The Displaced by Sharif Gemie delves into the immense human tragedy of World War Two, exploring the staggering displacement of 55 million people across Europe. The novel brings to life the plight of the 11 million who were homeless after the war; focusing on the 8 million displaced in Germany alone —among them, civilian laborers, prisoners of war, concentration camp survivors, anticommunists and former Nazi collaborators all fleeing the Red Army’s advance. The Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) and the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) were established in 1943 to help displaced persons. Against this tumultuous backdrop, the novel offers an engaging and unsettling exploration of the post-war world through the eyes of its protagonists, Edmund and Eleanor.
The story opens with Edmund returning to his London flat and bookshop, wrestling with grief and disorientation following the death of his wife, Eleanor, in Germany. The narrative then skillfully weaves back in time, tracing the origins of Edmund and Eleanor’s relationship. What begins as a simple act of kindness—offering Eleanor shelter after her home is bombed—blossoms into a wartime romance, set against the backdrop of a world in flames. Unable to serve in the military due to epilepsy, Edmund takes on the role of commanding a fire unit, while he and Eleanor dream of a better world after the war.
Their idealism leads them to join the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) as volunteers to help with the monumental task of rebuilding wartorn Europe. The novel portrays the chaos of postwar France and Germany, as Edmund and Eleanor, along with a diverse team of volunteers, navigate a scarred landscape devastated by violence and loss. Their mission is fraught with moral complexities since the brief is to help the victims of Nazi oppression, not the German people.
Their first harrowing encounter happens when they enter a small German village: two hundred emaciated survivors are sheltering in a barn guarded by former a couple of SS officers. Some are nourished back to health while others die, underscoring the novel’s relentless focus on the human cost of war.
As the narrative progresses, Sharif Gemie does not shy away from the darker aspects of post-war recovery: tensions with the Germans, the challenges of dealing with vengeful Russian displaced persons, and the tricky task of repatriating Polish refugees since some to not want to return home, fearful of what they will find if they do.
When Eleanor is diagnosed as having early onset of TB she has to stop smoking and the pair go to Morocco as a cure for her. One evening they end up stuck in a railway station waiting for a train back to their lodgings, and end up talking to a couple: he is Palestinian, and furious with the British. A discussion ensues about the end of Empire.
The pair then pay a rare visit to Eleanor’s mother only to get a terrible shock: they find out that her father was not the man whom she had thought he was. When they get back to the UNRRA Assembly centre, politicking and corruption are rife with pain-killing medicines being in high demand.
What do The Fates hold in store for Edmund and Eleanor? How does love in a harsh climate survive?
The Displaced has a strong emphasis on human rights and the vision of a utopian world after the war with its characters being motivated by noble ideals, serving as vehicles for the novel’s themes and moral questions at play. It offers an enlightening read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those interested in the lesser-known aspects of the aftermath of World War Two. The portrayal of the complexities of post-war recovery and the idealism of those who sought to build a better world make The Displaced a thought-provoking and timely read.
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