Footnote to History

This memoir has it all, a loving family, a terrible time, unspeakable horrors and coming to America to begin a new life. Andrew Laszlo kept the family name alive. It is certainly a celebration of life, hope and renewal. The book is a triumph of strong will over evil. Throughout it all, the author never thought of himself as special. He writes in such a humble manner, hence the title, Footnote to History. There are many rags to riches tales, but few as special as this one. Andrew Laszlo came to America with the clothes on his back (sewn from an army blanket). He had no formal trade or advanced education. He did not speak English. He became a world-famous cinematographer. I am so glad that after 50 years of silence, he decided to share his secret. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Holocaust or World War II history. -Joe M. Pruitt

It 'imprints' upon us the brutality of war, particularly this war. It reminds us that once people are characterized as 'others,' they can be determined to be exploited and/or eliminated. While having general insights into WWII [born a baby boomer], this book narrates how only the creative/strong survived. The story of his father is a reminder that brave people, e.g., allow others to live at their own self-peril. I have had the privilege of knowing Andrew Laszlo Jr., who inherited these traits and is, therefore, successful. He has developed a narrative of the book. I will be attending one of his lectures, having read this extraordinary book. -T. Anderson

It is very rare for me to read a book for the second time but Footnote To History changed my interest in history. I wanted to go back and read it again to make sure I remembered details correctly. What an amazing person Mr. Laszlo was to survive those years! -John L. Halstvedt

Footnote to History is an unforgettable memoir by a Holocaust survivor. A successful American immigrant, renowned cinematographer Andrew Laszlo writes a gripping chronicle of growing up in 1930s Hungary, where his family contends with growing antisemitism. Andrew's world fell apart as Nazi Germany exerted control over Jewish Hungarians during World War II. Denied playing on school teams, then restricted to ghetto life, transported in locked railway cattle cars, endless days in a forced labor camp, surviving the horrors of concentration camps, and finally, liberation arrived...only to discover his parents, brother, and grandparents had all been killed by the Nazis. As a displaced person, America became his new home, but he kept his past a secret. While in his sixties, he changed his mind and wrote this compelling book so his wife, adult children, and now the public could understand the past and fight against today's growing antisemitism. -Douglas A. Pfeiffer