Vilnius, an Eastern European city that underwent four regime changes from 1939 to 1944; Polish to Lithuanian to Russian to German before the final Russian occupation in 1944. The protagonists are three families living under the various conditions: the Polish family of Casimir Kataski; the Lithuanian family of Baron Eimontas; and the Jewish Bernstein family. The Soviet Union gives Lithuania back its historic capital, Vilnius, which had been under Polish rule. A year later the Soviets invade and occupy the whole country with the horror of totalitarian rule. The German Nazis arrive and are welcomed by certain segments of the population as liberators. In spite of the gulags, concentration camps, and war, life went on in the city. Its residents experienced lies and truths, love and hate, sex and rape, acceptance and betrayal. Their goal was simply survival and freedom for Lithuania.

“Phenomenal job weaving the stories together and creating a plot that’s harrowing and real.” Eileen Favorite, Instructor University of Chicago

“VILNIUS stand up well, when compared to other family novels such as Israel Joshua Singer’s THE BROTHERS ASHKENAZI. All in all, VILNIUS is a good informative historical novel.” Raanan Geberer for Reader’s Favorite

“A complex, yet incisive work with enough characters to populate a Tolstoy epic.” Rick Novak author of A SECOND COMING