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However, even during the worst times, he kept writing in his diary. He saved it even when, as a prisoner in quarantine, he was stripped naked and left with nothing but his memories. Thanks to this book, we can take part in his experience today.
I take it as my responsibility to spread the word about my grandfather's dreadful experience. We also have our problems today, and they're not necessarily small ones. But this diary can help us realize there may be situations that are much worse than ours. It may even teach us to take joy in what we have. That is my ultimate wish as I prepare this publication.
Tomáš Svoboda
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Josef_Sramek_5.jpg/150px-Josef_Sramek_5.jpg)
My grandpa and me in 1962.
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