A thorough collection and examination of stories and perspectives from the Holocaust-related books of British Columbia authors, including nearly 100 black and white photographs.

Holocaust witnesses will soon cease to exist. As Tolstoy famously put it, what is to be done? One answer is Out of Hiding, a cross-section of stories collected from one region of the globe, British Columbia, Canada, examining 85 authors and 160 books.

Out of Hiding is both inspiring and chilling. The outstanding characters include the heroic whistleblower, Rudolf Vrba, credited by historian Sir Martin Gilbert with saving at least 100,000 lives, as well as Robbie Waisman, likely the only person ever to sneak his way into a concentration camp twice. This wide-ranging collection also features an afterword by Yosef Wosk and is dedicated to Dutch-born survivor Robert Krell, the MLK of Holocaust education in Canada.

Illustrated and profoundly educational, this patchwork quilt of memory and history belongs in every British Columbia household if the Holocaust is not to be forgotten, under-estimated or disregarded.

Alan Twigg is the publisher and editor of BC Book World, Canada's largest-circulating publication about books. He has also been contributing editor of Quill & Quire, Canadian books columnist for the Vancouver Province, books columnist for Vancouver magazine, a contributor of profiles to the Toronto Star and the Writers Union of Canada representative on the board of directors of the Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing. In 2000, he was the first recipient of the Gray Campbell Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contibutions to literature and publishing.

Alan is the author of ten previous titles including For Openers: Conversations with 24 Canadian Writers, Hubert Evans: The First Ninety-Three Years, Vancouver and Its Writers, Vander Zalm: from Immigrant to Premier, First Invaders: The Literary Origins of British Columbia and Cuba: 101 Top Historical Sites.

Alan Twigg's profile page

Yosef Wosk's profile page

Winner, George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature

Nominated, Western Canada Jewish Book Awards in the category for writing on the Holocaust

"A celebration of 85 authors/survivors who have written about their harrowing and inspiring stories." - Vancouver Sun

"In this profound and riveting collection of essays, Twigg has honoured Holocaust survivors and family members "who knew they had a secret to tell but never found the voice for it until later in life." Each essay is expertly researched and written. Highly recommended for secondary schools." – BC Books for Schools

A "fascinating" overview of BC Holocaust literature. The afterword by Rabbi Yosef Wosk "rounds out the collection with his thought-provoking reflections on hiding." - Jewish Independent

An "important publication" - Zachor (Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre)

"What Twigg's stunning testament achieves is to keep alive even unspoken Holocaust truths." - subTerrain Magazine

"Out of Hiding is well illustrated, so that people, locales and related artifacts from the BC milieu and its narratives are richly presented." - The BC Review

"The Holocaust must not to be forgotten, under-estimated or disregarded. This book represents the best way forward in the 21st century."- Dr. Robert Krell

"Out of Hiding is both inspiring and chilling." - Dr. Ruth Linn