Franz Jägerstätter: Letters and Writings from Prison

Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer, loving husband and father, and devout Catholic, was executed in 1943 for refusing to serve in the Nazi army. Jägerstätter consulted both his pastor and his local bishop before taking this stance, and both instructed him to do his duty to the fatherland and to obey the law, which violated his conscience. For many years, Jägerstätter's solitary witness was honoured by the Catholic peace movement, while many of his fellow Austrians regarded him with suspicion. With his beatification in 2007, his witness has now been accepted by the entire church. He is regarded as one of our generation's greatest witnesses and martyrs.

These writings, which include correspondence between Franz and his wife Franziska as well as a series of reflections written in prison, are the first English translation of Jägerstätter's works. An introduction by Jim Forest and notes by the translator, Robert Krieg, contextualise Franz's writings. His moving expression of faith and unwavering obedience to conscience convey an urgent message for today: "Although people have accused me of criminal behavior and condemned me to death, be consoled knowing that in God's eyes not everything is criminal which the world perceives to be criminal."