In 1938, as Samuel Berkow's tramp steamer from Germany approaches Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, he is full of hope that he will be able to find a family member and begin to remake his life in the new world. But in this sweltering, chaotic, and hostile port town, he will have to face down many obstacles-including himself-before he can hope to truly escape . . .
"A Jewish man flees 1938 Germany only to find a new and unexpected nightmare."
Publishers Weekly
"Unger's sharp prose deftly conveys Samuel's frustrations and confusions as he encounters characters like a troublesome dwarf, a volatile American fruit company manager, a crazed ex-priest, and a friendly telegraph operator who all offer help with one hand but uncertainty with the other."
Publishers Weekly
"Evoking both Kafka and Conrad, Unger's character study of a broken man in a culture broken by a ravenous corporation makes compelling reading."
