Speaking at Georgetown University

On June 2-4, 2017, I returned to the campus of Georgetown University (my alma mater) for reunion weekend. [This year marked an astounding 42 years since I had graduated!] It was fun to share some of the excitement with the classes of 2012, 2007, 2002, etc., as well as some spectacularly fine weather (something of a rarity for DC in June).

At the McGhee Library, Georgetown University

More importantly, I had the opportunity to speak about Odd Nansen as a guest of the University’s Center for Jewish Civilization. The talk was curated by Fr. Dennis McManus, a professor at the Center who teaches on Holocaust subjects, including survivors’ memoirs, autobiographies and diaries. Fr. McManus’ comments on Nansen’s diary can be found here. It was a most enjoyable event, and afterward I was able to seat myself at the University bookstore with my books and met many wonderful alums of all ages. Truly a memorable weekend (I was even able to visit some old campus haunts).

Finally, I had the pleasure of being interviewed about my efforts to bring Odd Nansen back to print by Kate Colwell of the University’s development staff. The interview can be found here. Many thanks to Jim Warycha of the development staff for all his help in coordinating the presentation, the bookstore visit and the interview, to Kate for the interview, and to Fr. McManus for his interest in and support for Odd Nansen’s diary.

All photos courtesy of Jordan Silverman, Georgetown University. (c) Georgetown University

From Day to Day: One Man’s Diary of Survival in Nazi Concentration Camps

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“I want to thank Tim Boyce for this . . . . It would be lost to history if people like Tim Boyce did not devote the effort and time and expense–a good part of his life–to preserve the Odd Nansen story. It is a moving and gripping story. . . .”

–U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal

Hailed by The New Yorker as “among the most compelling documents to come out of the war,” From Day to Day is a World War II concentration camp diary—one of only a handful ever translated into English—secretly written by Odd Nansen, a Norwegian political prisoner. Arrested in January 1942, Nansen, son of polar explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen (Nobel Peace Prize 1922) was held captive for the duration of the war in various Nazi camps in Norway and Germany.

Nansen’s diary entries detail his palpable longing for his wife and family, his constantly frustrated hopes for release, the quiet strength and sometimes ugly prejudices of his fellow prisoners, and his horror at the especially barbaric treatment reserved for the Jews. The diary brilliantly illuminates Nansen’s daily struggle, not only to survive, but to preserve his sanity and maintain his humanity in a world engulfed by fear and hate.

First published in English in 1949, From Day to Day had been out of print for almost seventy years. The new edition contains entries and sketches never previously available in English. It also features a new introduction and extensive annotations by Timothy Boyce and a preface by Thomas Buergenthal, whose life (as a ten year-old) Nansen saved while in Sachsenhausen, later recounted in his own memoir A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy.

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0 events 8 0 events, 8	4 events 9 4 events, 9 2026-06-09 1949 – George Orwell’s 1984 published 1949 – George Orwell’s 1984 published June 9 1949 – George Orwell’s 1984 published George Orwell's 1984 published 2026-06-09 1940 – Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends 1940 – Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends June 9 1940 – Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends 2026-06-09 1945 – Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family 1945 – Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family June 9 1945 – Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family 2026-06-09 1870 – Charles Dickens Dies Age 58 1870 – Charles Dickens Dies Age 58 June 9 1870 – Charles Dickens Dies Age 58	2 events 10 2 events, 10 2026-06-10 1942 – the Lidice Massacre 1942 – the Lidice Massacre June 10 1942 – the Lidice Massacre the Lidice Massacre 2026-06-10 1610 – First Dutch Settlers Land on Manhattan 1610 – First Dutch Settlers Land on Manhattan June 10 1610 – First Dutch Settlers Land on Manhattan	1 event 11 1 event, 11 2026-06-11 1776 – Continental Congress Appoints Committee to Draft Declaration of Independence 1776 – Continental Congress Appoints Committee to Draft Declaration of Independence June 11 1776 – Continental Congress Appoints Committee to Draft Declaration of Independence	1 event 12 1 event, 12 2026-06-12 1929 – Anne Frank is born 1929 – Anne Frank is born June 12 1929 – Anne Frank is born Anne Frank is born	1 event 13 1 event, 13 2026-06-13 1944 – Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain 1944 – Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain June 13 1944 – Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain	1 event 14 1 event, 14 2026-06-14 1941 – Grini Camp opened as a Polizeihäftlingslager 1941 – Grini Camp opened as a Polizeihäftlingslager June 14 1941 – Grini Camp opened as a Polizeihäftlingslager
2 events 15 2 events, 15 2026-06-15 1215 – Magna Carta Signed 1215 – Magna Carta Signed June 15 1215 – Magna Carta Signed 2026-06-15 1775 – George Washington Accepts Command of Continental Army 1775 – George Washington Accepts Command of Continental Army June 15 1775 – George Washington Accepts Command of Continental Army	1 event 16 1 event, 16 2026-06-16 1858 – Lincoln Gives “House Divided” Speech 1858 – Lincoln Gives “House Divided” Speech June 16 1858 – Lincoln Gives “House Divided” Speech	3 events 17 3 events, 17 2026-06-17 1896 – Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land 1896 – Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land June 17 1896 – Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land 2026-06-17 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill June 17 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill 2026-06-17 1972 – Break-In At Watergate Complex 1972 – Break-In At Watergate Complex June 17 1972 – Break-In At Watergate Complex	3 events 18 3 events, 18 2026-06-18 1931 – Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born 1931 – Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born June 18 1931 – Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born 2026-06-18 1812 – War of 1812 Begins 1812 – War of 1812 Begins June 18 1812 – War of 1812 Begins 2026-06-18 1815 – Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo 1815 – Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo June 18 1815 – Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo	0 events 19 0 events, 19	0 events 20 0 events, 20	1 event 21 1 event, 21 2026-06-21 1788 – U.S. Constitution Ratified 1788 – U.S. Constitution Ratified June 21 1788 – U.S. Constitution Ratified
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From Day to Day: One Man’s Diary of Survival in Nazi Concentration Camps