One and One Make Three: Story of a Friendship

Max Knight and Peter Fabry, while law students in Vienna before WWII, wrote a local humorous column under a joint pen name, Peter Fabrizius. (Their real last names were Kuenel and Epstein, which they changed in England and USA, respectively.)Both were quick and clever with words, loved to play with them, and were good friends in this joint pursuit while young together in the 1920's and 1930's. When they were thrown out of the university by the Nazi Anschluss, which barred Jews from professional schools and practices, both resolved to leave the country however they could. They got out in 1938, and struggled mightily to get their fellow family members out later. Their subsequent life strivings revolved around their identity as Jews, unwelcome refugees in most countries.With luck, incredible perseverance and determination, they managed to travel incognito throughout Europe, each on his own path to a safe country where Jews were tolerated. Few places existed by the time the war had broken out, and only Shanghai remained as an open port where one could arrive without a valid passport or citizenship papers. So a large European Jewish emigre community there is the place where Max survived the war.Both continued their journey, which they write about in alternating chapters in chronological sync, until, by heck and high water, both wind up in Berkeley, California. There they work in writing and publishing, as freelancers, as translators, ultimately giving lessons in writing English at UC Berkeley! They write for the U.C. Press, publish articles and even books.They marry, have children, buy houses, and establish a new life in a new country, and stick together throughout. When this book was written, both were approaching 80, and both have died, one in 1993 and one in 1999.For those who know European history, who love Austria, who love a sense of adventure, of great risk-taking and cleverness, this book is a delight. I read it straight through and take my hat off to them for composing such an engaging and sincere life story. They also become involved in questions of religion and community in their later years, for those of you interested in logotherapy and Viktor Frankel.And remember, English isn't their native tongue!