Fred Uhlman's 'Reunion'

Fred Uhlman was a lawyer by profession. He was a German and of Jewish origin. He was born on January 19,1901 in Stuttgart, Germany. 'Reunion', his novella was published in 1977. Arthur Koestler in his Introduction to the book called it "a minor masterpiece". His other books include: 'Captivity: twenty-four drawings'(1946), 'The Making of an Englishman'(1960). I was reminded of his book entitled 'Reunion' when my eyes fell on a paper in my file on which I had written a quotation from the same book. I had read it when I was in school, probably in eighth standard.
I am producing his quotation from 'Reunion' here for all of you:

"I don't know where I read that 'death undermines our confidence in life by showing that in the end everything is equally futile before the final darkness'. Yes, 'futile' is the right word. Still I musn't grumble: I have more friends than enemies and there are moments when I am almost glad to be alive. When I watch the sun set and moon rise, or see snow mountain tops."

This book is about the loss of innocence in pre-war Germany. "Reunion "is the story of intense and innocent devotion between two young men.The two boys share their personal thoughts, their trips to the countryside of southwest Germany, discuss poetry and the past and present of their country, and discuss the existence of a benevolent God. In the end he is one of them is united with his friend when he sees his name in the list of dead people.

"Hundreds of bulky tomes have now been written about the age when corpses were melted into
soap to keep the master race clean; yet I sincerely believe that this slim volume will find its lasting place on the shelves."-- writes Arthur Koestler in the "Introduction".

Fred Uhlman died in London on April 11, 1985.