Monday, August 1, 2016

Stranger Than Fiction

Indian Bloggers


"If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this : In love, we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are."

So begins the best-seller The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. The book is a fictional rendering of World War II and the German occupation of France by the Nazis. It tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who have natures completely opposite to each other. The novel deals with issues of heroism, bravery, patriotism, treachery, the necessity of survival, and the irony of the morality we live by. This post, however, is not about the novel. This post is about that recurrent figure Isabelle relates to in the novel. That figure is straight from real life. That figure is a part of that shameful history we all inherit. That figure is of the British nurse Edith Cavell, whose life was much stranger than fiction.


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Hundred years ago, and this is not a tale, a nurse by the name of Edith Cavell in German-occupied Brussels, was executed by the German firing squad. The date was October 12, 1915. Her only crime was her compassionate humanity. She had aided soldiers from both sides during the First World War. It is said that she saved more than 200 Allied soldiers and sent them back to their country. The Germans considered this treason which was punishable by death. 

There was no alternative punishment for this crime as per German law. No other country could come to the rescue of the nurse who had saved so many lives. Edith, in her last moments, said that for her "...patriotism was not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." She also wanted to be remembered forever as a "nurse" who had done her "duty", and not as a martyr. But her execution enraged the Allies. Edith was a woman who wanted to spread the message of only love and humanity. Her death was a blow to humanity itself. The Americans joined the war too. 

Did Edith know no fear? She said that she had seen "death so often" that it doesn't feel "strange or fearful" to her. 

Isablle in The Nightingale, does feel fear. She wants to be "brave" like "Edith Cavell risking her life" but she is "scared". 

In case you are thinking that Isabelle's character is modeled after Edith, I must tell you one more thing. During the Second World War, another woman, as brave as Edith, would emerge. Her name was Adrienne de Jongh and she played a prominent part in aiding Allied soldiers against the Nazis. Isabelle's character is close to de Jongh. 

Life is a twisted tale. Much twisted than fiction. Much stranger than fiction.


Linking to Day 1 of the #BarAThon Challenge by Blog-A-Rhythm





12 comments:

  1. I loved that quote. Adversity does bring out people's true selves. I haven't heard of this character. Need to look her up.

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    1. I wonder sometimes how many there are about whom we know nothing.

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  2. Inspiring lady.
    Sad when such humanity-lovers are killed. Speaks of the degeneration of humanity...

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  3. That's a tale of self belief and staying firm despite adversities for the larger good! Thanks for sharing, Sunaina!

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    1. Yes Shilpa. Determination that refuses to bow before adversity is the true hallmark of courageous people.

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  4. "Patriotism was not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." A similar Message was conveyed by Bapu too during the days of the Independence struggle.. A nice Post, Sunaina.. Very well written!

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  5. Adding the book to my list. Wonderful review, Sunaina. The quote is true to the core...

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  6. I salute the spirit of Edith and can understand why she was punished too.
    Imagine an Indian nurse serving Pakistani soldiers..shall we praise her?
    Patriotism was secondary for Edith that's why she was more of a sage than an ordinary nurse...

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    1. Yes...That is true. She was beyond territorial barriers but patriotism thrives on that.

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