Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian in Berlin, Germany, 1908-1939; emigrated to GB, 3/1939; co-founder of publishing firm Thames and Hudson with husband Walter Neurath in London, 1949.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in Germany, 1908-1939: family background in Berlin; story of employment with auctioneer and reason for dismissal; story about Walter Neurath's publishing firm; opinion of cultural life in GB; story of journey with husband and son from Berlin to Rotterdam, 1938; emigrated to GB, Mar/1939. Aspects of period in GB, 3/1939-1997: reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; moved from London to Cambridge; reason for not being interned as enemy alien; attitude to treatment of refugees by British authorities.
REEL 2 Continues: comparison of European and British attitudes; reason for wanting to come to England; story of starting publishing company Thames and Hudson with husband Walter Neurath in London, 1949; types of books published and printing methods; effect of war on daily life and work; reaction of British publishers to Thames and Hudson; relations with rival publishers; opinion of Ernst Gombrich and other art historians; further comments on books published by Thames and Hudson
REEL3 Continues: question of Thames and Hudson still being independent company; story about Oskar Kokoschka; story about first book published by Thames and Hudson; comparison of cultural life in GB and Germany; story of divorce and marriage to Walter Neurath; question of Thames and Hudson responding to post-war optimism and husband's mission to educate reading public; experience of living in totalitarian country; comparison of US and European character; husband's desire to increase awareness of art in GB.
REEL 4 Continues: importance of visual books; reaction to death of husband, 1967; description of pre-war daily life in Berlin and restrictions on Jewish husband; opinion of success of Thames and Hudson in GB; opinion of contribution of European refugees to cultural life in GB; story of being verbally abused in air raid shelter.
REEL 5 Continues; conclusion of story; further comments on pre-war life in Berlin; question of visualization of history being considered inferior format in GB; role of Thames and Hudson in increasing sales of illustrated books on art, photography and architecture; description of method of separating text and photographs; comparison of sales in British and overseas markets; production methods including employing own photographers.