Marion Blumenthal Lazan spent most of her childhood living in fear during the Holocaust. Today, she shares her story through her books and by speaking to groups around the world.

On Aug. 29, she will share that story with Oxford.

Following Hitler’s rise to power, the Blumenthal family — father, mother, Marion, and her brother, Albert — were trapped in Nazi Germany. They managed eventually to get to Holland, but soon thereafter it was occupied by the Nazis. For the next six and a half years the Blumenthals were forced to live in refugee, transit, and prison camps that included Westerbork in Holland and the notorious Bergen-Belsen in Germany.

All survived the camps; however, her father died from typhus just after liberation in 1945. Three years later, Lazan, her mother and brother finally made it to the United States to start their new lives. She was 13 years old.

In a free public event, co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Oxford and the University of Mississippi Hillel organizations, Lazan will be speaking at 7 p.m. at the Paris-Yates Chapel on the university campus.

The author of her critically-acclaimed memoir, “Four Perfect Pebbles,” Lazan will speak on the horror she and her family endured while emphasizing the need for love, respect and tolerance for one another, regardless of religion or race.

Lazan is ​also ​scheduled to speak to the students at the university, Lafayette High School, Oxford High School and Oxford Middle School during her visit to Oxford which will span three days starting on Aug. 28.

“It is an honor to have her in Oxford, and this is a wonderful opportunity for our community,” said Richard Gershon, Ole Miss law professor and spokesperson for the Oxford Jewish Federation. “It is important to hear her story, especially in these times.”