I began reading John Simon’s non-fiction Strangers in a Stranger Land, which recounts the singular history of Finland’s Jews as the fictional story of three generations, was published in time for Christmas 2017 with the intention of making my way through it by the end of the month. What happened? I finished the book in a 24-hour marathon read. I simply couldn’t put it down… Then a second reading before the end of the month. The book in question is, to put it simply, good.

- Ismo Söderling, Director, Finland’s Institute of Migration,

In John Simon’s book, the alternation between the fictional narrative and historical sections is skillfully constructed. Imagined characters encounter real people in real situations. The lives of Benjamin and those close to him are connected to almost all those events, phenomena and unusual circumstances for which the history of Finland’s Jewish community has become known. His book succeeds in providing a multifaceted portrayal of a difficult history.

- Paavo Ahonen, from “The Journey of the Jews through Three Separate Wars”,

Strangers in a Stranger Land is three books in one: a history of the Jews in Finland, a surprisingly compact history of Finland over the same period, and a novel in which David, Benjamin, and Rachel, three childhood friends, grow up and experience the prewar and war years through their complicated interpersonal relationship. An excellent book. John Simon has put in years of effort, and it shows on every page.

- Erkki Liikanen, former Governor of the Bank of Finland,