Mermaid and the Messerschmitt

The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt, first published in 1942, is a rare eyewitness account of the early, chaotic days of World War II - the Nazi invasion of Poland, the Siege of Warsaw and the first few months of Nazi occupation - written by a civilian, a young Polish career woman and mother, graduate of Vassar College in the U.S. Weaving her story with a masterful use of humor, an occasional bite of sarcasm and a large dose of clear-eyed honesty, Rulka Langer paints a rich picture of this virtually unknown aspect of WWII -- and illuminates universal truths about average, ordinary people faced with war. With her brilliant eye for detail, and her fresh and lively storytelling, Rulka Langer vividly brings to life, from her unique vantage point, the opening chapter of the titanic struggle between good and evil which ultimately engulfed the entire globe. This new second edition includes more than 100 historical photos, maps and illustrations (many never before published) and other supplemental material (none was included in the original edition).