In 1941, the first Neumann family member was taken by the Nazis, arrested in German-occupied Czechoslovakia for bathing in a stretch of river forbidden to Jews. He was transported to Auschwitz. Eighteen days later, his prisoner number was entered into the morgue book.          

Of thirty-four Neumann family members, twenty-five were murdered by the Nazis. One of the survivors was Hans Neumann, who, to escape the German death net, traveled to Berlin and hid in plain sight under the Gestapo’s eyes. What Hans experienced was so unspeakable that, when he built an industrial empire in Venezuela, he couldn’t bring himself to talk about it. All his daughter Ariana knew was that something terrible had happened.          

When Hans died, he left Ariana a small box filled with letters, diary entries, and other memorabilia. Ten years later Ariana finally summoned the courage to have the letters translated, and she began reading. What she discovered launched her on a worldwide search that would deliver indelible portraits of a family loving, finding meaning, and trying to survive amid the worst that can be imagined.             

When Time Stopped is an unputdownable detective story and an epic family memoir, spanning nearly ninety years and crossing oceans. Neumann brings each relative to vivid life. In uncovering her father’s story after all these years, she discovers nuance and depth to her own history and liberates poignant and thought-provoking truths about the threads of humanity that connect us all.             

About the Author:                                                                                                                                                     
Ariana Neumann was born and grew up in Venezuela. She previously worked as a foreign correspondent for Venezuela’s The Daily Journal and her writing has also appeared in The European. She currently lives in London with her family. When Time Stopped is her first book.                                                                               

Photo credit: Bryan Adams                                                                                                                                                                                        

Event Details:

Time/Date: February 4, 2020, at 6:30 pm            

Location: Embassy of the Czech Republic             
3900 Spring of Freedom Street, NW       
Washington, DC 20008

RSVP: https://whentimestopped.eventbrite.com

Books will be available for purchase at the event.            

Embassy Security Policy: For entrance, all guests will be subject to a security screening. Photo ID is required. Bags and suitcase are not allowed. Only small purses are permitted but must be opened for inspection. Coat check is not available.           

Parking: Non-metered parking is available on Spring of Freedom Street and Tilden Street.    

Closest Metro: The Embassy is about a 15-20 minute walk from the Van Ness Metro Station.