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New York, NY — An Epiphany in Lilacs: In the Aftermath of the Camps, the acclaimed Holocaust novel by journalist and author Iris Dorbian, has just been released in a newly updated third edition by Sunbury Press. First published in 2017, the novel earned recognition for its powerful and empathetic portrayal of Holocaust survivors rebuilding their lives after liberation.
The new edition, released July 8, features a polished new edit and an updated preface, offering fresh perspective and renewed emotional resonance for today’s readers while preserving the story’s historical authenticity.
Set in 1945, An Epiphany in Lilacs follows Daniel, a 14-year-old Latvian Jewish boy in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany, as he grapples with trauma, searches for surviving family, and begins the long journey of emotional and spiritual recovery. The novel explores the lesser-known reality of what came after the camps—when survival itself was only the beginning.
Since its original publication, the novel has achieved notable recognition:
- Added to the collections of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem, and institutions worldwide
- Listed as a recommended title by the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education
- Featured as a cover story in the Jewish Standard
- Presented by the author at colleges, libraries, and JCCs across the U.S.
- Covered by outlets such as Daily Voice
Critics have praised the novel for its authenticity and emotional depth. D. Donovan of Midwest Book Review called it “a powerful survey of post-traumatic stress syndrome and the lengthy and challenging process of healing from wartime atrocities.”
“This story is rooted in historical truth but speaks to universal questions of loss, resilience, and what it means to find hope again,” says Dorbian. “I wrote it to shine light on the survivors’ experience after liberation and to give voice to the quieter aftermath often left out of textbooks and popular narratives.”
Dorbian is available for interviews, speaking engagements, book club discussions, and Holocaust education programs.
An Epiphany in Lilacs: In the Aftermath of the Camps is now available on Sunbury Press and Amazon.
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