I wish to thank all of Milena’s friends who helped me with this book, above all Wilma Lovenbacti for her untiring advice and assistance; Arthur Koestler, Paul Riitti, Willy Haas, Joachim von Zedtwitz, Jaroslav Dressier, Miios Vanfckj Anidka Kvapilová, and all those who shared their memories with me or provided me with background material.
Many sources of information about Milena’s life have been closed to me as a German without knowledge of the Czech language. I am unfamiliar with Czechoslovakia and the city of Prague. I have my conversations with Milena to thank for whatever I know about the marvelous cultural flowering in her Czech homeland during her lifetime, the first thirty years of this century. I met Milena in a concentration camp. It was there that she told me of her past life. For that reason, my account may not be free from inaccuracies, for which I apologize. It was only after long hesitation that I undertook the perilous venture of writing this book. I did so because I was fascinated by Milena’s personality and because of the profound friendship that united us.