A rediscovered classic, originally published in 1938 --
and now an international bestseller. When it first appeared in Story magazine i... read full description
reviews
Jun 15, 2011
Yorkshiresoul
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This is an astonishing little book, first published on the eve of World War 2 in 1938, Taylor's story was based on the letters that German American students were writing home warning of the danger of Hitler and of the atrocities already taking place in pre-war Germany.
The novel is entirely written as letters between two men, Max, the Jewish part owner of a successful art gallery, and Martin, his friend and partner who has returned home to Germany with his family. At first the More...
The novel is entirely written as letters between two men, Max, the Jewish part owner of a successful art gallery, and Martin, his friend and partner who has returned home to Germany with his family. At first the More...
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May 25, 2010
Fence
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Address Unknown is a very slight book. It is told in letters between Max Eisenstein in the US and Martin Schulz in Germany, and begins in 1932. They are business partners, and friends, both have fond memories of Germany, where Martin is originally from. And both seem to start out with similar beliefs and politics. But then comes the rise of Hitler, and where Max sees cause for alarm Martin sees a chance for humiliated Germany to rise up.
I had never heard of this book before it was se More...
I had never heard of this book before it was se More...
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Nov 17, 2011
Jennifer
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This small,but concise book contains a series of letters between two friends and business partners. One friend, Max Eisenstein, lives in California his respondent Martin Schulse, in Germany. The letters start in November 1932, and ends in March 1934 - Pre Second World War.
It displays an era of Nazism, and the effects that it had on the ordinary citizen. The manipulative and subtle ways that Hitler used to captivate and coheres a Nation.
Propaganda, and National Pride are surrou More...
It displays an era of Nazism, and the effects that it had on the ordinary citizen. The manipulative and subtle ways that Hitler used to captivate and coheres a Nation.
Propaganda, and National Pride are surrou More...
Aug 26, 2011
Russio
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An utter masterpiece - the kind of novel(la) that you just thank providence for putting in your path. An epistolry tale of the correspondence between a German in Germany and a Jew in the US in the build up to World War II (and indeed written prior to the outbreak). That Ms Kressmann Taylor saw the writing on the wall is impressive but is not the reason for the book's greatness. Rather the breathtaking skill by which the plot an characterisation creeps out through the interchange of letters li
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Mar 24, 2008
Jennifer
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Powerful book - quick read (should only take about 45 minutes to read). Make sure you read the foreward. Helps you understand the story.
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Jun 04, 2011
Debbie
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I originally read an abridged version of this in an anthology of Holocaust lit from Perfection Learning. I liked the abridged version so much that I looked up this full version... But I liked the abridged version much better.
All the same, the premise is excellent - two business partners, one German has recently returned to Germany in 1933 and one Jewish who remained behind at their gallery in San Francisco, writing letters to each other. One of the critic comments on the back summed it More...
All the same, the premise is excellent - two business partners, one German has recently returned to Germany in 1933 and one Jewish who remained behind at their gallery in San Francisco, writing letters to each other. One of the critic comments on the back summed it More...
Jul 09, 2010
Lori
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It is amazing to me that this was actually published before the war even hit America. This is a fascinating, and exceptionally short, look at how Hitler's regime influenced a friendship between a Jew in America and a German in Germany. I actually like that the story is so short. (I read it in half an hour.) This is a simple story with a very powerful message. I would recommend this to anyone that has an extra half hour to spare. For any teachers, this would be great as additional text to g
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Jan 23, 2012
Jill
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This is an amazing and disturbing little book....only 64 pages long, it packs a punch in every page. First published in 1938 and banned in Nazi Germany when released, it is comprised of letters between two friends. One is a Jewish man living in the US and the other is his partner in their art gallery who has returned home, with his family, to Germany just as Hitler is coming to power. As the book progresses, the change in the tone and content of the letters will chill your soul. I highly recomme
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Jan 08, 2011
Doron
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A true masterpiece of the change Hitler made in germany before world war II. The letters betwin two good friends (one jew in the US and one german in germany) who work together and shared their lives until the last one went back to germany with his family. The change we see throghout his letters in time Hitler is rising is unbelieveable and almost not understood. It is a beautiful way to show us, the readers, another point of view to that dark times in human history.
Apr 20, 2011
Trina
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A book originally written as a set of letters for a newspaper in America at the eve of World War II (subsequently published as a book in several languages) giving an insight into the gradual divide between Nazi's and Jews, and illustrating the power of the pen. Very short and easy to read, but a very good way of making the Americans aware of the situation in Germany at that time. Not surprisingly it was banned in Germany.
Jan 29, 2012
Joey
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This little book packs a very big punch. It's written & based in the 1930's as a series of letters between Martin in Germany & his Jewish friend & business partner Max in America. The letters begin very warm & jovial but as political & racial tension build in Germany the letters take on new tones of fear, concern, anger, anti-semitism & finally becoming sinister & dangerous with devastating repercussions. This little book made the hair stand on the back of my neck & for a long while.
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Jan 02, 2012
Donata
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Di una semplicità disarmante, eppure incredibile nell'affrontare tutti i temi della tragedia Olocausto. Pubblicato nel 1938 in America, anche questo stupefacente: quante informazioni passavano al di là dell'oceano e quanta ignoranza c'era invece a due passi dalla Germania?
Era ignoranza o mani sugli occhi per non vedere, non capire di proposito?
Era ignoranza o mani sugli occhi per non vedere, non capire di proposito?
