Address Unknown, by Katherine Kressman Taylor. Pub 1938

I don’t know how I ended up with this little book, but I’m so glad I had it to slip into my bag for reading on a recent short trip.

The novella is epistolary, between two former business partners in 1938, one in San Francisco and one in Germany, one Jewish and one not. I don’t want to reveal more than that, as the incredible revelations and surprises in the story are clever and brilliantly executed. There are several gasp-out-loud moments, and the ultimate resolution is both sad and inspiring.

Around the interesting story itself is the story of its publication. Released first in 1938, the author was credited as Kressman Taylor, as editors felt such a strong story should not be seen as coming from a woman. So despite the story’s popularity, the author remained virtually unknown until the book was revived in the mid 1990s. Also interesting is how the novel puts paid to the idea that “no one knew” about the realities of Nazi Germany and the threat to Jews in those regions. The foreword and afterword of this version of the book discuss that in some detail, reinforcing the cleverness and novelty of the original story.

I so so loved this story, and I hope you will, too.

Fate: I will read this again as an example of excellent story-telling. Plus it’s small, so can fit in a tiny nook on my shelves.