Before the Beginning and After the End - Anisman, Hymie

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Résumé :
How do survivors of genocide come to terms with the horrors they witnessed and experienced? Do they become shells of what they had been, or do they find meaningful ways of re-establishing their lives and move forward productively? In this book, part memoir and part historical novel, the life trajectory of several Shoah survivors is described, including the author's parents, sister, aunt, uncle, cousins, and family friends. Some were able to survive by leaving subjugated countries before the Nazis could imprison them, others were able to hide in forests or in the homes of Righteous Christians, and a few others somehow survived the terror of the concentration camps. Most of the author's family, including grandparents, brothers, and sisters did not survive, but parts of their stories are told in this book. The lives of survivors prior to and during the Shoah is described as are their post-Shoah experiences that allowed them to reclaim their identities and begin anew.

Biographie:
Hymie Anisman received his PhD in 1972 (University of Waterloo), and has been a Professor at Carleton University, Ottawa, since that time. Professor Anisman was a Senior Ontario Mental Health Research Fellow (1999-2006), held a Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. The principle theme of his research has concerned the influence of stressors on neurochemical and neuroendocrine systems, and how these influence psychological (anxiety, depression) and immune-related disorders. His work has spanned animal models to assess stress-related pathology as well as studies in humans to assess stress, coping and appraisal processes. In this regard, he has assessed the impact of chronic strain emanating from discrimination and stigmatization on anxiety, depression, and PTSD among refugees from war-torn regions, and health consequences among Indigenous groups that suffered childhood traumatization, distress associated with abusive relationships, as well as the transmission of trauma effects across generations. Aside from examining diverse vulnerability factors that foster illnesses, his research has also focused on identifying factors that promote resilience in the face of trauma. Professor Anisman has published more than 400 peer-reviewed journal papers and book chapters, two edited books dealing with stress processes and psychoneuroimmunology, and five books concerning stress and health....

Sommaire:
How do survivors of genocide come to terms with the horrors they witnessed and experienced? Do they become shells of what they had been, or do they find meaningful ways of re-establishing their lives and move forward productively? In this book, part memoir and part historical novel, the life trajectory of several Shoah survivors is described, including the author's parents, sister, aunt, uncle, cousins, and family friends. Some were able to survive by leaving subjugated countries before the Nazis could imprison them, others were able to hide in forests or in the homes of Righteous Christians, and a few others somehow survived the terror of the concentration camps. Most of the author's family, including grandparents, brothers, and sisters did not survive, but parts of their stories are told in this book. The lives of survivors prior to and during the Shoah is described as are their post-Shoah experiences that allowed them to reclaim their identities and begin anew....