ABSTRACT
While the war had gone on I had been drifting; it seemed futile to make plans for an uncertain future. Now I had no more pretexts postponing any personal decisions. But the opportunities were exceedingly limited: An academic career was ruled out, I had no degree and no wish to start studying in my middle twenties—nor would I have known what direction to take. I had no aptitude for either business or a craft. I was interested in politics but never considered making it my profession. I did know that I wanted to write, but this was an avocation, not a way to earn one’s living. Working in a bookstore, while not demeaning, was not satisfactory in the long run.
