Watch author Katherine Koch—yours truly—discuss the history behind The Sower of Black Field
A few months ago, the Passionists of Holy Cross Province invited me to give a Zoom presentation as part of their “Our Passionist History” series. Fr. Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D., director of the Passionist Archives, joined me in a conversation about the history behind the novel. Fr. Rob has been my guide in historical research since this project began in 2004, accompanying me and my family on trips from Schwarzenfeld, Germany, to the National Archives in Washington, DC. He knows firsthand the extreme care and attention to detail that went into The Sower. I’m so proud of how this episode turned out, and grateful to Fr. Rob and the Passionists for their gracious invitation!
Some of the points you’ll hear in this presentation:
- How did my family and I learn Fr. Viktor’s story?
- Who was Fr. Viktor—not just the character, but the historical figure—and what was he doing in Germany to begin with?
- Why did I decide to write The Sower of Black Field—and how is this novel different from the usual WWII story?
- After watching this, do you still need to read the novel? Most definitely yes! This presentation reveals the pre-history (1922 to 1941) that provides context for events in the novel. The Sower builds upon this context, presenting an array of characters who are living extraordinary events between 1941 and 1945.
You’ll find the recording of the Zoom presentation on YouTube. Enjoy!
For an annotated, scholarly version of this history, read my peer-reviewed paper, “An American Priest in Nazi Germany: The Story of Fr. Viktor Koch, C.P.,” published in the Fall 2014 issue of Gathered Fragments, the journal of the Catholic Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. You may also enjoy a visit to the project website, www.viktorkoch.com »
