Review: Q.B. VII

Q.B. VII Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Leon Uris
Class/Genre: Fiction

QB VII stands for "Queen's Bench seven" which is a particular court house in London. This novel by Leon Uris, published in 1970, consists of an introduction and three parts. Near the end of World War II, Dr Adam Kelno was rescued by the Russians from a Nazi prison camp. Shortly afterwards, Communist Poland wants him extradited for war crimes. Kelno is held in prison for over two years while the processing and hearing takes place. The request is denied and Kelno is set free. Part one chronicles Kelno's life from the time he leaves the war, through the extradition hearing and until the second trial. Part two chronicles the same period of time for an Abraham Cady, a writer, who was a flying ace during the war, but is injured. He becomes a journalist and later a novelist. Eventually (late sixties) writes a non-fiction on the Holocaust and includes a bit about Kelno being a prisoner-doctor who assisted the Nazi's with medical experiments on captured Jews. Part three is the civil trial where Dr. Kelno sues Cady for libel. He wants a trial, damages, a public apology and changes to the book to retract the statement.

There was a Made For TV movie starring Ben Gazzara and Anthony Hopkins done in 1975 which I saw while I was in the service. I remember being absolutely fascinated by the story and so much so, that I actually considered reading the book (This was well before my reading days). But I never got around to it. At year end (2001), I noticed the film came out on video. So I picked it up and decided to read the book.

My recollection of the film was extremely faulty. I only remember the court scenes and I thought it was extraordinarily suspenseful. In the book, at odds was whether or not this Doctor Kelno was in fact a war criminal. We have seen how he has done some extraordinary work since the war in the out-back of Borneo for years and becomes Knighted for his research. When he returns to London, he continues his work with the lower class in a public health hospital. He has deliberately been playing it low key. After spending two years in prison dealing with the extradition, he's concerned the communist will continue to come after him.

Cady, on the other hand, is a talented writer, but seems to gravitate toward "Hollywood" and block busters. As the story progresses, he begins to wonder if he even has it within him to write something of "value". He finally does, and it's Holocaust. It's a smash hit, not only with the public, but the critics as well. So, did he make a mistake in his research? Only the trial will tell, Kelno is not about to discuss out of court settlements.

The film is roughly the same as the book. Kelno's work was done in Kuwait, not Borneo and some scenes were set in Israel rather than other parts of Europe as the book at them set.

To a young man in my mid-twenties, the film had me on the edge of my seat. But on this side of life, almost thirty years later, I seem to see everything coming even though I don't remember the film all that well. In all honesty, I didn't remember how it ended, so I didn't have to deal with a spoiler. I remembered that what intrigued me was the ping pong back and forth of "he did it" and "he didn't do it". Maybe, also, being of the tender age of 26 or 27, that I didn't really know the extent of the atrocities of the Holocaust and this film had the additional impact of bringing my attention to it. Since then, not a year has gone by that something in the public forum doesn't bring it up. I don't mean to be insensitive, but man's inhumanity to man is nothing new, and as horrible as this event was, it isn't the only atrocity. There were also 6 million non-Jews massacred in those camps as well. That's not to mention the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Conquistadors, or the American Manifest Destiny's impact on native Americans and, of course, let us not forget slavery (which, I believe, is issue not a country on earth can claim innocence). Consequently, this story line or theme, if you will, just doesn't have the same impact on me as it did the first time around. Also, because the story parallels a real-life situation with Leon Uris, himself, and his book "Exodus" (which I didn't know then), there wasn't quite the suspense.

There were some differences between the film and the book. Cady, the writer, was more of a jerk in the film than the book painted him to be. The Kelno character was more sympathetic in the film, at least, initially.

Nevertheless, I have to say, the book will stay with me like few do. Whether you're a pup just starting out in life or have been around the block a few times, it will probably stay with you as well.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Jeff Kreider - RAM

Book Review: Q.B. VII