By Stefanie Zweig and Masada Siegel, other
Editor’s note: This column marks the debut of “Generations,” a column of conversations between 70-something German author Stefanie Zweig, whose book Nowhere in Africa was recently translated into English and was the basis for the film of the same name, and 30-something writer Masada Siegel, who shares a similar family history to Zweig in that both escaped Europe during the Holocaust and spent the war years in African countries. Last year the two struck up an online conversation, which has since blossomed into what might have otherwise been an unlikely friendship. Their missives often delve into Jewish life and history, and how their perspectives may differ depending upon age and upbringing. We start with their original conversation and will move to the present over subsequent columns.
From: Stefanie Zweig
Sun., Jan. 13, 2008 at 1:43 a.m.
To: Masada Siegel
Subject: Somewhere in Africa
Dear Ms. Siegel,
I have just read your review on Somewhere in Africa, and I am most touched by the way you interpreted my book. That only happens with Jewish journalists. The second volume, Somewhere in Germany has also been published by Wisconsin press, with one translator doing both. I dare not write more before I find out whether your computer and mine are prepared for a joint venture.
Sincere regards,
Stefanie Zweig
From: Masada Siegel
Mon., Jan. 14, 2008 at 10:29 a.m.
To: Stefanie Zweig
Subject: RE: Somewhere in Africa
Dear Ms. Zweig,
Thank you for your kind words! Your story is really beautiful, real and honest and that’s why I connected to it! Also, the fact that my family thankfully landed up in Africa (they left Frankfurt) and from all the stories I have heard made me relate to the raw emotions you put down on paper.
Please just call me Masada — as you know, Americans are casual about such things.
Looking forward to speaking with you in the near future.
Keep smiling,
Masada
From: Stefanie Zweig
Tues., Jan. 15, 2008 at 12:40 a.m.
To: Masada Siegel
Subject: Somewhere in Africa for the second time
Dear Masada,
I certainly was thrilled with your mail. Being an old lady and getting to know the world of computers at a late time in my age, I am still excited at getting mails. Every day before getting to work on my new book (I have written 13 in 13 years), I search for friends in other parts of the world. Today a daughter of my father’s second cousin is coming from London. She is 80 and has only — thanks to my book — just found out that I existed. As nearly all my relations were murdered in the Holocaust, I welcome each of the remaining ones as if they were my siblings. Should your father feel lonely in Frankfurt he is most welcome to ring me up. I am astonished that he speaks German. Most of the children growing up in exile were not taught German. It needed some one with the boldness of my father to say, “I am not going to speak English with my daughter and have her laughing at me.”
By the way, I only started writing books when I knew I would not have to write for a living. Before that I was an editor of culture in Frankfurt and spent vast parts of my life at the theatre. Have a good day.
Stefanie Z.
From: Masada Siegel
Tues., Jan. 15, 2008 at 4:27 p.m.
To: Stefanie Zweig
Subject: RE: Somewhere in Africa for the second time
Hey Stefanie!
How’s it going? How exciting to hear from you — the timing is so interesting. My dad is going to be in Germany —he will give you a call, I will e-mail you dates and times. Around the same time I’ve booked myself a ticket to South Africa — I have never been there before and still have a lot of family there, so I’m excited. I’m flying via London, but had I known I would have flown via Germany and popped over to say hello in person!
My mom wanted to know if you are related to the author Stefan Zweig — she is absolutely in love with him and his writings — she asked me ages ago when I showed her your book if you were related. Please fill me in on the scoop!
What’s your book about now? Are any of your other ones in English? I am curious how you felt about going back to Germany and why you stayed? I’ve been there once…
I absolutely love traveling. It’s so interesting to meet people and see the world. Have you ever been out to Arizona? It’s really a beautiful state — sunny and pretty. I’ve lived in L.A., New York City, Washington, D.C., Paris and spent a great deal of time in Israel. What can I say? I am happy there are airplanes!!!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Keep smiling,
Masada
From: Stefanie Zweig
Wed., Jan. 16, 2008 at 12:59 a.m.
To: Masada Siegel
Subject: Wonderful Wednesday
Hallo Masada,
The day had a good start with your letter, and later on, instead of working on my book, I am going to meet a cousin with her son. Actually, we are distant cousins, but I knew her mother and she only discovered my existence about two months ago. Apart from that, if one has so few relations, as I have, one grasps every chance to meet one. I envy you going to South Africa. It was the last journey that I went on with my late brother, who died eight years ago. I particularly enjoyed Botswana. Perhaps you can go via Frankfurt on you next trip. I, myself, am a stay-at-home, mainly due to my age now and to the fact that I am always working on a book. The current one is the sequel to the last one, the story of a German-Jewish family starting in 1900. Only two of my books have been translated. The English and the Americans prefer their own literature… so I have been told.
I am not related to Stefan Zweig, only named after him by my first name. By the way, I knew people who had fled from Germany to Rhodesia. They were called Gans, visited my parents frequently and could originally have been from Frankfurt. Perhaps your father knows them. My book Somewhere in Germany tells what I felt going back to Germany. And why I stayed? One can only be a journalist in one’s own language, and I thought that I had forgotten my English. Have a good day.
Stefanie Z.