Lily, Oh Lily: Searching for a Nazi ghost

Holman, Jeffrey Paparoa

ISBN 10: 1988503477 / ISBN 13: 9781988503479

Published by Canterbury University Press, 2025

Seller Inventory # 26404047310

Synopsis:

What if the dead – our dead – never feel to us that they have gone? If family stories, fragments of their lives, continue to nag and haunt us? Lily Hasenburg was just such a figure in Holman’ s growing years. She was whispered into his ear by grandmother Eunice – in memorable stories of her older sister, who married and moved to Germany at the turn of the 20th century, and was later caught up in the Nazi web spun by Adolf Hitler. Unable to shake loose this story, Holman pursued her to Berlin, Hamburg and Dresden. Here, we have an account of his pilgrimage; the kind of family history we might bury, and forget – to our loss.

About the Author: Jeffrey Paparoa Holman is an acclaimed poet, historian and memoirist. His poetry has been shortlisted for the New Zealand Book Awards; his family memoir 'The Lost Pilot' (Penguin, 2013) was warmly received in Aotearoa and overseas. 'Best of Both Worlds: The story of Elsdon Best and Tutakangahau' (Penguin, 2010) was short-listed for the Ernest Scott Prize (History) in Australia. Since retirement from his role as senior adjunct fellow at the University of Canterbury, he has taught creative writing in both primary and high school programmes.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Lily, Oh Lily: Searching for a Nazi ghost
Publisher: Canterbury University Press
Publication Date: 2025
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New