ABSTRACT
The return home, when it is part of the story, is always one of the most painful sections of the books. Once every instant is no longer occupied by the all-absorbing struggle for survival, in the frantic rhythm of the camps, or in the permanent dread and constraints of hiding, the survivors face the enormity of their losses and the extent of the destruction. Moreover, they often have to cope with this brutal new situation alone. Their surviving former companions of the camps or ghettos are dispersed; their remaining family members, friends, and acquaintances, who did not undergo similar experiences, are often unable or unwilling to understand their state and accompany their process of recovery with the necessary empathy and patience.
