Paul O’Montis: The "Whispering" Voice the Nazis Tried to Silence Today we travel back to the vibrant and transgressive Berlin of the 1920s , an era where cabarets were the epicentre of creative freedom. There, Paul O’Montis shone brightly, an artist who personified the spirit of the Weimar Republic before Nazi barbarism cut his life short and attempted to erase his legacy. From Siberian Camps to Berlin Stardom Born Paul Emanuel Wendel in Budapest (1894), his life was marked by movement from...

The story of Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus and Dr. Robert "Bob" Schless is a masterclass in quiet, stubborn heroism. In 1939, while the world watched the shadow of Nazi Germany spread across Europe, this trio from Philadelphia decided to step directly into the "lion’s den" to save 50 children. A Mission Against the Odds In the spring of 1939, the United States was gripped by isolationism and strict immigration quotas. Most Americans were wary of refugees, and the State Department was notorious...

Hi, I thought I would prepare a short Q&A about my forthcoming book, Only Breath & Shadow, which tells you about the story and also some background to the real characters that appear in the book. Q: What is the central setting and historical context of Only Breath & Shadow ? A: The novel is set in 1930s Vienna , specifically capturing the atmospheric transition from the city’s vibrant coffeehouse culture to the dark reality of the Anschluss in 1938. It explores the escalating persecution...