This is a remarkable work. It has all the bearings of a lifetime's achievement, all too noticable in the unfinished nature of the book. Maenchen-Helfin died before it was finished and the book was edited together by Max Knight from the author's papers. It is encyclopedic. If you want to know anything about the Huns then consult this book, E A Thompson's "The Huns" formerly "Attila and the Huns" and P Heather's section in the Cambridge Ancient History Vol. XIII. If it's not in these books then it's not worth knowing. This book, more than the others, is indispensible but difficult to use. It is patchy and often unwieldy but breathtaking in scope and vision. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know about the Huns who also has the time to work with the book to get the information out.

This is truely a masterpiece on the Huns. The sad part is that it is incomplete. It is far superior to the work of Thompson in the Huns even in this incomplete state. The analytical methodical scholarship, typical of savants of the German school, is seen throughout the book. This is supported by the author's firsthand experience amidst the Altaic nomads. One can only imagine the out come if Maenchen-Helfen had lived longer. I do not see scholars of his stature anymore in Central Asian studies.

Max Knight and Peter Fabry, while law students in Vienna before WWII, wrote a local humorous column under a joint pen name, Peter Fabrizius. (Their real last names were Kuenel and Epstein, which they changed in England and USA, respectively.)

Both were quick and clever with words, loved to play with them, and were good friends in this joint pursuit while young together in the 1920's and 1930's. When they were thrown out of the university by the Nazi Anschluss, which barred Jews from professional schools and practices, both resolved to leave the country however they could. They got out in 1938, and struggled mightily to get their fellow family members out later. Their subsequent life strivings revolved around their identity as Jews, unwelcome refugees in most countries.

With luck, incredible perseverance and determination, they managed to travel incognito throughout Europe, each on his own path to a safe country where Jews were tolerated. Few places existed by the time the war had broken out, and only Shanghai remained as an open port where one could arrive without a valid passport or citizenship papers. So a large European Jewish emigre community there is the place where Max survived the war.

Both continued their journey, which they write about in alternating chapters in chronological sync, until, by heck and high water, both wind up in Berkeley, California. There they work in writing and publishing, as freelancers, as translators, ultimately giving lessons in writing English at UC Berkeley! They write for the U.C. Press, publish articles and even books.

They marry, have children, buy houses, and establish a new life in a new country, and stick together throughout. When this book was written, both were approaching 80, and both have died, one in 1993 and one in 1999.

For those who know European history, who love Austria, who love a sense of adventure, of great risk-taking and cleverness, this book is a delight. I read it straight through and take my hat off to them for composing such an engaging and sincere life story. They also become involved in questions of religion and community in their later years, for those of you interested in logotherapy and Viktor Frankel.

And remember, English isn't their native tongue!

I reread this book to see, why I didn't like it much, it didn't take me long to find out. The author seems to think it's wrong if women want to practice celibacy or try to remain a virgin until marriage. She doesn't think that's something to be proud of. Now my problem with that is if young girls that are planning on trying to wait until marriage read this book might think that's something to be ashamed of, or they want be able to please their spouse if they have not been practicing. I think more open minded people, probably enjoyed the book more so than myself.

Max Elliott's book is a must. For those of us who have not found our true self, this book will help uncover what is buried or lying dormant. It shades light on darkness. Some of the references may seem a little too much or farfetched for some, but there is certainly a little something for every female. The book is to share. Don't just read the book, but make your friends and co-workers aware of it also. It is an enlightment.