Tin Ring

Zdenka Fantlova's peaceful life was changed forever when she was sent to Terezin concentration camp. Here she was given a humble engraved tin ring by her first love Arno. When he gave her the ring he said, 'That's for our engagement. And to keep you safe. If we are both alive when the war ends I will find you'. Arno was sent East on a penal transport later that same day. Zdenka survived six concentration camps including Auschwitz, Gross Rosen, Mauthausen and Belsen - the worst of all - risking her life for the tin ring. In the last chaotic days of the war in Belsen she crawled to a Red Cross post. There she was saved by an unknown British soldier to whom the book is dedicated. A unique and incredible story of love, human endurance and will power.

'Zdenka Fantlova and her story made a lasting impression. She survived six concentration camps, endured horrors the like of which most of us can't begin to comprehend, yet never lost the will to live or her optimism for a better future. During her time in the camps she kept a little tin ring, made for her by her boyfriend. She risked her life to keep this humble object that meant so much to her.' Fiona Bruce, BBC's Antiques Roadshow and BBC News 'This book is unique in many ways. Not only is it an autobiographical narrative of exceptional quality and sensitivity, not only does it relate events and experiences of an extraordinary life full of suffering, passion and resilience, not only does the author emerge as a most remarkable human being brimming with compassion, curiosity and zest for life but, above all, this book, in a most subtle way, is also highly original in its approach and this deserves to be acknowledged, appreciated, welcomed and applauded. Above all, this book is an extremely rare testimony of defiance against brutalisation and humiliation, it is a humble expression of the power of endurance and love, it is written with sincerity and sensitivity and it is a book that makes us think and question life and human relationships in surprisingly refreshing ways.' Renos K. Papadopoulos, Professor and Director of the Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees, University of Essex 'An Incredible Story.' BBC Television

Zdenka Fantlova is one of the few living eye-witnesses to the horror of the Holocaust, to which she lost her entire family. For as long as she lives Zdenka is determined to tell her inspiring story of great love, and of what happened in the Holocaust, to as many people as possible. The Tin Ring is a unique account of how a seventeen-year-old girl survived the horrors of six Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. An incredible story of human endurance and will power.