Jan Jekal's 'Paranoia in Hollywood' Examines Exiled German Artists in LA
Jan Jekal's new book 'Paranoia in Hollywood' explores the experiences of German-speaking exiles in Los Angeles during the 1940s, including Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, and Hanns Eisler. After fleeing Nazi persecution for the United States, they later faced political suspicion from anti-communist forces, prompting a difficult return to Europe. The book details their double displacement and the paranoia that pervaded the émigré community.
Key facts
- Los Angeles became a center of German-language culture in the 1940s.
- Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, and Hanns Eisler fled Nazis to the US.
- They later faced anti-communist suspicion in the US.
- Jan Jekal authored 'Paranoia in Hollywood'.
- The book covers the exiles' return to Europe.
Entities
Artists
- Thomas Mann
- Bertolt Brecht
- Hanns Eisler
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Europe