Berlin, early 1940s. Hitler’s Nazi party is in power and the city is under attack from Allied bombers. Maurice, a lonely German bachelor, only wants to be left alone with his modest home and small collection of books. But when he speaks out against the Fuhrer in a public place, he finds himself on an unlikely journey: in a cattle car on a train bound east, with strangers he’ll grow to befriend. As things turn from bad to worse, his new friends find comfort in Maurice’s talent for storytelling, a small light in the darkness. The theme of the novel is as old as the scriptures, writes the author, and that is of Humanity. The reader should look upon the lessons of history and of the book that contains it, in order to help the society we live in to be more tolerant and accepting of different nationalities, races, creeds, religions, orientations, and gender differences that make up this world.

About the Author

Mark Summerville graduated from New Wilmington Area High School in 2012. At first majoring in music composition at a local community college, he turned his focus to literature and history courses, combining the lessons of both to write The Story Teller, his first novel. While in college, he also organized the Cultural Fusion Club and The Blue and White Society, serving as president for each, and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Through his works, Mark hopes to express messages of perseverance, humanity, equality, and companionship to our fellow man.