It Started With a Brick Through the Window

A true story of identity, hatred, and a journey that leads to Auschwitz

Writing became a natural extension of this process. Drawing on lived experience, research, and reflection, John focuses on stories that explore identity, silence, and the consequences of prejudice. His work aims to uncover the human reality behind historical events, offering a perspective that is both honest and thought-provoking. Through his writing, he continues to challenge inherited narratives and give voice to stories that are often left unspoken.

About the Author

John Guy

John was born in Liverpool in 1960, growing up during a period shaped by division, identity, and inherited beliefs. As a child, he experienced the realities of sectarian tension first-hand, witnessing how fear and misunderstanding could take root at an early age. These formative experiences stayed with him, raising questions about where hatred begins and how it is passed from one generation to the next.
Later in life, the discovery of his Jewish heritage deepened this journey, leading him to explore history more closely, particularly the Holocaust and its lasting impact. This exploration became both personal and creative, shaping the direction of his work. Alongside writing, John developed a long-standing career in photography, capturing powerful and often reflective subjects. His work documenting Auschwitz-Birkenau led to exhibitions and educational use, reinforcing his commitment to preserving memory and encouraging understanding.

About the book

Book

Some moments do not fade with time. They return, louder, clearer, and impossible to ignore.

A Tear From The Soul by John Guy is not just a story. It is a deeply personal journey through memory, identity, and the lasting impact of inherited hatred.Beginning in Liverpool, the book traces a childhood shaped by division, where labels were forced upon children before they could understand them. A shattered window, a shouted insult, a quiet family secret. These moments do not stand alone. They form the foundation of a life spent searching for truth.

That search leads beyond the streets of England to Kraków and Auschwitz-Birkenau, where history no longer feels distant. It becomes personal. Through powerful encounters, haunting experiences, and moments that blur the line between past and present, the story reveals how the echoes of the Holocaust continue to live on through memory, silence, and identity.

This is a story about more than history. It is about what hatred does to people, how it is passed down, and how it can be confronted. It is about grief, faith, loss, and the search for meaning in moments that seem impossible to understand.

Honest, emotional, and deeply human, A Tear From The Soul invites the reader to reflect on the past, question the present, and consider what must never be forgotten.

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