Bright Summaries - Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

Max, an American of Jewish origin, writes to his friend Martin, a German, who he thinks of as a brother. He brings up Martins return to Germany while he remains in San Francisco , and how things are going with their common business in the art market: they are successful despite the current economic conditions. However, this does make him slightly ashamed as their market is not entirely honest. He also gives him news of his sister, Griselle, an actress, with whom Martin had a relationship, and asks his permission to pass on his address to her so that she can visit him in Berlin. Martin agrees and states that she is welcome to stay with him from time to time.

Martin tells of his settling in Germany. He was able to acquire a splendid house as well as valuable furniture for a ridiculously low price. His wife, Elsa, is happy with their situation, as are their three children. However, Elsas family has fewer facilities: life in Germany is expensive.

Max expresses his concerns to his friend about the rise of Nazism in Germany and the persecution suffered by the Jews. He also fears for his sister Griselle, who left for Berlin, and asks his friend for any news of her.

Unfortunately, Martin does not see the situation in the same way. Although he also has some concerns about Hitlers ideas, who is now the head of the government, he does recognize the beneficial effect he has had on the country and pledges his allegiance to the new government. He also accepts a position as city councilor.

Gradually, their relationship changes and Martin is forced to respond to Max on paper with the letterhead of his bank as he believes that it is now dangerous for him to correspond privately with a Jew. Also, he asks him not to write to him, except in an emergency and on the back of bank drafts as the mail is monitored.

Convinced by the Hitler regime, Martin is proud of the revival of his country. He also announces to Max that Heinrich, his eldest son, entered the ranks of the Hitler Youth. He therefore wishes to end his correspondence with Max as, being a Jew, he will not be able to understand his views and can only defend his own. He ends the letter with Regards.

Troubled by this letter, Max writes to Martin through an American friend who goes to Germany. He does not understand his friends attitude, and thinks that he is only seeking to avoid censorship and retaliation. He asks Martin to reassure him by sending him a Yes in order to confirm that he was lying in his previous letter. Sadly, this is not the case: for Martin, their friendship is in the past.

Max feels betrayed. The fear of losing his sister drives him to reconnect with Martin and beg him to watch over her. As for him, he learns that Griselle was booed by the crowd and, forced to hide, she was planning to take refuge with friends in Munich. His concerns continue to grow: he has no news of his sister and his last letter to her was returned to him marked Address unknown.

When Martin responds, it is to tell him of Griselles death. He found her one day outside his door, exhausted, but he refused to hide her because he didnt want to get into trouble. Under the pretext of helping her, he advised her to take refuge in a nearby park where he had seen the SA. They capture her and kill her. Martin ends his letter by stating that he no longer wants anything to do with Jews. Any contact with them is dangerous for him and surveillance and censorship are intensifying.

Utterly devastated, Max sends Martin a telegram in which he says accept the terms of the contract. He does not sign his first name, but his second, Eisenstein. Knowing that the mail is closely minored, he decides, out of revenge, to send him many letters, one after another, in which he places lots of numbers in order to plant the idea of a Jewish conspiracy, in which Martin would be involved. He mentions the creation of a League of young German painters, market surveillance and Martins possible departure to Switzerland. He also suspiciously mentions the weather and ends his letters with clear allusions to the Jewish religion. He asks Martin to send him Picasso reproductions and adds encrypted numbers to this demand.

These letters are obviously considered dangerous by the censors. Martin begs Max to stop: he has been summoned by the Nazis because of his missives and risks being arrested or executed. He has already been revoked by the city council, nobody wants to socialize with him and his wife, and his son Heinrich has been dismissed from the Hitler Youth.

Despite this, Max continues his letters. He talks about the weather by announcing a thunderstorm, as a way of suggesting that a major event will occur in Germany, and cites the dates of the League exhibition to be held in Berlin. He writes that he hopes Martin is able to obtain the necessary support in Germany and tells him that he has sent a person to Berlin and other cities to deposit the paintings. He concludes with a wish for their project to be successful.

A last letter is then sent, but it never reaches its recipient. It is returned to Max with the quote Address unknown.