Austrian Again: Reclaiming a Lost Legacy

by Anne Hand

In this captivating memoir, the author embarks on a deeply personal journey to uncover her family’s hidden history during the Holocaust while pursuing Austrian citizenship. As Austria opens the door to reparation citizenship for descendants of those victimized by the Nazi and Austrofascist regimes, Anne digs through fragments of family stories and documents to trace her Austrian and Czechoslovakian roots. Through her search, she pieces together the story her ancestors withheld from their children after World War II, while reflecting on identity, migration, and heritage.

Navigating the bureaucratic process of gaining citizenship, this journey becomes much more than just a legal pursuit. It transforms into a reflection on memory, loss, and resilience, culminating in the celebration of legacies both long buried and still cherished. Along the way, she confronts the silences and gaps in her family’s past, grappling with the weight of history and its impact on future generations. This story is a heartfelt meditation on the intersection of personal and shared history, and a joyful tribute to the power of remembering and belonging.

This bestselling memoir stands out as a unique and contemporary story, offering a fresh perspective on historical reparations and the ongoing quest for identity in a rapidly changing world. By blending personal narrative with a modern-day journey through citizenship laws and collective memory, it highlights the enduring influence of history on modern life. It is a timely, thoughtful exploration of what it means to reclaim a lost heritage and gain a new place in today’s world.

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2025

Reviews

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

i won this in a giveaway

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, poignant read about family, identity and the author's relationship to both. So much of the author's family's story is about the details, of paperwork, placenames and timing, and yet the story weaves through what could have been heavy details with a delicate hand. There is so much hope here, even when the grim cruelty of the Holocaust is highlighted in the legacy of documentation, bureaucracy, both found and lost in time.

Note: I was provided with an advance digital copy, but with no expectation of, or compensation for, a review.

[Kayla Tornello · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a rambling story about the author investigating her family's journey to America in the lead up to WWII. In the process, she applies for Austrian citizenship. This book tells about her discoveries, both about herself and her family.

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Yay!

[William Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful new memoir about uncovering a complicated and searing hidden history. Relevant today as the world grapples with the past as part of understanding the present.