Barly

Dock workers who fought against Hitler's occupation of Narvik. Based on a true story.

Marita Ostberg

“Follow your heart and never give up.”

Cardboard, soft touch, 288 pages

He was a combative rebel and resistance fighter who fought against the German occupation in Norway during World War II. Barly Pettersen, a dock worker by profession, saw early signs of what Hitler could do. As an active member of the notorious Wollweber organization, he soon became responsible for actions directed against the German superior power in the northern parts of Norway and Sweden.

“Barly” is a dramatized biography of Marita Östberg’s grandfather. It is based partly on the authentic letters that Barly wrote to his family during his captivity in Germany, and partly on what he has told his granddaughter through channeling. Marita has experienced many times that Barly has been present and guided her in her writing.

Barly's message was that one must follow one's heart, pursue what one stands for and never give up. He was a man of great civic courage who believed that the fight for human rights must always be fought. The book about Barly provides an intense and vivid portrayal of how both he and his family lived during the war years in Norway and Germany in the 1930s and 40s.

Marita Östberg is a human resources and behavioral scientist, born in Nyköping but living in Skåne for many years. Both of her parents are from Northern Norway, mother from Narvik and father from Alta. Marita's motto in life is "If you follow your heart the universe rises to meet you". Marita lives, like her great-grandmother, with the gift of giving both healing and mediumistic messages.

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Sample reading:

Swedish voices

"What a strong book you have written, tears are flowing, I can imagine that you have had to struggle with the book. So many horrors he had to endure, your grandfather, and many with him who fought for justice. Incredibly good book."

"Hi Marita, the last time I read a book was 10 years ago but now I've read yours, it took two short evenings and it was done. I was immediately hooked and got a big "I have to read more" at the same time as a great feeling of discomfort several times. Now I knew Barly's fate before but after the last page I feel a great discomfort in my body. Really good book. You can see that war is shit regardless of whether it's in Syria or a mini-war between idiots in Sweden." /Christer Woxberg

"I can highly recommend the book about Barly. A very moving story. I had a hard time putting the book down once I started reading it." /Maggan Hansen Emmerberg

"I've read your book and am looking forward to the movie. Fantastic story." /Joakim Kyllengård

Norwegian voices

"A moving story about a tough and brave man, who sacrificed his life for the fatherland of Norway. Highly recommended." /Elisabeth Rönning

"It's hard to read this, but you're also proud of what he did for his country. My father didn't want to talk about what happened to his father, and I can understand that now. Thank you, Marita Östberg, for writing about our grandfather." /Anita Sandraten (Boa's daughter)