The Choice

Eger, Dr. Edith Eva
childhood, 12 –33
ballet training during, 16 , 18 , 21 , 37 , 139 , 159 , 187
expulsion from Olympic gymnastics training team during, 23 –25, 82
family’s use of identifying phrase for Edith, 188
father’s forced labor camp imprisonment during, 22 –23
first romance with Eric during, 21 –22, 23 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 63
Hungarian Jewish background of, 19 –20
imprisonment in Jakab brick factory camp during, 31 –33
last moment together with sister and mother, 11
memories of parents and sisters during, 12 –27
parents’ decision not to flee Hungary and, 27
soldiers’ removal of family from their apartment, 29 –31
train transport to and arrival at Auschwitz, 33 –35
yellow star wearing in, 21
WORLD WAR II EXPERIENCES, 34 –69. See also Auschwitz concentration camp; forced march
through Germany; Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp; Mauthausen concentration
camp
Edith’s thoughts about her legacy from, 205 –6
learning American music and dances during recovery after, 77 –78, 79
physical recovery in Wels, Austria, 73 –79
psychological recovery after, 79
questioning reasons for survival after, 17 , 19 , 88
rescue of, at Gunskirchen concentration camp, 68 –69
POSTWAR LIFE IN KOŠICE, 80 –100
learning of Eric’s death, 92
reclaiming family piano, 89 , 105
return to Košice, 85 –92, 96 –100
reunion with Klara, 85 –88
TB hospital stay, 92 –96
train journey home after recovery, 80 –83
MARRIED LIFE IN PREŠOV
Béla’s arrest by Communists, 115 –20
Béla’s escape from prison and train trip out of Czechoslovakia, 118 –21
clothing factory work, 133
decision to marry Béla, 99 –100
early married life of luxury in Eger mansion, 103 –5
Klara’s proposed move to Australia, 105 –6, 123
love for Béla, 96 , 99 , 118 , 160
marriage and honeymoon with Béla, 101 –2
Marianne’s childhood pneumonia, 109 –10
pregnancy and birth of first child, 102 –3, 104 –5, 107 –8