Appearing at Morristown & Morris Township Library | 10:00 am – 10:45 am
About the author
Eva Cristina Hoffman Jedruch was born in the city of Lwów, Poland, months before the outbreak of World War II. Following the war, she lived in England and then Argentina, moving to the United States in 1969. She has been a New Jersey resident since 1986. A chemical engineer by profession, Jedruch worked in international marketing for the chemical company BASF. She earned her degree at State University of Buenos Aires and, after retirement, she enrolled at Drew University, earning a D.Litt. (Doctor of Literature) in medieval studies. Jedruch’s husband, Dr. Jacek Jedruch, was a nuclear engineer and a parliamentary historian. Eva Jedruch speaks five languages, serves on the boards of two organizations, and loves cats.
MFOB featured book: Crossing the Bridges
In Crossing the Bridges, Eva tells the story of her mother’s life, from Poland through World War II and beyond. In the early twentieth century, Central and Eastern Europe were dominated by three empires: Austrian, German, and Russian. The Austrian Empire was a multi-ethnic entity of countries annexed over time, including Polish lands. Zofia Neuhoff was born in 1905 into an upper-middle-class family; Victorian manners reigned supreme, and culture magically distinguished those who possessed it from those who did not. That haute bourgeoisie became central-European intelligentsia. World War I broke up the empires into independent states. Zofia’s life continued with a happy marriage and a law degree, until September 1939, when Germany and Russia invaded Poland and her existence was shattered. Crossing the Bridges is a daughter’s loving tribute to her mother and her resilience during harrowing times.
