My Years with Ludwig von Mises

I want to thank the many friends who helped me—in however small a way—to get the information I needed for writing this book, as well as those close friends and members of my family who lived through the writing with me. I only wish I could have mentioned all those who, in the course of the years, have been part of our lives, but I know they will understand that it was not possible.

First I want to thank Friedrich von Hayek, the most illustrious among my husband’s many distinguished students, for his permission to print here a hitherto unpublished speech he gave in 1956 in my husband’s honor.

My special gratitude goes to our very, very dear friends Berthy and Larry Fertig, who advised, helped, and comforted me throughout these last difficult years. My warmest thanks to Bettina Bien-Greaves, who generously provided me with any information I asked for, although she was herself busy on a book about my husband. I am particularly grateful to Ruth I. Matthews and to Otto and Fanny Kallir for their unfailing interest and steady encouragement.

I wish to record my particular thanks to Karl T. Pflock, my editor at Arlington House. His enthusiasm for my work and his practical suggestions meant a great deal to this “young” author.

Eugene Davidson’s stimulating advice with regard to Chapter 8 was particularly valuable to me, and I have a special debt of gratitude to John Chamberlain for his enthusiastic reaction after reading several chapters of the manuscript. My thanks also to Hans Sennholz for translating from the German the letter that appears on page 163.

It was George Koether who did the original editing of my book, and I am grateful to him for having kept his promise “not to do any ghost writing,” for this should be and is my own story. George gave me the benefit of his great journalistic experience, his superb command of language, and constant encouragement and enthusiasm. When I once told him: “George, you are doing so much for me. How can I accept it?” he replied, “Margit, when your husband died, I told my wife, ‘How can I ever thank this man, for what he has done for my mind?’ This is my opportunity.”