Nov 22, 2011
Anne
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I went to reading at Persephone Books, Maureen Lipman was there to read and talk about Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day - which she did brilliantly, but she also mentioned this book. What she said so caught my attention that I immediately bought a copy. It is a very slim volume, a very short tale, but very thought provoking.
Dec 26, 2008
Crystal
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This book is an interesting look at the Holocaust written at the time, from an American perspective. The ending is really a surprise - in such a way that my friend Bernadette, who lent me the book after she read it, and I had to confirm with each other what really happened!
Mar 26, 2011
Steve
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The entire book is told through a series of letters between two work colleagues who gradually have their friendship torn apart by the anti-Semitic rules imposed by Nazi Germany as Hitler rises to power over the course of the story. A very insightful and true-to-history tale which is told through a very unusual and unique stylistic medium. Those interested in pre-WWII history will love this novel. As each page is turned, one finds oneself developing strong apathy for one character, and solid wall
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Jun 11, 2011
Linda
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Address Unknown is a small book, just 64 pages, but it packs a powerful punch. First published in America in 1938 it was one of the first books of fiction to depict the rising Nazi menace.
Max Eisentstein and Martin Schulse are long time business partners in America. Martin has decided to return to Germany with his family. Through a series of letters we learn how Martin slowly turns his back on everyone he knows as he becomes enthralled with the Nazi party. When Max asks a desperate fav More...
Max Eisentstein and Martin Schulse are long time business partners in America. Martin has decided to return to Germany with his family. Through a series of letters we learn how Martin slowly turns his back on everyone he knows as he becomes enthralled with the Nazi party. When Max asks a desperate fav More...
Jan 30, 2011
Ken
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Horrifying story, first published in 1938, that details through letters the deteriorating relationship of two old friends and business partners--one a Jew living in the U.S., and the other a non-Jewish Austrian who returns to his country as Hitler is coming to power.
Jan 27, 2009
Stacee
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I am glad I read the introduction first to understand where the author is coming from. I was disturbed by the retaliatory action by the American. What is taught here? Is retaliation ever justified? I'm not sure I liked what this story had to say.
Feb 06, 2009
Keith
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If there is another book of comparable brevity that so brilliantly dissects the evil that was the Nazi regime I don't know of it. A beautiful book in spite of it's tragic tale. The schadenfreude that the ending engenders is perfect.
Sep 05, 2010
Libby
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This is really a novella. What makes it amazing is that it was written in the 1930s, when the world was just beginning to understand the danger of Hitler. Thoughtful, with a surprise ending. I'd love our high schoolers to read this!
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Jan 26, 2012
Astrid
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in einem so schmalen Bändchen so viel Inhalt. Gelesen hat man es in 1 Stunde - wie man zu der vollkommen unerwarteten Entwicklung steht, beschäftigt einen gewiss länger!
Ein paar wenige Briefe mit gewaltiger Wirkung.
Ein paar wenige Briefe mit gewaltiger Wirkung.
Jan 04, 2012
_topo_
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Non condivido l'entusiasmo per questo piccolo romanzo epistolare. I passaggi dall'affetto e amicizia iniziali al disinteresse e alla vendetta finale mi sembrano ingiustificati e poco plausibili. Anche se fossero veri.
Dec 15, 2011
READ IT!!!!!
do unto other keeps rumbling in the back of my mind...
very short, excellent writing, powerful message
after you read it, check the review in booklit, it says what I cannot.
do unto other keeps rumbling in the back of my mind...
very short, excellent writing, powerful message
after you read it, check the review in booklit, it says what I cannot.
Jan 15, 2012
Rita
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Libro bellissimo, da non perdere. Uno di quei libri che dovrebbero far parte del DNA di ognuno.
Beautiful book. One of those books that should become part of each person DNA.
Beautiful book. One of those books that should become part of each person DNA.
Jun 29, 2011
Jeanne
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So simple, so short, and so very profound. A cleverly constructed story of friendship betrayed, of Germany during the pre-war Nazi years, and of a simple but devastating revenge.
Apr 08, 2010
Stewart
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There is a sense of history from the opening pages of Kressmann Taylor’s Address Unknown (1938), mixing the echoes of the Great War, still vivid in its characters’ memories (”Fourteen years since the war! Did you mark the date? What a long way we have traveled, as peoples, from that bitterness!”), with their deeper personal connection. Told in letters between Jewish American, Eisenstein, and his business partner, the German Schulse, this (very) short novel spans fifteen months in the early 1930s
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Jun 14, 2009
Debrakin
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What a little gem!
How could I have forgotten it -- I had an older version of the book that I gave away.
Can be read in an hour or less, but its effects are long lasting.
How could I have forgotten it -- I had an older version of the book that I gave away.
Can be read in an hour or less, but its effects are long lasting.
Apr 01, 2009
Lori (BNPL)
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Wow. This book grabs you by the throat and shakes you. It has a powerful message to deliver in such a small package.
And imagine Nazi Germany banning it. LOL
And imagine Nazi Germany banning it. LOL
Nov 11, 2011
Andy
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short series of letters between two friends in the lead up to World War II
A jewish businessman in US and his business partner who has moved to live in America who quickly begins to adopt the philosophy of Nazi regime
interesting perspective of social conformity in a period of evil policies and in the eventual mutual animosity of the once friends
A jewish businessman in US and his business partner who has moved to live in America who quickly begins to adopt the philosophy of Nazi regime
interesting perspective of social conformity in a period of evil policies and in the eventual mutual animosity of the once friends
