Trapped in Tatura

Peter R. Auer’s first book, Flight from Vienna, recounts the courtship of Lili Gruen and Rudi Auer and their life in early-thirties Vienna before the rise of anti-Semitism and the rise of Hitlerism drives them from their beloved homeland.

Its sequel, Exiled in Palestine, finds Rudi and Lili married and attempting to build a life in Palestine, where they are exiled under British Mandate. War soon spills over—the pair is interned, and Lili gives birth to their first child while in the camp. With the closing of the mandate, the young family is sent to a distant land.

Trapped in Tatura picks up the tale—based on the true story—of the Auer family as they find themselves interned once more—in Tatura, in faraway Victoria, Australia. The anti-Semitism so prominent in Europe has spread even to these far reaches, and Rudi, Lili, and their young son, Peter, face mistreatment and prejudice wherever they turn. A daughter, Liselotte, is added to the family during internment in Tatura.

Life is difficult for the mixed company of internees, but together they cope with the challenges of camp living, offering hope that once the war is over, Rudi and his family may find their freedom.

But can they return to a home that drove them away due to anti-Semitism in the first place?

Peter R. Auer has spent fifty years as an educator of teachers and students alike. He has taught in the United States, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.

Trained first as a historian-and possessing a rich family history of his own-Auer has written three novels about his family's experiences during World War II. Trapped in Tatura is the third and final installment of the series, which began with Flight from Vienna and continued with Exiled in Palestine.

Auer enjoys spending time with his wife, Carolyn, and their dog, Charlie. When not writing, he takes pleasure in a number of activities, including travel, photography, cooking, tennis, and skiing.