“There are nights when the whole world seems to be a vast, dark labyrinth, and you are lost in it.”
Chapter 1: The Encounter
A nameless narrator, a German refugee, wanders the streets of Lisbon during World War II. He meets a desperate man, Josef Schwarz, who offers him two tickets to America in exchange for listening to his story. The narrator agrees, and Schwarz begins recounting his harrowing journey.
Chapter 2: Flight from Germany
Schwarz, a political dissident, flees Nazi Germany after being imprisoned. He describes the terror of escaping the Gestapo and the constant fear of betrayal. His wife, Helen, joins him, and they move through Europe, always one step ahead of capture.
Chapter 3: The Long Road to Portugal
The couple travels through France, relying on forged documents and the kindness of strangers. They endure hunger, exhaustion, and the ever-present threat of deportation. Schwarz recounts moments of fleeting hope, such as finding temporary shelter with sympathetic resistance fighters.
Chapter 4: Betrayal and Separation
Helen is arrested during a failed escape attempt, and Schwarz is forced to leave her behind to avoid capture. Consumed by guilt, he continues alone, determined to reach Lisbon—a neutral port where refugees seek passage to freedom.
Chapter 5: The Price of Survival
Schwarz arrives in Lisbon but is unable to secure passage without Helen. He meets a smuggler who offers him two tickets—one for himself and one for Helen, if he can find her. The narrator realizes Schwarz’s story is a plea for help.
Chapter 6: The Final Decision
Schwarz reveals that Helen is dead, executed by the Nazis. He gives the tickets to the narrator, unable to bear the thought of leaving without her. The narrator, moved by Schwarz’s sacrifice, accepts but is left haunted by the story.
Chapter 7: The Dawn of a New Journey
The narrator boards the ship to America, carrying Schwarz’s grief and resilience with him. As Lisbon fades into the distance, he reflects on the cost of war and the fragile hope of those left behind.
Key Ideas
- The brutality of war and its impact on ordinary lives.
- The psychological toll of exile and displacement.
- Sacrifice and love in the face of oppression.
- The fleeting nature of hope for refugees.
- The moral dilemmas of survival.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in WWII historical fiction.
- Those exploring themes of exile and human resilience.
- Fans of Remarque’s poignant, introspective style.