A Q&A WITH JAN CASEY
Margarete makes a life changing decision in a split-second — what would you have done in Margarete’s position?
Thankfully, I have never been in Margarete’s position. She had so many major, life-changing events to contend with during her young life, not least of all losing her mother as a toddler and living through Kristallnacht. On top of all that, she was put on a train to London, a place that was completely alien to her. I fully understand why she made the decision to say Ilse was her sister. She desperately wanted and needed someone to love and to be loved in return. Also, she was genuinely concerned for Ilse’s safety and well-being. But of course, she could not envisage the lifelong consequences for everyone involved. But putting myself in Margarete’s position, I think I would have made the same decision.
What drew you to write a story set during the Kindertransport and how much research went into it?
The Kindertransport was a remarkable feat. I was reading about it one day when I was struck by what a huge impact it must have had on the children and adults at both ends of the journey. I don’t think I had fully appreciated that before. Some children had a wonderful experience, others underwent added hardship once in Great Britain. I wanted to show both sides of this story. In addition, I was interested in the effect fostering a Kindertransport child would have had on an entire family.
I spent many hours on research, trying to understand how the Kindertransport journey worked, the types of people who would volunteer to foster the children, how the children were treated and how the effects of the experience didn’t cease once the war ended. I really wanted to get across the fact that this was an event that shaped whole lives.
Was there a scene that was especially emotional or difficult to write?
Several! But one in particular was when Margarete decides to run away from her foster home. It felt as though I were dropping her right back into a place where she was utterly alone. I so wanted her to feel safe and cared for and there I was, sending her off into the unknown.
What kind of conversation do you hope the book sparks?
More than anything I hope the book sparks thoughts or discussion about how everyone in the world — no matter their race, religion, gender, nationality — wants the same basic things. How we go about getting those things is often different from country to country and culture to culture and that is what we should learn to accept and celebrate. After World War 2 Europe agreed that nothing as heinous should ever happen again. But sadly, some of the same prejudices are rearing their ugly heads again. It would be wonderful if readers could have sympathy and empathy with the three main characters in the book and decide that prejudice should never touch humanity again.
What other historical sagas do you recommend?
Any of these are fantastic: Little by Edward Carey, Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey, James by Percival Everett, Anything At All by Helen Dunmore and Anna Hope, Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim, A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel, Dear Mrs Bird by A J Pearce and Zuleikha by Guzel Yakhina.