PRESS RELEASES

28 January 2009

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Dr Helen Fry, in association with BritishLocalHistory.com,

invites you to the launch of her new book

Freud’s War

at the Freud Museum, 20 Maresfield Gardens, Hampstead, NW3 5SX

on Thursday 5 February 2009 at 6.30pm

Dr Helen Fry would like to invite you to the launch of her new book, Freud’s War, at the Freud Museum, Hampstead on Thursday 5 February 2009.  Freud’s War tells of the thrilling story of the Freud family’s escape from the Nazis in Austria and their exile in Britain.

Based on primary sources, many published for the first time, Helen Fry’s Freuds’ War begins with Martin Freud’s experiences of growing up in Vienna as Sigmund Freud’s eldest son. It provides a window onto life in one of the most prominent of Viennese households. The story then spans the turbulent years of the First World War in which three of Sigmund Freud’s sons fought. They, like so many Austrians, were fiercely patriotic and did not think twice about fighting for their country. Ironically less than twenty years later that would count for nothing when the Nazis annexed their country.

Despite his worldwide reputation as the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud’s security in his native Vienna changed overnight when Hitler’s forces annexed Austria on 12 March 1938. His books had already been burned across Germany, and now he and his family were at immediate risk.

Helen Fry opens a window onto the life of a prominent Jewish family in pre-war Vienna and describes how this most famous of families became exiled from its homeland by the Nazis.

Helen Fry, who lives in North London, is an honorary fellow in the Department of Hebrew & Jewish Studies at University College London. She is the author of several books including The King’s Most Loyal Enemy Aliens and Music and Men: the Life and Loves of Harriet Cohen.  Helen is also a Development Associate and Jewish History specialist for BritishLocalHistory.com - the new website where the public can assist in building a local history resource which is relevant for both the history dates we know about and the social history tales and events we might not be aware of.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:  Dr Helen Fry and Martin Freud, Sigmund Freud’s eldest son, will be both available for interview at the launch or alternately contact paul@savident.com to arrange.

Website:        www.BritishLocalHistory.com and search FREUD