Super Short Summary

Forty Autumns by Nina Willner tells the true story of her mother, Hanna, who fled Communist East Germany, leaving her family behind for forty years. During that absence, Hanna's daughter, Nina, becomes an American intelligence officer working in Cold War Berlin. Willner recounts her family's experiences on both sides of the Iron Curtain, using their history to explore the broader context of the Cold War and German Communism. The memoir delves into the impact of political oppression, family separation, and the emotional aftermath of reunification. It includes themes of political persecution and the traumatic experiences faced by individuals under oppressive regimes.