Trapped in the Cold War: The Ordeal of an American Family
Language: English
Published by Stanford Univ Pr, Stanford, 1999
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: Price-less Books, Urbana, IL, U.S.A.Price-less Books
AbeBooks seller since November 1, 1998
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 19.26
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
451pp. Index, Biblio., Notes, Illus. Soiling edges, DJ: wear extremities, rubbing.
Seller Inventory # 068403
- Title
- Trapped in the Cold War: The Ordeal of an American Family
- Author
- Field, Hermann; Field, Kate
- Publisher
- Stanford Univ Pr, Stanford
- Publication year
- 1999
- Condition
- VG-
- Dust jacket
- VG-
- Binding
- Hb
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0804735905
- ISBN 13
- 9780804735902
- Edition
- 1st.
The disappearance behind the Iron Curtain of the American brothers Noel and Hermann Field in 1949, followed by that of Noel's wife and their foster daughter, was one of the most publicized international mysteries of the Cold War. This dual memoir gives an intensely human dimension to that struggle, with Hermann narrating all that happened to him from the day he was abducted from the Warsaw airport to his release five years later, and Kate relating her unrelenting efforts to find her husband.
Thousands of potential victims of Hitler's dragnet were rescued in 1939 and during World War II through separate efforts of the Field brothers. Arrested in Czechoslovakia in 1949, Noel was taken to Hungary and used as an example of American perfidy in show trials. Hermann went to Poland primarily to find out what had happened to his brother. After Hermann's abduction, he was taken to the cellar of a secret Polish prison, where he was held for five years. He gives us a detailed account of his battle to survive, alternating despair and horror with mordant humor. Meanwhile, his family had no idea whether he was still alive and if so, where.
This moving story, based on detailed notes made by the authors during and shortly after the events described, presents an inside-outside counterpoint, as Hermann's chapters on his inward journey in his cellar world alternate with Kate's efforts in London to find him by scrutinizing accounts of political events in Eastern Europe for clues and penetrating the diplomatic corridors of power in the West for help. Hermann had been arrested by a Polish security agent who later defected and became one of the West's most important informants on Soviet operations in Eastern Europe. The search for the Field brothers was complicated by their history of leftist connections, for this tense period in the Cold War was also the era of McCarthyism in the United States. The book ends with an Epilogue that analyzes the events of fifty years ago in the light of what we know today, as the result of newly available archival material.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Price-less Books
Urbana, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since November 1, 1998
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 2.92 | £ 14.21 |
Payment methods
- Check
- Money Order
Store description
Sell used and rare books. Accept cash or electronic payment.
Specialty
Travel, Women's Studies, Contemporary Fiction, Literature, Music, Cookbooks, Art, Literary Criticism, History, PhilosophySeller's business information
••-•••5128
112 W. Main
Urbana, IL U.S.A. 61801
Terms of sale
Subject to prior sale, returns accepted within 10 days if not as
described. Will hold books for two weeks. PAYMENT: Check/credit card:
VISA/MC/Discover. IL residents add 8.75% sales tax. SHIPPING: USPS Media Mail
: 1st book $3.50, each additional $1.50. Foreign
mailings at exact postage. Inquire for priority, airmail, Fedex,
UPS, other carriers. Pls confirm availability.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Priceless Books, 2602 1/2 S. Anderson, 61801, Urbana, Illinois, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.