In anticipation of Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2025, Holocaust Centre North has unveiled its first poetry collection, Poetry After Auschwitz: Walking in West Cornwall with the Ghost of Great-Aunt Hilde. The collection, written by Ben Barkow CBE, a historian and educator, reflects on the Holocaust through the lens of his family’s experiences.
A New Venture into Poetry
Ben Barkow, former Director of the Wiener Holocaust Library, is well-known for his work in Holocaust studies. However, this collection marks his first foray into poetry. Over the past two and a half years, inspired by the landscape of Cornwall, Barkow composed these poems from his home there.
A Search for Family History
Barkow, like many descendants of Holocaust survivors, grew up with little knowledge of his family’s past. After the death of his parents, he began piecing together their history, a challenging task due to limited correspondence and records.
Living in Cornwall four years ago sparked a breakthrough. In November 2021, after settling there, Barkow woke one night with words flowing through his mind. He wrote for an hour and immediately realized he had written poetry. Over the next two and a half years, he completed around 30–35 poems that became this collection. Barkow describes poetry as the ideal form to explore his family’s fragmented history.
A Journey Through Memory
The collection takes readers on a journey through locations important to Barkow’s family history, including Berlin, Ramat Gan, Jerusalem, New York, and Orkney. It contrasts peaceful English landscapes with the horrors of the Holocaust, asking profound questions about the Holocaust’s legacy and the role of poetry in conveying its significance.
Honoring Family Through Verse
The poems introduce readers to key figures in Barkow’s family, including his parents, grandparents, and great-aunt Hilde Rosenthal Laubhardt. In particular, Barkow reflects on letters from his great-aunt, who survived Ravensbrück and Malchow concentration camps. Decades ago, she entrusted him with the letters and advised him, “Mach damit kein Mist” (Don’t make mischief with them).
This collection is a tribute to his family and a way to honor their memory.
Artistic Expression and Holocaust Memory
Dr. Alessandro Bucci, Director of Holocaust Centre North, shared his thoughts on the importance of artistic responses to Holocaust history. He noted that artistic works help capture the complexities and nuances of the Holocaust, which traditional history may not fully convey. Bucci expressed delight when Barkow approached the Centre with his collection, emphasizing the synergy between their missions.
Publication and Future Works
Poetry After Auschwitz: Walking in West Cornwall with the Ghost of Great-Aunt Hilde will be published on December 4 by Holocaust Centre North. It is available for pre-order. This collection is the first in the Centre’s Memorial Gestures programme, which aims to combine creative engagement with Holocaust education. The programme will continue in Spring 2025 with works from Rey Conquer and Tom Hastings, the Centre’s first translator- and writer-in-residence.
