Nina Willner's Forty Autumns is a remarkable true story of courage, resilience, and love that traces the dramatic lives of five women who are separated by the Iron Curtain through the Cold War up until the miraculous day when they are reunited as a family. Check out the video above to hear more from the author herself, and definitely don't miss the rave reviews that have come in for this incredible story:
“Willner’s epic memoir traverses three generations of mothers, recounting the tragedy, estrangement, and overwhelming courage of a family torn apart by the ideological division of Germany during the Cold War. Willner, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer, weaves familial legends of escape from farmsteads guarded by roving East German border patrols, with tales of international espionage at the 1958 World’s Fair. Her interrogative and unabashed voice explores the painful intersection of national duty and familial responsibilities… Willner’s depiction of the brutal East German regime and the fight of one family to unite is a thrilling and relevant read for historians and casual readers alike.” — Publishers Weekly
“Thoughtful and informative, Willner's book not only offers a personal view of the traumatic effects of German partition. It also celebrates the enduring resilience of the human spirit. A poignant and engrossing, occasionally harrowing, family memoir.” — Kirkus Reviews
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-Amanda