GUILT is a hunter
FAITH is a hunter
SHAME is a hunter
FEAR is a hunter.
The tragic stories of disastrous maritime history from the beginning of time are well etched in our memories, from the Titanic to The Lusitania, however, one of these accounts that had been hidden within the cracks of history is the story of The Wilhelm Gustloff, a German cruise liner, overcrowded by more than 8 times its capacity that succumbed to its shortcomings within the depths of the Baltic Sea.
Sepetys shifts the horizon when she skillfully brings this incident to the forefront, by conjuring FOUR fictional yet historically precise characters. Florian, a Prussian soldier escaping the Nazis; Joana, a Lithuanian girl with nursing practice; Emilia, a young and pregnant Polish girl and finally; Albert, a Hitler idolizer, under the illusion of success.
FOUR different voices, FOUR different nationalities, FOUR different languages and FOUR different viewpoints yet all FOUR with the same goal: boarding the vessel that promises freedom, safety and happiness on the other side? Will they be able to set aside their differences and emanate humanity? Can you trust the person next to you or will they give you up to the authorities? What will be the cost of safety in these dangerous times?
Read Salt To The Sea by Ruta Sepetys to dicover more!
Drop a comment if you’ve read it before or are planning to read it soon👇🏻
