Sophie's choice
« The most profound statement yet made about Auschwitz was not a statement at all, but a response.
The query: "At Auschwitz, tell me, where was God?" And the answer: "Where was man?””.
First edition, one of 500 copies specially bound and signed by the author.
8vo of 6 ll., 515 pages, 1 p., Publisher’s blue cloth, case.
235 x 155 mm.
First edition.
One of 500 copies specially bound and signed by the author.
"Sophie's Choice" by William Styron is a poignant novel that delves into the complexities of love, trauma, and the aftermath of the Holocaust. The story follows Stingo, a young Southern novelist who moves to Brooklyn to pursue his literary ambitions. As he becomes embroiled in the tumultuous relationship between Nathan, a troubled Jewish boarder, and Sophie, a Polish refugee with a harrowing past, Stingo learns about the profound emotional scars left by war and loss.
Sophie’s character grapples with deep-seated guilt and horror stemming from her experiences in Auschwitz, where she was faced with an unimaginable dilemma: to choose which of her two children would be spared from the gas chambers. This tragic decision haunts her throughout the narrative, affecting her relationships and mental health. The novel explores themes of survival, the impact of trauma, and the struggle for redemption, as Stingo offers Sophie a chance for a new life. However, the story culminates in a tragic ending, revealing the devastating consequences of their intertwined lives and the choices they must confront. "Sophie's Choice" is a powerful exploration of human resilience and the enduring effects of historical atrocities on personal lives.
Sophie's Choice has been banned and censored in several countries due to its portrayal of a non-Jewish victim of the Holocaust and graphic sexuality and profanity.
An attractive copy preserved in publisher’s blue cloth and signed by the author.
