Description
Kersten
Book summary
Kersten is a graphic novel that rescues one of the most enigmatic and heroic figures of the Second World War from oblivion. The work narrates the true story of Felix Kersten, Heinrich Himmler's personal physician, who used his privileged position to save 60,000 Jews from extermination camps. Through a highly tense graphic narrative, the authors explore the complex pact between a man of science and one of the greatest criminals of Nazism, offering a unique perspective on silent resistance and the price of complicity in times of barbarism.
What is it about?
The story begins on June 23, 1941, aboard an armored train heading to the Eastern Front. Traveling on it is Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, accompanied by his personal guard and staff. During treatment sessions with his private physician, Dr. Felix Kersten, Himmler relaxes and reveals confidential information about the Reich's secret plans. Kersten takes advantage of this trust to establish a sinister barter: in exchange for his medical services, he secures the release of prisoners of war. However, this pact with the devil does not go unnoticed. Reinhard Heydrich, head of the Gestapo and Himmler's right-hand man, begins to suspect that Kersten is an infiltrated Allied agent. Tension mounts as Kersten risks his life to push for the "Contract in the Name of Humanity," an agreement that will ultimately save 60,000 people from the extermination camps.
Main themes
- Silent resistance and civilian heroism in the heart of the Third Reich.
- The moral dilemma of forced complicity with evil.
- The complex relationship between executioner and savior during the Holocaust.
- Historical memory and the recovery of forgotten figures from the Second World War.
- The use of intelligence and psychological manipulation as weapons of survival.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is aimed at readers interested in historical graphic novels and true stories from the Second World War. It is especially recommended for those seeking lesser-known stories of resistance, away from the great battlefronts, that explore the moral complexity of those who operated within the orbit of Nazi power. It will also be of great interest to fans of documentary comics and graphic biographies of historical figures.
What this book offers
- A unique, documented vision of a real figure who saved tens of thousands of lives from inside the Nazi apparatus.
- A tale of suspense and political intrigue that humanizes one of the darkest periods in history.
- A profound reflection on the limits of morality and the price of complicity in contexts of extreme oppression.
- A graphic format with high narrative and visual quality that makes a complex and little-known story accessible.
Technical data
- Author: Perna, Pat; Bedouel, Fabien
- Publisher: Ponent Mon Cómics
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: GRAPHIC NOVELS, GRAPHIC NOVELS: TRUE STORIES AND NON-FICTION, COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS
- Collection: PONENT MON
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publication date: October 2019
- Number of pages: 96
- Weight: 820 g
Editorial review
Kersten is a work that achieves a difficult balance: narrating a true story of silent resistance with historical rigor while maintaining the pace of a political thriller. The collaboration between Perna and Bedouel offers a somber yet expressive visual account that captures the tension of a man trapped between his medical duty and his moral conscience. For readers seeking World War II stories from less-traveled angles, this graphic novel represents a valuable opportunity to discover a forgotten hero whose legacy deserves to be remembered.