North to Freedom
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.
12 -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, the year of the Russian Revolution.
His only friend in the camp, Johannes, died some time before from a heart attack, as is revealed in a flashback in Chapter 1. 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 finds a truck headed for Salonika, and without realizing it, climbs on board. He eats some of the food inside and when the truck stops, he jumps out. He finds a boat labeled "Italy" and sneaks in. After hiding for a few days and getting quite drunk (accidentally), he is found. Thankfully, the Italian sailor decides to help David escape by lowering him down the side of the ship with a lifebelt on. He floats to land and, after climbing for a little ways, promptly falls asleep.
After having a long needed bath, David finds a cave to spend the day in. Then he decides to go to the town nearby to learn about life outside of a prison camp. He is given, much to his surprise, a loaf of bread. He also finds a piece of newspaper that he uses to practice reading with. Later, after visiting the town every day for a while, David decides uses the excuse that he works for a circus to explain why he is a polyglot and why he is traveling. Then he overhears people talking about him. He flees the town and travels north. 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.
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Wikipedia