QB VII

Leon Uris books are fantastic!

All Leon Uris novels are 5 star masterpieces, and QB VII is no exception. Uris is one of the best authors in the historical fiction genre. QBVII, like many of his other novels, deals with recent Jewish history, such as Israel and the Holocaust. Uris masterfully combines fictional characters with real historical figures, and it is, at times, difficult to tell the difference. I frequently find myself checking Wikipedia to see if a person or place really exists or existed.This novel recounts a fictional libel trial in England, where a Polish surgeon (Dr. Adam Kelno) sues a fictional author, Abraham Cady for libel, because of the latter's mention of the former as a prisoner/physician collaborating with the Nazis in horrendous experimental surgeries at the infamous (fictional) Jadwiga concentration camp during World War II. in his popular book, "The Holocaust."As the trial proceeds, the reader finds himself sympathizing with the defendant's case, as more and more witnesses testify to the brutality, Nazi collaboration, and anti-Semitism of Dr. Kelno.SPOILER ALERT! The novel ends with a judgement for Dr. Kelno, but damages awarded only for the lowest valued English currency, one half-penny. This result left me a bit confused, since it implies that Dr. Kelno's reputation was indeed libeled, but that his reputation wasn't worth very much in the first place, presumably because he was actually guilty of the allegations made against him. If this was indeed the case, then why the judgement in favor of the plaintiff, (Dr. Kelno)? This judgement, under British law, obligates the losing party (author Abraham Cady) to pay the legal expenses of the the plaintiff, Dr. Kelno. This is the real penalty, since these expenses far exceed the mere half-penny awarded to Dr.Kelno.In short, this is a masterpiece that is well worth your time, especially if you are interested in the Holocaust. This novel, like all historical fiction, is based on a real event: the author's experience being sued for libel based on this negatively writing about a still living (at the time) physician who allegedly cooperated with the Nazis in medical atrocities. This is the third Leon Uris novel that I have read (in addition to Exodus and The Haj). All are highly recommended.

People like Adam Kelno were probably the impetus behind Stanley Milgram's studies at Yale. Dr. Milgram showed just how far people would go in shocking/hurting their fellow human beings when given the go-ahead by someone in authority. Not everyone followed through with administering what they believed to be electric shock, but some did, and those "some" might have felt right at home with Dr. Kelno, a doctor in a concentration camp who was accused of brutally "butchering" men and women without anesthesia in order to avoid punishment by the Nazis.A master story teller, Leon Uris describes Dr. Adam Kelno, a kind and caring doctor practicing in London until accused of war crimes. Following his release from prison, Kelno and his family flee to Sarawak, a destination in Borneo that was "about as far away as a man could run and deep as a man could hide." Dr. Kelno lives an exemplary life there, even implementing sanitary measures.While Adam Kelno is living his life as a devoted husband and father in Sarawak, Abraham Cady's fame as a writer is growing. In one of his books describing German atrocities against Jews, Cady specifically mentions Kelno as a concentration camp doctor performing experimental surgery on them. At the prompting of his family, Kelno files suit, and the book and its cast of characters end in London at QB VII.Uris's images of people and scenes are well described and graphic. I could see and smell the conditions of Sarawak, hear the screams of the "patients" on whom Kelno operated, and visualize the courtroom where the dramatic trial took place. Was Kelno guilty? That's something Uris leaves up to the reader to decide.In addition to enjoying Uris's phenomenal writing, I learned some things about other cultures and historical eras. I was also reminded that appearances can be deceiving and that evil too horrible to contemplate can surface again.

This is another great Leon Uris book. I'm not a heavy duty reader, but it is really noticeable how excellent his writing is in comparison to many other writers. It spoils you for books that are pretty average in writing skills. I am actually not through with this but almost. You learn a lot about the two main characters and grow to like them and hope that there is a solution in the end that allows them both to be guiltless. It is a good educational book for those who do not know much about the holocaust and I would hope they would be taught about it in school. I have read many autobiographies and biographies about the holocaust and I never cease to be amazed that the Germans were able to do such horrendous things. Either do them or look the other way. You think of the western world as civilized. But we should be wary as it can happen again and is happening as we speak with the rise of Muslim extremism, etc. Also, we in the US should be careful that with all the political polarization that is happening we do not let the powers that be become too powerful. I put some violence because it describes what is done to the Jewish victims by the German and other doctors in the camps during the war. It could be graphic though as it is hard to read about this.

If anyone asks me to recommend a good book, I always mention this one. Basic story - A top surgeon working in the UK is accused of involvement in Nazi concentration camps, and sets out to clear his name. But is he really as innocent as he claims?Some parts are a little dated, and other parts are not for the squeamish, but it's a great book. Recommended.

it's fairly well written, and keeps the suspense. There were one or two smallish errors when talking about the British aspects but forgivable.My beef was that I didn't like the ending.

I first read this book about 15 years ago and when I saw it whilst browsing I had to buy it. Didn't really expect to enjoy it as much second time around, but once I started to read just kept going, read it over 3 days, not a lot of housework got done! What a writer, what a story, and because it is based on truth all the more gripping. A book I will probably read again in about another year or two time. Brilliant.

Read this thirty years ago. The court scenes were as l remember. The romantic interactions between the characters a little dated. Enjoyable read though.Prefer Trinity.

Cheap copy , standard of print not good , some words fuzzy .