Gazing upon this burial site you might ponder about a Jewish boy’s survival during the Holocaust. This is the final resting place of Joseph Joffo in Père Lachaise Cemetery. He was born in Paris on April 2 1931. He died on December 6 2018 in Saint-Laurent-du-Var at the age of 87.
Joseph Joffo was a French author known for his autobiographical works. His most famous memoir is “Un sac de billes” or “A Bag of Marbles.” It tells his experiences as a young Jewish boy during the Holocaust.
In 1941 young Joseph and his brother Maurice had to flee Nazi-occupied Paris. Their father gave them 5000 francs each. He instructed them to head to Menton in unoccupied France. This is where their older brothers Henri and Albert were. “A Bag of Marbles” tells of this perilous journey.
Imagine ten-year-old Joseph and his twelve-year-old brother traveling alone across France. They were trying to avoid capture by Hitler’s SS men. The boys traveled south through France toward the demilitarized zone. They eventually reached Menton. They spent four months with their older brothers. Later they had to leave for Nice where their parents waited.
After Paris was liberated Joseph returned to the city by a crowded train. Maurice returned by road. He brought back enough cheese to sell for a profit. The family was reunited at their barbershop. Sadly their father had perished in a concentration camp.
“A Bag of Marbles” became a success. It was translated into 18 languages. Two French films were made from the book. One was released in 1975 and the other in 2017.
Joffo also wrote “Anna et son orchestre”. It tells the story of his mother. It begins when she was eleven. The book continues until she met Joseph Joffo’s father in Paris. In 1977 he published “Baby-foot”. This novel describes his life in Paris after World War II. It shows his discovery of American values. “La Vieille dame de Djerba” was published in 1984. It tells of Joffo’s encounter with a woman named Liza. He met her at a synagogue in Djerba. Djerba is an island off the coast of Tunisia. He learned she knew his mother and grandmother’s names.
Joseph Joffo’s life was marked by hardship survival and storytelling. His books offer a glimpse into a difficult time in history. They show the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Joseph Joffo’s legacy lives on. His story continues to resonate with readers around the world.