Publisher's Synopsis
Following the German annexation of Austria in 1938 and the intensified persecution of the Jews, the British and American governments relaxed their restrictions on immigration and issued entry visas to tens of thousands of German-speaking refugees. This exodus can be seen as the most significant cultural migration of modern times. For the majority of the refugees from National Socialism came from educated backgrounds, and they included some of the most gifted members of the cultural elite. Despite the hardships of exile, these extraordinary men and women continued to be creative. Reviewing the achievements of refugee organisations and of outstanding individuals, including Stefan Zweig, Erich Fried, Hilde Spiel, Josef Fraenkel, Felix Pollak and Elias Canetti amongst others, Austrian Exodus details the enormous contribution these refugees made to the cultural and artistic life of the English-speaking world.
