EP. 897: THE COURTYARD ft. ALEXA MORRIS

Get Alex's book here: https://www.alexamorris.com/buy   It’s 1937, the eve of World War II, and young Ben (then known as Bernard) lives with his Polish-immigrant family in a working-class courtyard in Paris. While there aren’t many other Jews in the courtyard—a bustling place teeming with a colorful cast of characters—the Parkets feel welcome. To Ben the courtyard is both home and playground—a magical place where he watches his father varnish furniture, gets into trouble with cranky neighbors, and splits pain au chocolate with his best friend Titi.     With the German occupation of Paris, Ben’s world changes dramatically. They must turn in their radios and surrender their bicycles. They are only allowed to shop late in the day and must observe a strictly enforced curfew. Hours before the Nazis come to arrest the Parket family in July 1942, Madame Nicolas from the apartment upstairs tips them off that their names are on a list. Their neighbors band together to protect them, hiding the family in a vacant warehouse across the courtyard from their apartment. The courtyard becomes a refuge. With their world turned upside down, it is Ben’s job, at only nine years old, to leave the courtyard each day to get food for his family. And even with the neighbors watching out for them, there is danger lurking everywhere—including in certain corners of the courtyard itself.     A story about goodness in a time of great evil, The Courtyard is a much-needed reminder of how a small group of people can make a difference.   Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop   READ THE WEEKLY TIR NEWSLETTER HERE: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1853497   Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined,   BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH!   Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents?   Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!)   THANKS Y'ALL   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3egFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/Twitter: @TIRShowOaklandInstagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland   Substack: https://jmylesoftir.substack.com/.../the-money-will-roll...   Read Jason Myles in Current Affairs Magazine here: https://www.currentaffairs.org/.../donald-trump-is-a-pro...Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazinehttps://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/Read Jason in Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/rainbow-and-machine