“Reading Georgia Hunter’s We Were the Lucky Ones is like being swung heart first into history. Her engrossing and deeply affecting account of how the Kurc family survive the Holocaust, against every possible odd, will leave you breathless...A brave and mesmerizing debut, and a truly tremendous accomplishment.”
—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and Circling the Sun
We Were the Lucky Ones is the extraordinary, propulsive true story of a family of Polish Jews who are separated at the start of the Second World War, determined to survive—and to reunite
It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety.
As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere.
A novel of breathtaking sweep and scope that spans five continents and six years and transports readers from the jazz clubs of Paris to Kraków’s most brutal prison to the ports of Northern Africa and the farthest reaches of the Siberian gulag, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can find a way to survive, and even triumph.
Readers Guide
About the Story An extraordinary, propulsive novel based on the untold true story of a family of Polish Jews who are separated at the start of the Second World War, determined to survive—and to reunite. It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal…
We Were the Lucky Ones: About the Book
An extraordinary, propulsive novel based on the true story of a family of Polish Jews who are separated at the start of the Second World War, determined to survive—and to reunite
Author’s Note
An extraordinary, propulsive novel based on the true story of a family of Polish Jews who are separated at the start of the Second World War, determined to survive—and to reunite
Virtual Book Talk
Like other authors, I sorely miss the chance to meet with readers in person, thanks to social distancing – a necessary element of the Coronavirus pandemic. But maybe a silver lining is the ability to reach new audiences virtually, regardless of location. This week I was delighted to be “in the room” with readers from…
Sound Watch Interview
Georgia is featured in an in-depth interview in the January-February 2020 edition of Sound Watch News, a brand new publication distributed to all residents of Rowayton and Darien, CT. Lauren Henry delved into the backstory on We Were the Lucky Ones and asked about Georgia’s new projects.
“Inspired Stories” Keynote
Honored to have been featured as keynote speaker at the Oklahoma Conference of Churches Annual Dinner, themed “Inspired Stories.”
Why is Holocaust fiction still so popular?
That’s the question explored by Kveller and reposted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Emily Burack interviewed Georgia for her perspective on the topic, as well as Julie Orringer, author of the acclaimed novel, The Invisible Bridge, and of the upcoming The Flight Portfolio. It turns out the reasons for the popularity of Holocaust stories are…
Tracing the Family’s Footsteps: a 1,100-Kilometer Quest
The other day, when it registered that Wyatt would be starting school in a couple of weeks, I realized just how much of this summer has been devoted to The Eternal Ones.
Luck Was Only Part of It
It turns out my grandfather (who later changed his name, for obvious reasons, from Adolph/Addy to Eddy), was just one of over twenty Kurcs originally from Radom, Poland. He was living in Toulouse in ‘39 at the start of the war. When he learned it would be too dangerous to return home to Poland for Passover,...
About Me
Whether writing a scene for We Were The Lucky Ones or a trip description for a travel catalog, I’m constantly aware of the correlation between in-depth research and the ability to tell an authentic, intriguing story. No matter the audience, my aim is to provide enough sensory detail to pluck my readers from their everyday...
