The fascinating life story of Hugo Simon, companion of Samuel Fischer and Thomas Mann! When Rafael Cardoso accidentally comes across letters and documents belonging to his great-grandfather, his curiosity is piqued. Who was Hugo Simon? His investigations take him from São Paulo to Berlin, where he uncovers the family secret: Hugo Simon was not only a banker in the Weimar Republic, but also a close advisor to Samuel Fischer, the owner of Munch's "The Scream"; Albert Einstein frequented his home, and Alfred Döblin immortalized the friend in a novel. Rafael Cardoso traces the colorful biography of his great-grandfather all the way to his exile in Brazil, bringing Jewish-European life in the 20th century back to life, closely tied to history and its protagonists. A fascinatingly rich family chronicle, a careful exploration of possession, loss, and identity.