Angela Griffith

The life tale of Eddie Jaku was nothing short of miraculous. He was a Jewish guy who was born in Germany in 1912 and experienced rising prejudice as the Nazi party gained power. He was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1941, where he experienced the worst atrocities of the Holocaust. Despite the challenging circumstances, Eddie made it out of the camp and maintained his optimism throughout the adventure. He made the decision to concentrate on the beauty of his surroundings and frequently drew the flowers, birds, and trees he saw. He engaged in enjoyable pursuits like poetry writing to keep himself occupied. Eddie was adamant that the atrocities he had witnessed would not define him after the war. He decided to pay attention to his aspirations for a better life. He emigrated to Australia in 1949 and established himself as a prosperous businessman. He married his passionately loved wife and they had two children, whom he loved very much. Eddie was able to construct a stunning existence for himself out of the abyss of hopelessness. He earned the moniker "the happiest man on Earth," which he genuinely deserved. He was a brilliant example of optimism, fortitude, and courage. Eddie was a guy of enormous faith who thought that despite difficulties, good could always arise from any circumstance. His experience serves as a powerful lesson on the value of optimism, the necessity of finding joy in life, and the resilience of the human spirit. He will always be regarded as a symbol of bravery and resiliency and an inspiration to future generations.

A Memoir of an Auschwitz Survivor

Being The Happiest Man on Earth

Marguerite H. Helmers

Roisin Askale Kennedy

"The work and career of the celebrated artist Harry Clarke is inextricably linked to the complex nature of early-twentieth-century Irish culture and of modernism. This beautifully designed and fully illustrated book assesses how Clarke and his studios responded to public and private commissions in glass and in illustration. Clarke's contribution is analysed in the context of the quest for a cohesive identity by the new Irish Free State and situated within international art and design movements. The book examines the complex relationship between visual art and literature that lies at the heart of Clarke's contribution to post-independence society in Ireland. Its scholarly essays highlight the impact of patronage, public reception, advertising, propaganda, war and memory on Clarke's work, placing it within a larger political, artistic and cultural context. Essential reading for art lovers and scholars alike, Harry Clarke and Artistic Visions of the New Irish State will appeal to anyone interested in the arts of Ireland, and the history and development of early- to mid-twentieth-century visual and material culture"--Inside front flap.

Angela Griffith

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