The Goddess of Warsaw

Content Warning: This section discusses death and murder, the Holocaust and antisemitism, and anti-gay bias and violence.

Bina is the narrator and protagonist of the story. She was born and raised in Warsaw in a wealthy, elite Jewish family. She was a talented and aspiring actress in this life, and she relies on these skills for survival when she is sent to the Warsaw Ghetto, along with the other Jews in Warsaw, following the Nazi invasion of Poland. Bina’s “Aryan” looks—she is tall, blonde, and blue eyed—also help her survive, both during wartime and later in Hollywood, where she finds great success as the actress Lena Browning.

Bina is an intelligent, willful, and determined woman. A talented actress, she is able to use her skills in stressful situations while in the ghetto. Bina initially smuggles in resources from the “Aryan” side, a task that requires not only acting skills but also courage and presence of mind. She later joins the ZOB and continues to work performing covert operations, smuggling in weapons for the resistance. Bina’s motivation to do so comes from her determination to survive, and help her loved ones survive as well, at all costs.