Review of The Endless Steppe

Review of The Endless Steppe

The book is a war-time autobiography about Esther Hautzig's exile to

Russia during World War 1. At the beginning of the account it is set

in Poland and then transfers with the movement of the refugees she is

with to Russia. Esther Hautzig wrote the book looking back on her past

life in 1968.

The First World War affected Esther's life from 1939 when Hitler's

armies marched on Poland until when she was released from exile in

1946. In 1940 the Russians who were allies of Germany occupied Vilna

the place where Esther and her family lived. Ether and her family

embark upon their adventure when they are accused of being capitalists

and are arrested by some Russian soldiers.

Esther grows up a lot during her experiences in exile. She evolves

from a rich girl living in a well-off family and takes everything for

granted into a responsible, independent young woman. She learns to be

grateful over the smallest of things and also learns how important

family is when half of it is taken away from her.

There are various different incidents which show what Esther learns

from her exile and, show her growth into a responsible young woman.

The first incident that I have chosen shows Esther's immaturity at the

start of the story. It is the part of the story where all of the other

children at school have silk panties and Esther really wants some to

be like all the others. Her mother refuses to get her some and so they

begin a big argument. Esther decides that she won't go to school until

she gets some. Eventually she gives in when it is time for her to go

to grade school.

Here are some quotes from this incident ...

... middle of paper ...

...to recover from the loss of her husband. She fears she

will lose her son as well. This incident is testing for Esther.

Here are some quotes from this event.

"I felt an ill wind blow through the hut"

"I watched his face as he read. It had gone white…"

"I finally extracted the terrible truth"

"…Front Lines!…"

"I don't want to be brave. I'm sick and tired of being brave. Tata

please don't go…"

"But we are all alone here in Siberia…"

"Mother wept…My worst fears were confirmed…"

"I stayed in the hut, still weeping"

From this incident Esther learns that she is going to have to be

strong once more to help her family through this difficult time. Her

mother and grandmother are just as devastated as her so she has no one

to turn to for comfort. She has to be strong and manage alone."