I Am David
First UK edition
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| Author | Anne Holm |
|---|---|
| Original title | Jeg er David |
| Translator | L. W. Kingsland |
| Country | Denmark |
| Language | Danish |
| Genre | Children's, historical novel |
| Publisher |
Gyldendal Methuen (UK) |
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Publication date
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1963 |
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Published in English
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1965 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 191 |
| ISBN | (first English edition, hardback) |
| OCLC | 54006814 |
| LC Class | PZ7.H7322 Iae 2004 |
I am David is a 1963 novel by Anne Holm. It tells the story of a young boy who, with the help of a prison guard, escapes from a concentration camp in an unnamed Eastern European country (according to geographical clues, probably Bulgaria) and journeys to Denmark. Along the way he meets many people who teach him about life outside the camp.
The book, originally written in Danish, has been translated into several languages, including Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and German (all 1963), Dutch (1964), English (1965), Afrikaans (1981), French (1986) and Konkani (1987). In the United States, the book was first called North to Freedom, but it is now also being published as I am David. It was made into a film in 2003.
Twelve-year-old David has lived in a concentration camp for as long as he can remember. While the people who run the camp are only referred to as them, later in the book it is stated that they came to power in 1917, indicating that the captors are Communists.
His only friend in the camp, Johannes, died some time before, but one of the commandants has been keeping an eye on David, making sure he is fed properly and taking his vitamins. This guard sets up the escape, gives him some soap, and leaves a sack outside the camp fence with bread, a bottle of water, and a compass in it. David must go south to Salonika, find a boat to Italy, then travel north to a free country that has a king.
David uses the excuse that he works for a circus to explain why he is a polyglot and why he is travelling (to catch up with the circus which has gone ahead). On his way, he helps people, and sometimes they give him money. Along his journey, David discovers the beauty of the world and slowly he changes his behavior and the way he interacts with people.
He saves a girl named Maria from a fire in a shed where she was trapped. David spends some time in Maria's family's house, where he sees a globe and learns about different countries. However, his knowledge of suffering and death worries the parents. David overhears them talking about him and, after writing them a letter, leaves the house to travel north again. Some time later he sees a newspaper personal advertisement placed by Maria's family, offering him a home and saying they understand his reticence.
David has also been praying to the God of green pastures, and a priest explains that while some people say there are many gods, there really is only one.
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Wikipedia