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| Most people have a very limited idea about war. We all hear about battles, military campaigns, soldiers dying. But we know too little about the life of ordinary citizens during wartime and even less about the fate of children. Children’s points of view about war are also very rare. This is particularly true about the worst of all wars: World War two. In my book, “WAR AND PEACE IN MY BACKYARD”, I offer a rare view on war lived by a child. For me as a child, war seemed sometimes like a frightening and fascinating game played by adults. The trucks, the tanks, the airplanes, the dogfights, the strong and fearless soldiers, the relative chaos, the trickery to deceive the enemy; they all created a captivating world for the young naive boy. World War 2 brought all this to my backyard in the lovely green Dutch village of Oisterwijk. A German General and his staff occupied our house and so the war invaded my backyard. Then came the Allies, the Scots and the Canadians, who finally brought the long awaited liberation. But their arrival brought more death and suffering than celebration. My memories show the long way from naive children games to tragedy. Finally came the beginning of real peace and reconciliation, thanks to Traudi, a little german girl. The book is a witness account by a 7-year-old boy at the outbreak of war and an 11 year old, at the end. It is a story of hope. Here are the comments on “WAR AND PEACE IN MY BACKYARD” by ex-general Roméo Dallaire, son of a canadian soldier who participated in the liberation of Holland: “WAR AND PEACE IN MY BACKYARD”, brought me home, for my mother was a survivor of the Second World War in Europe, more precisely Holland. Those who lived through this long and murderous war of the twentieth century very rarely talk about it. I always asked myself what the daily life was in a country invaded and crushed under martial law. ...I often wondered if the children had the right to laugh, play and dream in all innocence, or did the foreign and crushing military occupation take this right away for ever? I have found the answer to the question that intrigued me for 50 years. It is here, so clear, simple, human and so innocent, in this marvelous book. «WAR AND PEACE IN MY BACKYARD» is the expression of youth caught in a web of complex and potentially deathly situations. But while one devours each page of this book so full of emotions, one enters literally into the daily life of children looking for joy, adventure and the maximum of innocence. The scenes chosen by the author to introduce us to a childhood that was almost lost, are the more revealing that they show us also the insight of the child.” I have, until today, met with more than 12 000 children and adults in the province of Quebec to talk about my war memories as a child. They have been touched and often even transformed. The book is often used by teachers in the classroom to help kids talk and think about war, peace, reconciliation, the role of the family and the resilience of children. You can purchase the book directly from the publisher (8.95$, plus taxes and mailing). The publisher’s address is below. The book will also be available in bookstores very soon. Kees Vanderheyden 190 rue Desrochers Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Qc J3H 3C8 450-467-2146 keesv@sympatico.ca Author also of: “La guerre dans ma cour” (Boréal 1995), “Enfants en guerre” (Boréal 2001) “War and Peace in my backyard” (Edipax 2005) soon : “The child of the enemy” (Edipax 2006) == THE PUBLISHER of “War and Peace in my backyard” : Éditions de la Paix 127, rue Lussier Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby Canada J0E 2A0 info@editpaix.qc.ca 450-375-4765 |
