Passport as Home: Comfort in Rootlessness

The story of a Romanian-born, Hungarian-speaking Jewish professor who navigates a life marked by rootlessness, seeking comfort and purpose. His journey unfolds against the backdrop of post-1945 Europe and America, offering insight into the forces shaping the latter half of the 20th century. Despite America's flaws, he finds it a beacon of academic excellence, intellectual openness, cultural diversity, and religious tolerance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Central European University Press

Experience the remarkable journey of a Romanian-born, Hungarian-speaking Jewish professor, navigating a life marked by rootlessness and a relentless pursuit of comfort and purpose. Spanning five decades, two continents, and significant political and cultural transformations, this captivating narrative unfolds against the backdrop of post-1945 Europe and America.

As we delve into his pursuit of a home, we gain invaluable insight into the critical developments that shaped post-World War II Europe and America. Markovits' emigration experiences, beginning from Romania to Vienna and subsequently to New York, shed light on the challenges he faced along the way.

His journey offers a panoramic perspective of the forces that shaped the latter half of the 20th century. Despite America's imperfections, Markovits finds it to be a beacon of academic excellence, intellectual openness, cultural diversity, and religious tolerance—qualities that were lacking in Europe.

Exploring the complexities of identity, culture, and the universal quest for belonging, this captivating narrative invites us to reflect on the intricacies of our own lives and the search for a sense of belonging in a rapidly changing world.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789633864210