j paul (j.p.) rieger
writer and attorney
A Most Unlikely Man: A Tale of Resistance
Isadore Levinsky is a survivor. No stranger to concentration camps, he’s been freighted by boxcar to yet one more, possibly his last, before death by rifle or neglect. He’s survived this far because he’s done what any person would do under the circumstances: everything possible, irrespective of the consequences for others.
At the nearly deserted Natzweiler-Struthof camp, Levinsky matches wits with fellow prisoner Otto Beck, a self-proclaimed pacifist, gentile and admitted liar. Beck has decreed that all food and water will be shared equally. He’s rallied the men and challenged his Nazi overseers, willingly taking their beatings and abuse. But is Beck a charismatic con man or a liberator? Previously convicted for his treachery, Beck is architect of an escape plan specifically designed to assist his Nazi captors. Can Levinsky and the men survive Beck and find their way to freedom?
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A Most Unlikely Man: A Tale of Resistance is a story that resonates with our own times and reflects the challenges to freedom that we face today. Uplifting and inspiring, the story draws us into a dark past we must never forget, while shining a ray of hope for our future.
“A beautifully written novella and compelling tale about prisoners of war during World War II. Rieger has created a story and characters that will stay with you for a while. We should all aspire to be more like Otto Beck and never lose hope.”
-- Michelle Paris, author of New Normal and Eat Dessert First
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“Rieger takes us on a harrowing journey through Holocaust hell but leaves us with a grace note of hope and peace. A moving tale of spiritual power.”
-- William Loving, author of Blue Earth River
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“Shakespearean in scope, Rieger has crafted a riveting tale of the power of words against evil. Otto Beck, a German Catholic pacifist convicted of treason and sent to a concentration camp for Jews in Alsace, has a plan to save fellow prisoners. They doubt his every word—indeed truth is murky throughout—but rather than fight each for himself, they agree to band together. Cleverly wrought, Beck’s strategy and his understanding of the human condition had me alternatively laughing and trembling. Can pacifism ever be as powerful as the barrel of a gun? This is a gift for those searching for ways to respond in troubled times.”
-- Patricia Meisol, journalist, biographer and author of A Heart Afire: Helen Brooke Taussig’s Battle Against Heart Defects, Unsafe Drugs, and Injustice in Medicine
Opening in a nursing home on Pesach, the Jewish holiday on which questions are asked and stories are told, J.P. Rieger’s urgent novella is the jaw-dropping tale of Isadore Levinsky (Saba to his grandson Nathan and to his great-grandchildren), a Holocaust survivor, and his time in a German concentration camp. A Most Unlikely Man: A Tale of Resistance is a fitting update to the traditional story of liberation that is related on Passover. Propelled by riveting dialogue, this story of surviving in the midst of barbaric cruelty is also a timely one as our government ramps up its own program of savage deportations and inhumanity.
-- Charles Rammelkamp, author of The Trapeze of Your Flesh and The Tao According to Calvin Coolidge
“J.P. Rieger’s A Most Unlikely Man: A Tale of Resistance is a gripping historical novella centered on Isadore Levinsky, a Jewish school principal imprisoned in Nazi-occupied France during the Holocaust….
In a place where freedom is stripped away, voice becomes everything. The discussions between prisoners—about God, death, family, and fate—are the beating heart of the story. And while Levinsky’s cynicism serves as a counterweight to Beck’s hope, it’s that tension between belief and despair that makes the story so relatable. This book doesn’t pretend to offer neat answers. It honors pain, confusion, even bitterness, and still makes room for possibility.
I’d recommend A Most Unlikely Man to anyone who appreciates deeply personal Holocaust literature, character-driven stories, or books that sit quietly with your conscience long after you finish them. It’s for readers who want to feel something real, not just historical context, but the raw human condition underneath it all.” -- Literary Titan
‘A gritty WW2 tale of bravery and loyalty as the story follows the escape of Jewish prisoners from the Nazis. Highly recommended!’
The Wishing Shelf - Star Rating: 5
Purchase directly from Blue Cedar Press or any independent book shop like The Ivy. Also available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
