Look Homeward, Angel and his most recent book, Of Time and the River, in the original English, so they had a brief, pleasant chat about his work, mostly Greta complimenting his writing and Wolfe accepting her compliments. Her strongest impressions of him came later, growing out of what she overheard him say to others. He was affable and courteous, even when the crowd pressed too close, and he modestly deflected the unceasing flow of compliments Greta thought he honestly deserved. She quite liked him for that, and was amused by the way his thoughts often seemed to tumble from him in an unrestrained, disorderly flow. He took an immediate liking to Mildred, which to Greta suggested excellent judgment. She was flattered when she overheard him confide to Ambassador Dodd that he considered the Germans to be the kindest, most warmhearted, and most honorable people of all he had met in Europe
And yet other remarks left her feeling disappointed and repulsed. He expressed too much enthusiasm for what he described as the strength, vigor, and “noble spirit of freedom” of Nazi Germany. When Bella Fromm, visibly taken aback, reminded him of the Aryan Laws, Wolfe tossed back a drink, grinned, and said, “Seems to me the Nazis are simply showing the normal hostility toward the Jews.”
Some of his listeners grinned, but far more frowned in bewilderment or disapproval. Disgusted, Greta turned and left the room, certain that she would never again be able to enjoy his novels as she once had.
When she and Mildred met the following Saturday morning in the Tiergarten, they compared notes and found that they had reached strikingly similar opinions about most of the German guests. After they narrowed down the list to those they would approach about the resistance, Greta brought the subject around to the tea’s guest of honor. Mildred too had been dismayed by some of his behavior, especially a callous joke he had made about Jews influencing President Roosevelt’s administration, and his distorted, idealized notion of what Germany had become under Nazi rule. “His naïve enthusiasm reminds me of Martha’s when she first arrived,” Mildred said. “After she lived here awhile, her eyes opened and she saw the Reich for the horror it is. I can only hope Thomas Wolfe will undergo the same transformation.”
“That’s not likely to happen if he spends his entire visit attending parties and meeting fans,” said Greta, dubious. “That would have to be a whirlwind of change in a very brief time.”
“That’s true. He’s setting sail for New York at the end of June.” Mildred allowed a small conspiratorial smile. “He’s promised me a lengthy, detailed, thoroughly honest interview before he departs.”
“Mildred, that’s wonderful,” Greta exclaimed. Switching to English, she said, “That’s quite a—what’s the phrase?—a scoop.”
Mildred laughed. “Yes, it is—or it will be, if I can publish it.”
“I’m very happy for you,” said Greta sincerely. No one more deserved a bit of publishing luck than Mildred. As Goebbels’s Reichskulturkammer had tightened its chokehold upon the publishing industry, her “Brief Reviews” column had been canceled and permission to publish scholarly articles had become increasingly difficult to obtain. An exclusive interview with an acclaimed author whose works passed Nazi restrictions and sold exceptionally well in Germany could create new opportunities for her—and the income would surely be gratefully received.
Later that month, Adolf Hitler addressed the Reichstag, speaking earnestly of Germany’s desire for peace, understanding, and justice for all. Hitler repudiated the very thought of war—a senseless horror that would accomplish nothing—and insisted that Germans had no interest whatsoever in conquering other peoples. “The principal effect of every war is to destroy the flower of the nation,” he declared as he offered thirteen specific proposals to secure peace in Europe. “Germany needs peace and desires peace!”
In the days that followed, newspapers around the world tentatively praised Hitler’s overtures, although several European leaders asked for reassurances regarding certain military matters. Hitler’s replies apparently diminished their fears, but although tensions eased, the tone of the foreign press remained watchful and wary.
“Of course Hitler wants peace,” said Adam. “He wants peace to buy himself time to prepare for war. And I think he’ll get it. The world wants peace so desperately that they’d prefer to be lulled into complacency than to challenge him.”
Greta hoped Adam was wrong, but she feared he was right. World leaders, men who ought to be more skeptical, clung to what Hitler said and ignored what he did. Even as the Führer promised peace, the Reich government passed laws