol Eagle "We know that we should never forget the Holocaust, and Shawver is ensuring that we won't."-- John Liffiton, Professor and Director Genocide Conferences, Scottsdale Community College "This remarkable true story will take you on a historical journey, filled with a firsthand account of how one man survived the impossible, and then found the love of his life ."--J.L. Witterick, International Best Selling Author of My Mother's Secret "This book is an important addition to Holocaust literature." Valerie Foster, Author, The Risk of Sorrow: Conversations with Holocaust Survivor, Helen Handler "I've read dozens of memoirs of people who survived the camps, and Katrina Shawver's book is among the best ."--John Guzlowski, author of Echoes of Tattered Tongues: Memory Unfolded , winner of the Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Award "Henry is both poignant and inspiring." --Andrew Nagorski, author of The Nazi Hunters and Hitlerland "Those brave souls who survived World War II are some of the finest examples of courage in our lifetime. Fortunately, Katrina Shawver knew exactly how to bring Henry Zguda's courage to life ."-- Judith L. Pearson, author of The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy "I worked as a counterintelligence agent in Germany for twenty-five years . . . From those who were victims of the Nazis or those who spoke honestly about their experiences, I can attest that Shawver knows what she is talking about ."--Robert Dukelow, author of Four Strong Women: A Glimpse of Germany's Untold History 1938-1957 "Shawver weaves together a riveting, unforgettable tale that captures the unstoppable flight of the human spirit ."--Greg Archer, author of Grace Revealed and Huffington Post columnist "A remarkable feat of writing! Bravo for humanity!"-- Marcia Fine, author of Hidden Ones , The Blind Eye , and Paper Children - An Immigrant's Legacy "This reader read every single word and even went back. It's one you won't want to miss and shouldn't miss. Highly recommend story." Amy's Bookshelf Reviews - ranked #2 book