Trude Simonsohn was an impressive individual, as anyone who met her knows. She shared her opinions and experiences without any moralistic finger-wagging, with great joie de vivre, yet also with seriousness and passion.

Regarded as something of an institution in Frankfurt am Main, Trude Simonsohn was greatly respected by that city’s community and made an honorary citizen.

When the German National Library celebrated her 100th birthday, we asked 100 public figures to recommend a book to us published in the year of her birth. Trude Simonsohn herself chose Vicki Baum’s novel “Die Tänze der Ina Raffay. Ein Leben” (“The Dances of Ina Raffay. A Life”), which was published in 1921. “Because I had read quite a few novels by V. Baum in my youth, I borrowed the book. I found it gripping and highly imaginative”, Trude Simonsohn commented. We were able to visit her at home to discuss the book. The photograph shown here stems from this book.

We will greatly miss Trude Simonsohn.

(Dr. Sylvia Asmus)