So much to think about in this brief novella. Told through a series of letters between two friends: a Jewish art dealer in San Francisco, and his partner, a banker who has moved back to Munich in 1938. Theirs is a close friendship, and they share a common affection for the art dealers sister who is an actress on the stage in Germany. As Hitler rises to power, the tone of their correspondence, and the opions about each other and their standing in life devolves. When a letter to his sister is returned "Address Unknown" to the dealer, he seeks help from his friend in Germany in finding her, and the letters become almost weapons. Much to think about and contemplate. Originally written in the 1940s, this republication includes a wonderful forward and an equally helpful afterward. Highly recommend.

You don't want to miss Address Unknown first published in 1938 under the androgynous name Kressman Taylor, because the publishers believed a male author would be better received, the author was actually Katherine Kressman Taylor.

From Description: "A series of fictional letters between a Jewish art dealer living in San Francisco and his former business partner, who has returned to Germany, Address Unknown is a haunting tale of enormous and enduring impact."

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The letters begin in 1933, when Martin returns to Germany. The two friends, Max a Jew and Martin, a gentile, begin the correspondence with the casual of effect of old friends. The letters change fairly quickly in the correspondence as the situation in Germany changes.

Address Unknown is a short story in the form of nineteen letters, and even with the introduction and afterword that explains the events that inspired the story, it is less than 100 pages.

To say that this short book carries an impact is an understatement. It did at the time of publication--and it certainly had an impact on me. "Words have power." Both spoken and written.

Review scheduled for March 14.

Highly recommended.

NetGalley/Ecco

Historical Fiction. 1938; 2002; 2021.

I ’ve never subscribed to the sort of thinking that slaps the label of classic on things because they are old. To me, the designation has to be earned. Meaning a work has to not just be old, but also survive a test of time, maintaining quality, relatability, relevance, potency and poignancy. Much like this book. Which I somehow have never heard of, despite being a fan of historical fiction and having considerable interest in all things related to WWII. So I for one am thrilled this book got a digital rerelease, so that it can find new audience it so very much deserved.
The author has originally published it omitting her first name to masculinize the presentation. This version, you can look at the cover and know that at least in this one respect the society has come a long way. Kathrine Kressmann Taylor didn’t leave behind a large body of work, even this, her most famous novel, is very slim, more like a novella. Actually, this a perfect case study of producing a powerhouse of a story succinctly.
Told epistolary style, this story comprises a two year (1932 to 1934) correspondence between a longtime friends and colleagues, a Jewish man named Max from San Francisco and Martin, who returns to his fatherland just as the Nazis come to power. The affectionate friendship is soon put to the test as sociopolitics rapidly spiral out of control right down to a devastating end.
The author was inspired by real accounts of people she knew, which makes the story all the more frighteningly realistic. The connection between Max and Martin comes through so vividly real and that ending is an absolute killer. It took me a moment to notice the turn (in my defense I was reading this late at night), so I reread couple of the letters and then…wow. Like a gut punch. So clever, so brutal, so right.
WWII is a popular literary genre, there are constantly new fictional books coming out about it, oftentimes fairly bloated dramas that hit all the right emotional buttons in a feat of precise emotional manipulation. This book is the opposite of all that and it makes it all the more affective for it. It takes a huge evil thing and narrows it down to a small situation to make it strikingly real. It’s difficult to think of a more concise condemnation of the Nazi regime than this story. It wasn’t available in Europe for the longest time, but once it got there, it sold like crazy. And maybe with this new edition, it’ll sell like crazy here too.
There are a lot of supplementary materials with this edition, you get to learn all about the author (from her son), the publication, etc. It helps contextualize the book, but really, this needs nothing, no context, no introduction, it’s good enough to stand on its own. Perfectly, Even after 80some years. Now that’s a measure of a genuine classic. Really, this should be taught in schools. It has the right lengths for the ADD generation and the right message for world prone to forgetting its past. Great book, so glad to have found it. Recommended.

When I saw this publisher took this book out of the shadows, I was near tears. Many years ago a holocaust survivor gave me this book. I had wanted to gift it so many times but it was increasingly difficult to find. To me, it is the most telling and searing story about what happened in Nazi Germany, and the increasing and manipulative horror that destroyed so many. I don't want to leave any spoilers. It is a short and quick read, but one of the most powerful books about anti-semitism, hatred, and the rise of a cruel power and how the reality and horror of its existence strikes you., a reality that so many people refused to take responsibility for. It is timeless, and brings to the forefront what is once again happening in the world today. It is my all time favorite book about the holocaust and a must read for everyone. Thank you to this publisher and NetGalley for the honor to once again read this amazing little novel, that is huge in heart and sadness, and a lesson on how we should respect the human race, keep our eyes open wide and protect the ones we care about.