Description of ‘Searching For Wallenberg’ by Alan Lelchuk:

After reading a graduate student’s thesis about the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews in Budapest from 1944 to 1945, Professor Manny Gellerman–part-time detective, historian, and novelist–follows the twists and turns along unorthodox paths and uncovers some uncomfortable truths that may explain what happened when Wallenberg was arrested by the Soviets in 1945, taken to Moscow, and left to fester in a Lybianka prison.

Now more than 65 years later, Gellerman begins unthreading these mysteries–and discovers that the deepest may be Wallenberg, himself. Who was the real man behind the legendary persona of noble diplomat and savior of Budapest Jews? Gellerman’s quest eventually leads him to a Jewish Hungarian woman, who claims she is Raoul Wallenberg’s daughter. At once a detective story and an unusual love story, this novel within a novel is filled with multiple layers and surprising characters that all lead to a deeper understanding of this enigmatic hero.

My Thoughts on ‘Searching For Wallenberg’ by Alan Lelchuk:

Professor Manny Gellerman has always been fascinated with Raoul Wallenberg and the mystery of his disappearance after WWII.  This novel is a book of fact mixed with fiction.  The facts are that Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, saved thousands of Jews in Budapest from certain death.  After WWII he was taken by the Soviets to prison and he was never heard from again.

This novels is the fictionalized investigation into Wallenberg’s disappearance.  Manny  Gellerman has always been fascinated by Raoul Wallenberg and what might have happened to him after he was hauled off by the Soviets.  He becomes even further intrigued after reading his graduate student’s thesis on Wallenberg.  During her study and investigation, she met a woman in Budapest who claims that she is Wallenberg’s daughter.  The records show that he hadn’t been married and Manny had suspected that Wallenberg was gay.

Manny travels to both Russia and Budapest to try to find out more about Wallengerg’s disappearance and the possibility that this woman could indeed be Wallenbergs daughter.

The visits Manny has with the woman are quite odd, especially at first.  She isn’t very forthcoming but overtime she begins to trust Manny but should Manny trust her? 

It took me a good 50 pages to get into this story but once it got into the actual research, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.  Lelchuk gives us enough factual background into Wallenberg to make the reader interested in the man himself and weaves a credible scenario around it.  This is a great book for WWII historical fiction fans.  If you don’t know who Raoul Wallengberg was, you should and this novel is a good introduction.

4/5

I received the ebook verion for my honest review.

About Alan Lelchuk:

Alan Lelchuk is a novelist and professor, who was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He received his B.A. in World Literature from Brooklyn College in 1960, studied at University College (London) in 1962-63, and received his M.A.in 1963 and Ph.D. in 1965, both in English from Stanford University.

His critically acclaimed novels are American Mischief, Miriam at Thirty-Four, Shrinking: The Beginning of My Own Ending, Miriam in Her Forties, Brooklyn Boy, Playing the Game, and Ziff: A Life? He co-edited 8 Great Hebrew Short Novels and has written, for young adults, On Home Ground.

He is a co-founder of Steerforth Press, has taught at Brandeis University and Amherst College, and since 1985 has been on the faculty of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.