“If I had known Jan Zwartendijk’s story before, I would have had filmed that.”
—Steven Spielberg
“He [Zwartendijk] filled desperate lives with hope during a period of great darkness, and his actions will remain a beacon of decency and righteousness for generations to come.”
—Bill Clinton
“The Just is a riveting epic, a masterful interweaving of many threads and many journeys, written with consummate skill, clarity, and acute insight into human nature. Brokken restores to history, and to memory, acts of profound goodness and courage performed by individuals who responded to the frantic knock on the door by displaced people whose lives were in great peril. It will inspire you.”
—Arnold Zable, author of Café Scheherazade
“The story of a Dutch businessman who helped Polish and Lithuanian Jews escape the Holocaust… After getting their Dutch papers, [emigrating Jews] required a visa from the Japanese ambassador, Chiune Sugihara, who also proved willing to cooperate. Through the agency of these two men, several thousand Jews, perhaps as many as 10,000 were able to survive the Holocaust. Dutch writer Brokken traces the stories of Zwartendijk, Sugihara, and a number of those they aided, along with several other Dutch diplomats who added their help as the Jewish refugees continued their travels. The author has interviewed surviving members of Zwartendijk’s family and some of those he helped, and he has sifted through government documents in several countries to compile a complete picture of how these few men made a difference in a time when thousands of lives were in the balance. Brokken brings these largely unknown men to vivid life, and few readers will come away from the book untouched by their stories. A deeply moving account of a few brave men who worked against the Nazi horror in the early days of World War II.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“The Just documents a rescue operation to save Jews from the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Lithuania… Deep dives into archives, and documented encounters with people who were involved in the operation, contribute to a strong narrative about ordinary people performing extraordinary deeds at great risk to their personal safety. The lives of some of the people who were saved are chronicled, as are the struggles of Zwartendijk’s family and friends to have him officially recognized for his work on behalf of Jewish people, an experience of which he was robbed during his own lifetime. In telling the life story of Jan Zwartendijk, The Just adds one more piece to the memory of the Holocaust.”
—Foreword Reviews, starred review
“Brokken provides an inspirational and richly detailed look at bureaucratic efforts to help Jews escape Europe in the early years of WWII… Evocative portraits of his protagonists’ family lives deepen Brokken’s depictions of their hazardous actions. Readers will take heart from these obscure yet consequential acts of courage.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Stories of extraordinary acts of bravery and heroism continue to come out of WWII, and Dutch author Brokken’s recently translated work is no exception. His extensive research and interviews form the story of Jan Zwartendijk … Along with the Japanese consul in Lithuania, Chiune Sugihara, they were able to save as many as 10,000 Jewish families (possibly more). They could have both been seriously punished or killed if their superiors or the invading Russians or, later, Nazis discovered their deeds … Weaving their stories, along with those of Jewish families rescued through the use of these visas, is remarkable for both the storytelling and the depth of research the author has undertaken to bring it to a wider audience.”
—Lucy Roehrig, Booklist