Carried by a Magic Fan

Book excerpt: Set against the backdrop of World War II and accented by the birth, demise and rebirth of a nation, this memoir chronicles a Baltic refugee family's escape from Estonia to the United States. Spanning nine decades and three continents--and incorporating an essay by his mother, his parents' letters, and conversations with his father--Jaak Treiman describes his family's journey and life afterward as they sought the American dream. As they settled into their new lives, they kept memories of their homeland alive by engaging in political activities that contributed to the break-up of the Soviet Union, including strategizing with dissidents behind the Iron Curtain, engaging in court battles, and attending meetings with American presidents.