One Life: The True Story of Sir Nicholas Winton
£5.70
The book that inspired major motion picture ONE LIFE, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter.
‘Remarkable’ – Guardian
Sir Nicholas Winton rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia at the brink of World War II. Most never saw their parents again; nearly all left behind were murdered. This is his story.
In 1938, 29-year-old ‘Nicky’ cancelled a ski holiday and instead spent nine months masterminding a seemingly impossible plan to rescue hundreds of Jewish children and find them homes in the UK. Over 6,000 people are alive today because of his efforts.
What motivated an ordinary man to do something so extraordinary? This book, written by his daughter, Barbara, explores the 106-year life of an incredible humanitarian, a man whose legacy only came to public light decades later.
His life story is a clarion call to choose action over apathy in the face of injustice, and a reminder that every one of us can change the world.
‘If something is not impossible, then there must be a way to do it.’
‘Those of us who came on a Kindertransport from Prague and owe our lives to Nicky will be so grateful to Barbara for writing something so special’ – Lord Alf Dubs, ex-Labour minister and ‘rescued child’
[This book was first published in 2014 as If It’s Not Impossible… The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton]
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by Richard Jones-Nerzic
A brilliant book. For anyone who knows the public story of Winton, especially from the Minac film
Nicky’s Family – The Story of the ‘British Schindler’ Sir Nicholas Winton [DVD
], this book will help redress a number of the unnecessary myths that have been created. It is only when you read about Winton’s war and post-war work, his family life and charity work, that you can begin to understand Winton’s assertion in the film that ‘so many other important things have happened’ since he’d rescued the 600. Other myths? Winton did not keep the rescue a secret from his wife (it was integral feature on his cv), he also felt that many others had risked more (those who stayed in Prague) and understandably he felt he didn’t deserve the acclaim. Winton was not a rich stockbroker who took early retirement to work for his charities, but a man who gave up banking and life in the city after the war because he felt such careers had no worth. Perhaps most importantly the book corrects the serious misrepresentation of the Minac film that turned Winton into an apolitical good Samaritan with no time for politics and politicians. In this book Winton emerges as a committed socialist who knew Nye Bevan and who had stood as a Labour Party candidate in the 1950s (see election flyer). The book is also beautifully written. This Winton was not an other-worldly saint but an extra-ordinary, ordinary man; decent, difficult and determined. He did things that most of us could do if we set our minds to it. And that was his point.
by Peter
Before I bought this book I checked the other reviews and in particular those who scored it low. However, scoring it one star saying that they did not buy the book or two stars saying that a biography was more a story of a life seems strange justification for not scoring this book five stars. Even a three star review complained that it was more about his family life! so please be clear that this “biography” is worthy of all reviews being five stars.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from the well known story of kindertransport from Prague that saved so many lives to his hidden life post war especially his work with the International Refugee Organisation post war liquidating Nazi loot and selling it in order to resettle refugees. The book also clears up some of the myths that have grown up such as keeping the kindertransport a secret whereas he did not but was more interested in whatever his current project was or the stockbroking which was only a short period of his life.
At the risk of arrogance on my part, I feel that he was mistaken to refuse the honour of a place at Yad Vashem as “a righteous gentile”. The book is clear that he rejected both Jewish and Christian religion and was an agnostic and motivated solely by humanity. His name should be there alongside the likes of Oscar Schindler, Corrie Ten Boom, Jane Haining and many more.
by Jules
The biography of a remarkable man who refuses to be regarded as a hero despite much public acclaim for his part in saving children from the Nazi regime in Prague in 1939. Although written by his daughter this is not a hagiography – it is a balanced, if loving, view of a man whose single-mindedness can be a powerful weapon for good as well as sometimes irritating people who don’t share or appreciate his altruism. It is a very well-written and structured book that moves seamlessly from the past to the more recent present and I found it totally engrossing.
by Malachite
A very personal insight into the unassuming man behind one of the most incredible acts of decency and heroism in the madness which descended into the Second World War.
I read this to try and understand more about what made the man tick and to get a better awareness of why I was so late to hearing about the KinderTransport and his saving of over 600 children from Czechoslovakia. His daughter, the author, paints a picture of a private man who had an undying life force for doing the right thing, which drove his actions throughout his life.
This book only served to enhance my admiration for Sir Nicholas Winton.
by Richard Jones-Nerzic
A good read about a really kind man. Worth reading if you are looking to feel inspired to get up and do something that matters.
by D. B. Prentice
Insightful book. No gloss or sentimentality makes story compelling. I cannot help seeing parallels with current refugee crises.
by Sally G
Goes backwards and forwards in time, which is confusing.
Interesting subject matter. Descriptions of family life seem to be more in evidence than the
heroic deeds of her father.
by Pev
This is a must read. Put together by Winson’s daughter, it give account of a brave man, who didn’t court praise fro his exploits, was instrumental in rescuing hundreds of children from the claws of Nazi-occupied Czechosvakia etc. It gives an understanding why this man, young at the time, took such courageous steps. Nazi Germany may well now be years past, but lessons can still be learnt as to fortitude and perseverance in the face of much hardship and potential penalties for the brave.