In a little-known part of the Holocaust, a Chinese diplomat facilitated the rescue of thousands of Jews from Vienna, Austria, by using his visa-writing powers. They were sent to, of all places, Shanghai during the Japanese invasion of China. (Of course, a war zone is much safer than the overzealous rage of Hitler.) As described in the Author’s Note, this Chinese diplomat, named Ho Fengshan, was not recognized until after his death in the late twentieth century. In this work of historical fiction, Dai Randel imagines what this hero would be like. In so doing, she invents several characters and a narrative to support the historical record, replete with some intrigue and some heartache.
This book has many tragic elements to it. Even in a courageous rescue, the bittersweetness of life is seen. The story is told from the first-person perspective of Fengshan’s fictionalized second wife along with two other third-person accounts. Grace hopes to start a family in Vienna with this eminent Chinese leader, but becomes outraged by the fall of the surrounding society. She gets involved in relationships with Jewish individuals, who are persecuted and tormented by despicable Nazi henchmen.
Kristalnacht is vividly portrayed here along with the capriciousness of Nazi hate. I’ve read over a dozen works on the Holocaust, but none of those brought out the Jewish plight quite in the way that Dai Randel does here. She brings out this oppression in everyday details of relationships that’s, well, unique. Certain Germans just took every opportunity to pick on the Jews however they could, to the extreme of killing thousands. It makes me think of anti-immigrant fervor in today’s world.
Fortunately, Fengshan and Grace mutually support each other’s compassion. They sacrifice much to the cause. Of course, their personal lives do not cease just because Hitler’s forces are taking over central Europe. Even though successful in saving thousands, they always have the haunting memory that they could have saved more. They sacrificed their futures for these people. As in her prior novel, Dai Randel highlights this little-known Jewish community is southeastern China. I’m grateful to learn that the Diaspora even reaches there.
Those interested in the Holocaust will find a unique perspective in Dai Randel’s books. New aspects to a seemingly depthless tragedy are elucidated through her storytelling. The saying goes that excellence is doing common things in an uncommon manner; this book certainly achieves that and more. I’m grateful to have read it and to ponder its relevance to world history and my life in America today.
Night Angels: A Novel
By Weina Dai Randel
Copyright (c) 2023
Lake Union
ASIN B09YR79N3Q
Page Count: 375
Genre: Historical Fiction, Judaica
Sponsored Link to www.amazon.com