Overview

A cache of poignant letters A narrow escape from Nazi-occupied Europe A family scattered and forever changed by war In 1940, thousands of Jewish refugees descended upon sunny Lisbon, desperately scrambling to acquire visas to escape Nazi-occupied Europe. Among them were Elsa and Saly Levi, a young German-Jewish couple who thought they had found safety in neutral Belgium-until Nazi bombs began to fall. Their eyes were fixed on America, but anywhere would do, as long they were far from the Nazis' reach. But there were others to consider: Saly's parents were trapped in Vichy France, and Elsa's mother in Berlin. In the Wake of Madness captures heartache and hope as history unfolds, from the prewar period in Germany to 1950 New York. Armed with a wealth of long-neglected personal documents, the author pieces together the nail-biting details of her family's escape. Her journey takes the reader to Germany, Belgium, Portugal, New York, Japan, Chile, Britain and Palestine as WWII scattered loved ones across the globe. A powerful true story that is both intimate and universal.

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9789493322400

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I define a good non-fiction story as one that pulls me in so completely, I forget how everything turned out... This was that kind of story. I know this family survived but the writing was so vivid, I held my breath on every page. Really a fabulous book! Victoria Alexander, #1 NYT bestselling author Prepare for a stirring journey! Denny has offered a historian's eye for detail of her own family's escape from Nazi Germany. Daniel Seymour, author of the award-winning From Auschwitz with Love (2022) Denny's compelling narrative reaches beyond great storytelling to illuminate the immense struggles and heartbreaking dilemmas faced by so many caught in the rising tide of totalitarianism and war. USAF Colonel Eric Knapp, Faculty, U.S. National War College A cautionary tale for these fraught times, and an uplifting human story. Robin Lawton, Professor Emerita of English, Linfield University

Author Information

In retirement, Bettie Lennett Denny has taken the opportunity to pursue her lifelong ambition to write. Her newest book, IN THE WAKE OF MADNESS: MY FAMILY’S ESCAPE FROM THE NAZIS, blends history and memoir. She is also the author of two novels: BURYING MY DEAD, set in her adopted hometown of Portland, Oregon and ANGEL UNFOLDING, set in Montana. As Community Affairs Manager for the ABC Television affiliate in Omaha, Bettie focused on social ills and solutions, helping non-profits tell their stories and creating campaigns that encouraged civic involvement. The work kindled her sense of empathy, and reinforced the idea that stories connect us. Bettie’s childhood home in Queens shared walls with the Simon family, whose son, Paul, became a legend in the music industry. Fate took her to Omaha, where she graduated from the University of Nebraska. Moving westward, Bettie and her husband Pat now happily reside in Portland with family close by.

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