Author Description

In 1960, Vienna was recovering from the war and from being the birthplace of Adolf Hitler. A group of Americans arrived and became friends. They had come to Vienna to do business, or to study, or to confront the Nazi past, or to find love, or to find themselves, Attempting to realize their values and to find love, they often had to contend not only with the contradictory values of their fellow Americans but also with the temptations of Vienna. They welcomed the friendship and help of Georg Hertzl, though he was a former SS trooper, because he seemed to like Americans. Thus began days of drink, sex, farce, and death. As they attempted to learn to love, they became oblivious of the murders occurring around them until one of their friends is found floating in the Danube.