Stephen B Lourie

Albert Hausmann Stephen B Lourie

This is the story of Albert Hausmann, an orphan, a brilliant boy who succeeds in becoming an obstetrician; a researcher concerned with genetic replication, for the good of humanity. One of his main goals in life is to find his mother.

The National Socialistic government of Adolph Hitler grasps upon this research to perpetuate Aryans for Germany. An anti-Semitic Albert is sent, as a researcher, to a concentration camp for experiments on live subjects. He ultimately is placed in charge of a lebensborn facility (one where unwed, Aryan women are sent to have Aryan men's babies) and ends up using one of the infants, a Semitic-looking child, as a cover for escaping Germany. He does this, boards a Turkish dingy, child in hand. The unseaworthy craft is about to sink and instead of ending up in Syria as he had planned, he is picked up by a ship carrying Jews to Palestine. He remains there ultimately becoming a medical officer in Israel's defense forces.

We read of the handsome Albert's affairs with women and his trials and joys in life. We realize through this life that it is one which is emblematic of forming the character he has become. He discovers his mother in Israel and realizes he is Jewish. Albert grows to love the child as if it were his own. He becomes a changed person. Ultimately, the reader may well bond with Albert in his effort to atone for his sins.

The story is packed with action and suspense. It takes place in Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, Poland, Syria and the United States.