Virtual Literary: Linda Margolin Royal, The Star on the Grave

Description

This historical novel is inspired by the true story of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who defied his government in 1940 to issue visas to Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis, saving thousands of lives. After the war, he was dismissed and faded into obscurity. Decades later in Australia, Rachel Margol discovers a hidden family secret—she is Jewish. As she confronts the impact of this revelation, long-buried truths emerge. When she has the chance to meet Sugihara, who saved her family, she travels to Japan seeking answers that may heal—or divide—her family. Often called the “Japanese Schindler,” Sugihara is credited with saving about 6,000 people, with hundreds of thousands of descendants alive today—including the author’s own family.