This exquisitely composed photo-novel by French artist-writer Anouck Durand (born 1975)--collaged from photographic archives, personal letters and propaganda magazines--tells a true story that begins in Albania during World War II, stops in China during the Cold War, and ends in Israel after Communism crumbles.

When the Nazis invaded Albania, teenage partisan Refik Veseli's Muslim family hid Jewish photographer Mosha Mandil, his wife and two small children. Despite the dire circumstances, Mosha instilled in Refik a great passion for photography, and a...