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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9789493322349

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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

Bettie Lennett Denny grew up in Kew Gardens Hills, New York. From an early age, she aspired to be an author, although it took many decades to realize that goal. In retirement, Bettie has written the historical novel Burying My Dead and the social drama Angel Unfolding. Returning to her family's stories after years of deliberation, In the Wake of Madness has been a labor of love and historical awakening, a realization of how deeply the scourge of Nazism affected even the fortunate survivors. Prior to retirement, Bettie worked at KETV, the ABC Television affiliate in Omaha, Nebraska for 25 years. While taking care of her aging mother, she began working directly with nonprofit organizations. There, in the Heartland, she met her husband, Patrick, and raised two girls who are now accomplished professionals and busy, loving parents in their own right. Good fortune has brought them together in the city of Portland, Oregon.

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