Overview

Dear Madam--You are surely informed about the situation of all Jews in Central Europe and this letter will not astonish you. In August 1939, just days before World War II broke out in Europe, a Jewish man in Vienna named Alfred Berger mailed a desperate letter to a stranger in America who shared his last name. By pure chance I got your address ... I beg you instantly to send for me and my wife ... Decades later, journalist Faris Cassell stumbled upon the stunning letter and became determined to uncover the story behind it. How did the American Bergers respond? Did Alfred and his family escape Nazi Germany? Over a decade-long investigation, Cassell traveled thousands of miles; explored archives and offices in Austria, Belarus, Israel, and the Czech Republic; interviewed descendants; and found letters, photos, and sketches made by family members during the Holocaust. This is Cassell's account of the devastating true story of The Unanswered Letter.

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9781094017952

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Reviews

This is twenty-first century Holocaust literature at its haunting best. -- Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership Faris Cassell's The Unanswered Letter weaves history and memory together in her beautifully written and well-researched book. -- Barbara Corrado Pope, author of The Blood of Lorraine Details a remarkable journey that transformed everyone who took part in it. -- Judith R. Baskin, Philip H. Knight Professor of Humanities Emerita, University of Oregon A work of power and passion, depth, and determination. -- Michael Berenbaum, director of the Sigi Ziering Institute, professor of Jewish Studies at American Jewish University, and former project director at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum A wonderful book about a terrible subject. -- Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize-winning author A poignant and unforgettable journey of determination and discovery. -- Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author A moving account of the search for two Holocaust victims...Though often grim, the story is a historical treasure. -- Kirkus Reviews A masterful piece of research and writing. -- Steven Ungerleider, psychologist, writer, and co-producer of the HBO documentary At the Heart of Gold A dramatic, heartbreaking, and poignant book, a study in the power of remembrance. -- Rebecca Erbelding, historian and author of Rescue Board: The Untold Story of America's Effort to Save the Jews of Europe

Author Information

Faris Cassell, a journalist and writer, lives with her husband in Eugene, Oregon. She earned a BA in history from Mount Holyoke College and an MS in journalism from the University of Oregon. Her decades of research into Alfred and Hedwig Berger's story was supported by a Mount Holyoke Alumnae Scholarship and by the generous cooperation of the Berger family. Kate Mulligan has acted with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for more than ten seasons in productions including Hairspray, Alice in Wonderland, and Sense and Sensibility. Her film and television work includes Being John Malkovich and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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