Yesterday Was Not So Long Ago by Ruth Benario Receives Accolades

United States, 8th Aug 2025, -
 

Yesterday Was Not So Long Ago by Ruth Benario, a memoir completed posthumously by her son Peter Benario with Carolyn Zalesne, has been shortlisted for the BREW Readers’ Choice Award 2025 and awarded the BREW Seal of Excellence by The Chrysalis BREW Project. The book has also received the Excellence in Literature Award from OneTribune Media.

The Chrysalis BREW Project's review described the work as “a rare glimpse into WWII from the eyes of a young woman who actually lived in that era,” adding that the memoir “will make you look at the Second World War from a different perspective.”

OneTribune Media stated in its review, “The Excellence in Literature Award is a tribute to the timeless power of storytelling. We recognise works that transcend fleeting trends—books that resonate deeply and linger long after the final page.”

About the Author

Ruth Benario was born and raised in Erfurt, Germany. Her memoir draws on her diaries, recounting her youth during the Second World War. After the war, she emigrated to the United States. The manuscript was completed after her death by her son, Peter Benario, with Carolyn Zalesne.

About the Book

Yesterday Was Not So Long Ago is a memoir and historical nonfiction account of growing up in wartime Germany. It documents personal experiences of life before, during, and after the Second World War, offering perspectives from a German civilian and including the intertwined stories of Ruth Benario and her future husband, Ernie Benario, a Jewish-American officer.

The book is available via Amazon.