On the Other Side of the Ocean

About the Book

What was it like to grow up in a small Swiss village during the 1940s and 50s? Through the description of one close-knit multigenerational family, this book touches on universal themes of love and loss. The characters that emerge are quirky and endearing, fully part of the time and place in which they lived.

There are Grossvater and Grossmutter, old-world grandparents who dote on their grandchildren and who provide a much-needed respite “downstairs” for the children when things get too chaotic upstairs, as often happens when Papie’s alcoholism rears its head.

There is Mamie, bravely trying to keep her family together through the challenges of World War II, domestic strife, and four headstrong children.

There is Papie, a man struggling with his past, good-hearted but never able to be the father his children need.

There are Beth and Andre and Marty and Evi, whose childhoods belong to an era that seems far-removed from the present age. Their lives are sometimes idyllic, sometimes fraught with fear and pain.

Throughout the pages of this book, the overriding presence is of village life in Switzerland, “die Heimat,” a land and a time that are artfully brought to life in this loving memoir. The story is enhanced with over 50 original drawings.

About the Author

Ruth Schoch Knudson was born and raised in Dornach, Switzerland. She has lived in the United States for 40 years, and currently resides in Lauderdale, Minnesota. Before retiring, she worked as an R.N. She has one daughter and two grandchildren.