One woman’s journey to find the lost love her grandfather left behind when he fled pre-World War II Europe; and an exploration into family identity; myth; and memory.Years after her grandfather’s death; journalist Sarah Wildman stumbled upon a cache of his letters in a file labeled “Correspondence: Patients A–G.†What she found inside weren’t dry medical histories; instead what was written opened a path into the destroyed world that was her family’s prewar Vienna. One woman’s letters stood out: those from Valy—Valerie Scheftel—her grandfather’s lover; who had remained behind when he fled Europe six months after the Nazis annexed Austria.Valy’s name wasn’t unknown to her—Wildman had once asked her grandmother about a dark-haired young woman whose images she found in an old photo album. “She was your grandfather’s true love;†her grandmother said at the time; and refused any other questions. But now; with the help of the letters; Wildman started to piece together Valy’s story. They revealed a woman desparate to escape and clinging to the memory of a love that defined her years of freedom.Obsessed with Valy’s story; Wildman began a quest that lasted years and spanned continents. She discovered; to her shock; an entire world of other people searching for the same woman. In the course of discovering Valy’s ultimate fate; she was forced to reexamine the story of her grandfather’s triumphant escape and how this history fit within her own life and in the process; she rescues a life seemingly lost to history.
#1396375 in Books Soft Skull Press 2009-05-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .70 x 6.10l; .65 #File Name: 1593762402256 pages
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. my first Michael Knight book!By suhad karzonI am not a book reviewer and I hate reviewing things; but for some reason I feel obliged to do so for this book .I was first introduced to MMK through his Vice articles. I LOVE the articles. They are like having a conversation with a close; insane friend; whose passion about things makes me a happier; better person.I was hoping this book would make me feel the same way. Drum roll..... it did.I had no prior knowledge of the history of Islam in America; I didn't even think it's something of interest to me. Growing up in the the Middle East forced me to read many unrightfully glorified religious history books that scared me away from all other religious books.But this book is different; it's a personal journey; not glorifying at all; and very relevant.Now I can't wait to read his new book: Tripping with Allah!1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good look at Islam in AmericaBy missedBlue-Eyed Devil is a non-fiction book of Michael Muhammad Knight's travels across the United States to find Islam in America. Much of the book focuses on his interest in finding the true story of W.D. Fard; the founder of Nation of Islam. A lot of the book focuses; therefore; on NOI; Five Percenters; etc.; with an additional focus on more mainstream Islamic organizations such as the national conference of Muslims in Chicago; the Hasan family (who were pro-Bush and pro-conservative American (e.g. they supported the Iraqi invasion)) and visits to various mosques across the U.S.I really did enjoy reading the book. Michael Knight is a fantastic writer and I learned about both "real" Islam and how it adapts and struggles with itself in the U.S.; and black American interpretations of Islam.3 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Yeah; I was that age once.By ed kirbyMost of this is fun:--yet i cant help wondering WHY Knight embraced Islam in the first place. Not quite "On the Road" for young Muslims;--more like "derailed and trying to get back on track." (He should have romanced the "devi" chick.)
