My Grandfather's Knife

In "My Grandfather’s Knife," Joseph Pearson, a writer and cultural historian, explores the haunting legacy of objects from the Nazi era, starting with a menacing knife inherited from his grandfather. As he uncovers the stories behind five artifacts, including a diary and a double bass, Pearson reveals the lives of their original owners—a prairie boy, a romantic, a cook, a musician, and a Holocaust survivor. This historical detective story challenges our understanding of memory, urging us to consider the truths and distortions that everyday relics can convey about a painful past.