PALM BEACH, Fla., February 17, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Some lives are meant to be ordinary, others are destined for excitement. Some become extraordinary because of the times and places they are lived and the struggles that are faced. Alicia Kornitzer Karpati had a life like this. In her new book, Walking in the Shadow of Tyranny (now available through 1stBooks), she tells a harrowing story of escape from despotism to freedom.
Karpati recounts her life story set against the background of war and oppression. She was born in a small town in Hungary shortly after the end of World War I. Her family moved to Budapest in 1941 where she spent many happy, carefree days. That carefree world came crumbling down as the Nazis began their quest for domination across Europe. A Jewish girl in an anti-Semitic war, she survived with fake papers stating she was a Christian during Nazi occupation.
As Hitler fell, another shadow was cast over her home. The Communist regime from Russia clamped its shackles over Hungary. While she succeeded as a capitalist in a communist world, selling high end skin care products, the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 shattered her dreams in the outbreak of more war. She and her husband, along with their 8 year old daughter, attempted to escape the country, but were captured by the Russians. Facing deportation to Siberia if caught again, they made a daring trek across ice and snow to Austria, and later, America.
An extraordinary story of an ordinary life interrupted by the blasts of war and struggle, Walking in the Shadow of Tyranny is an important personal piece of history of the war-torn Europe of the 20th century.
Karpati studied skin care with Dr. Tibor Haller, noted professor at the Budapest Skin Care Clinic. They collaborated on the formulation of some of her products, which won international awards. She married a prominent Budapest capitalist in 1946. They have a daughter. In 1957, the three of them finally tasted freedom after immigrating, with difficulty, to the United States. In America, she reopened Alicia Karpati Cosmetics, Inc. She is the author of Awaken Your Sleeping Beauty, as well as this book.
About 1STBooks
The oldest and most successful print-on-demand and eBook publishing company of its kind, 1stBooks was founded in 1997 and has helped more than 13,000 people worldwide realize their dreams of becoming published authors. For more information, visit: www.1stBooks.com .