The story of Sam Herciger provides us with a powerful Holocaust memoir. It traces the journey of an aspiring young artist who embarks on a quest to find artistic freedom during the danger-filled period of Nazi hegemony in Europe. Sam's life is then caught up in some of the most dramatic events of the 20th century. His adventures begin in prewar Poland, where Sam grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home. It is there that he meets a mysterious figure on the banks of the shining Vistula River, a man who prophesies he would one day achieve fame. Sam's desire to study art leads him into countless places of peril, including Stalin's Russia and Nazi Germany. Yet, the creative vision which drove him on gave him the courage to endure unimaginable trials, as did the inspirational works of art he encountered. Sam Herciger's story shows that steadfast commitment to the ideals of love, beauty, and truth can conquer seemingly invincible evil. It is a testament to the greatness of the human spirit.