An Angel Watching Over Me: On Exile, Estrangement and Placelessness in Paris
The article reflects on a personal family history intertwined with the author's experiences in Paris. It recounts the journey of the author's mother and her family as they sought refuge in 1948, highlighting a mysterious encounter with an angel. The narrative also touches on the author's relationship with his mother and her memories of that time.
- ▪The author's mother, Ursula, and her family were in Paris in 1948 while seeking entry to Ecuador.
- ▪They were hosted by the International Refugee Organization and stayed near Place Pigalle.
- ▪The author recalls his mother's stories about their time in Paris, including a mysterious figure she referred to as 'our angel.'
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
1. Article continues after advertisement(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=546998bb-b9c0-4480-8c91-3e307220efff&cid=86b7c382-5e20-4129-84db-dea768f4d688'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "546998bb-b9c0-4480-8c91-3e307220efff" }).render("861f6ebfff7b44919831c03590113e1a"); }); The International Refugee Organization (IRO) put the three women up in Paris. My eighteen-year-old mother, Ursula; her sister, Traute; and my grandmother, Gertrud. It was supposed to be a one-night layover, just long enough for them to get their entry visas stamped at the Ecuadorian embassy, then transit fifteen hours by train to Genoa, where the SS Marco Polo was waiting to make the crossing to Guayaquil, at which point they’d finally be reunited with my grandfather after eight…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Literary Hub.
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