Social Sciences alumnus publishes book highlighting the work of Second World War heroes

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Edward Abel Smith graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2013 with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology. He now manages the executive search function for Deloitte and published his first book in October 2017.

Active Goodness tells the true story of Sir Nicholas Winton and his colleagues Doreen Warriner and Trevor Chadwick's quest to save endangered Czech men, women, and children from the Nazi regime at the beginning of World War II.

Based in Prague through the winter of 1938 until war was declared in September 1939, the book tells the remarkable story of how the evacuation of over 7,000 people was organised in less than ten months.

Speaking about his motivation to write the book, Edward said: “The main motivation was meeting Nicholas Winton in person and discovering the amazing humanitarian work he did. It struck me that little was known about him or his colleagues and how they risked their lives to save so many people from the Nazis - writing their story was the least I could do.

I really enjoyed writing Active Goodness and it has done much better than I ever expected.  In addition, all proceeds from book sales will be donated to Young Roots, an amazing charity dedicated to improving the lives of refugees from around the world - and a cause I greatly believe in.”

Further information about the book, the characters and Young Roots can be found here.