Emil Draitser Knihy

Set in the summer of 1979 at the height of the movement to free Soviet Jewry, Farewell, Mama Odessa is an autobiographical novel whose intertwined storylines follow a variety of people—dissidents, victims of ethnic discrimination, and black marketeers among them—as they bid farewell to their beloved hometown of Odessa, Ukraine, and make their way to the West. At the book’s center is Boris, a young writer thwarted by state censorship and antisemitism. With an Angora kitten for his companion and together with other émigrés, he puts the old country in his rear-view mirror and sets out on a journey that will take him to Bratislava, Vienna, Rome, and New York on his way to Los Angeles. Will Boris be able to rekindle his creative passion and inspiration in the West? Will other Jewish émigrés fit into the new society, so much different than the one they left behind? With humor and compassion, Farewell, MamaOdessa describes the émigrés’ attempts at adjustment to the free world.  

Emil Draitser's memoir delves into the life of a satirist navigating the restrictive landscape of Soviet culture during the Brezhnev era. Born into a working-class Jewish family, he transitioned from engineering to writing, finding his voice in the Party-sponsored magazine Crocodile. His sharp critiques of the regime led to a pivotal decision about emigration. This work not only reflects on the challenges of freedom of expression but also features several of Draitser's witty pieces, now available in English, showcasing the resilience of artists under oppressive circumstances.

Exploring the challenges of immigration and cultural assimilation, this sequel combines memoir and cultural study. The author, a former Soviet satirist, uses self-deprecating humor to reflect on his journey from a totalitarian upbringing to embracing American values. Through personal anecdotes, he reveals the complexities of navigating identity and freedom in a new society, highlighting the transformative power of humor and resilience in overcoming past indoctrination.