An Epiphany in Lilacs: In the Aftermath of the Camps

An Epiphany in Lilacs is set in a displaced persons camp outside Hamburg, Germany, in the aftermath of World War II. The novel follows Daniel, a 14-year-old Latvian Jew, who arrives at a field hospital in the British zone after liberation in May 1945. A survivor of multiple concentration camps, Daniel struggles to recover from starvation and disease while battling recurring nightmares that make sleep difficult. Daniel seeks solace through his connection to nature and memories of his life before the war. He develops an unusual friendship with an older German gentile who is also a survivor. As Daniel joins a theater troupe, he attempts to rebuild his life while continuing to search for his mother and two sisters. The novel is loosely inspired by the author's father's experiences as a young Holocaust survivor.