Once upon a time, the Künstler family lived in the fairy-tale city of Vienna and, when that setting turned into a nightmare, they built a new fairy tale in Los Angeles.

It’s a story that grandma Mamie never told her grandson, Julian . . . until they are trapped together during the pandemic. Gradually, Mamie brings to life long-buried tales of her escapades with an amazing cast of characters, from Greta Garbo to Thomas Mann, revealing a whole new dimension to the clever and still-glamorous 93-year-old.

Cut off from his own life, Julian discovers a new world from the past . . . and how much it portends for the future.

Cathleen Schine is the author of 12 novels, including Künstlers in Paradise and bestsellers The Love Letter and Rameau’s Niece.