Whither the Promised Land [Paperback]

Helga Ruge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 2005

A gripping tale of a beautiful, young immigrant girl's quest to be reunited with her true love and to find a new life in the Promised Land of America. Set in the politically-charged atmosphere of Washington D.C. and Moscow during the Cold War in the 1960s.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A page-turner, I couldn't put it down... -- reader

What a delightful novel. I enjoyed every page. -- reader

[It] held my attention for three days! A great book, it would make a great movie! -- reader

From the Back Cover

This story was conceived during the height of the Cold War, which remains a vivid part of recent history even after the Wall finally came down. The lives of entire peoples and innumerable individuals were deeply affected by escalating tensions between East and West. A residue of impressions from the era inspired the author to weave the fabric of this wonderful love story between a young Sicilian immigrant and an American diplomat. Readers will appreciate the historic, geographic, and political aspects with their inherent tensions as the young lovers experience new lands and cultures—she searching for the "promised land" in America; he laboring behind the Iron Curtain in a climate of suspicion. The cultural differences defining the protagonists and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they encounter during the course of the story will keep readers in suspense until the final pages.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 307 pages
• Publisher: Clay & Marshall Publishing Co.; 1 edition (December 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971567212
• ISBN-13: 978-0971567214
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,122,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, Hope and Diplomacy Prevail During the Cold War, July 5, 2006

By 

Serious Reader "Jo" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whither the Promised Land (Paperback)

Whither the Promised Land, artfully weaves the far-reaching themes of love and hope against the oppressive backdrop of the Cold War during the 1960s. This promising debut maintains considerable suspense through its emotional journey of hope and the search for happiness in difficult times.

The story unfolds as, Octavia, a young, beautiful Sicilian girl meets and falls in love with an American diplomat, Jeff, in her native town of Palermo. However, they are soon parted by his duties. In search of a better life and with the hope of seeing her love again one day, she decides to emigrate on her own to the United States, the Promised Land. After many twists and turns, Octavia and Jeff find each other again, but not without many obstacles to overcome.

The novel interweaves real events and people, adding an historic and political dimension to the story. Jeff's position as an American diplomat takes him to Moscow during the Francis Gary Powers incident. The ensuing political tension increases the prevailing human drama.

The novel skillfully paints an epic love story against the backdrop of the Cold War at its height in the 60s.