In the Jaws of the Crocodile

Emil Draitser is a professor emeritus of Russian at Hunter College. He is the author of several books, including Farewell, Mama Odessa; Stalin's Romeo Spy: The Remarkable Rise and Fall of the KGB's Most Daring Operative; and Shush! Growing Up Jewish under Stalin: A Memoir.

Draitser's memoir is a compelling read-informative, passionately written, funny, and framed within the context of Soviet history. It is a great resource for anyone interested in Soviet Jewish culture and identity in the post-Stalin era, the perils of emigration, and the paradox of being a humorist in an authoritarian state where satire was tolerated but always suspected of crossing a line into dissent." - Jarrod Tanny, author of City of Rogues and Schnorrers: Russia's Jews and the Myth of Old Odessa "A true jewel. This book is hard to put down. It is funny, insightful, full of excellent dialogue and detail. It provides a window into everyday life of the author working within the Soviet publishing industry and offers insights on how the Soviet censorship system worked in practice." - Anna Shternshis, author of When Sonia Met Boris: An Oral History of Jewish Life under Stalin