Beyond Beliefs : The incredible true story of a German refugee, an Indian migrant and the families left behind - Sohail Husain

★★★★★ "You could not make it up."A mysterious departure from India. A hidden life in South America. A Jewish family torn apart by Nazism. An unlikely meeting in wartime London. Beyond Beliefs is an extraordinary true story spanning the First World War, the Great Depression, the Partition of India, and the Holocaust. Drawing on years of painstaking research across five continents, Sohail Husain reconstructs a family history that had been hidden for generations. This remarkable tale follows the lives of his parents and grandparents, whose worlds were engulfed by some of the most momentous events of the twentieth century. His parents, Karola and Afzal, were separated by nationality, religion, language, culture and a considerable age difference, but their common experience of unimaginable upheaval and loss brought them together. Their subsequent love story was complicated and unconventional but enduring, and they stayed together for the rest of their lives. Ultimately, Beyond Beliefs stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit to overcome tragedy and adversity. Meticulously researched yet written with the pace of a novel, Beyond Beliefs combines historical narrative with deeply personal storytelling, taking readers on a remarkable journey across countries, cultures and generations:From the trenches of the First World War to the concentration camps of Nazi GermanyFrom life in British India to the turmoil of post-Partition PakistanFrom booming pre-war Argentina to economic collapse in inter-war UruguayFrom asylum-seeking in wartime London to rebuilding life in the city's bustling street marketsIt is a book that shows how the defining events of history are experienced by ordinary families. Sohail's evocative prose delivers a moving insight into his family's history. It exposes the horrific consequences of war and violent extremism, and the struggles faced by immigrants and refugees, still very relevant today. In places distressing, frequently emotive and sometimes amusing, this is a powerful thought-provoking homage that reveals amazing discoveries, astonishing coincidences and history repeating itself. ★★★★★ "I couldn't put it down"★★★★★ "An extraordinary and riveting read which should not be missed"★★★★★ "The depth of detail, thoroughness of research and emotional restraint of the author is admirable"★★★★★ "This is an incredible, true story... The story is so unusual"★★★★★ "The author's engaging writing style hooks you from the start..."