Life in a Jewish Family: Edith Stein - An Autobiography

• Complete biography of Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
• From early childhood through her murder in Auschwitz
• Her remarkable conversion, life of hidden prayer, & deep search for God
• First-hand account of the intellectual & cultural currents of her time
• Photographs, maps, and more

Her complete, unabridged autobiography—Life in a Jewish Family was written by Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) before her arrest and eventual death at Auschwitz in 1942. It offers a vivid account of Stein’s childhood, youth, and early adulthood, ending abruptly as her life was tragically cut short by Nazi persecution.

A brilliant philosopher, assistant to Edmund Husserl, and later a Discalced Carmelite nun, Edith Stein—St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross—stands as one of the most influential German women of the 20th century. Her journey from atheism to Catholicism, from intellectual acclaim to a life of hidden prayer, reflects a deep spiritual and philosophical search that continues to inspire.

This volume not only provides an intimate portrait of Stein’s early life but also serves as a firsthand account of the intellectual and cultural currents of her time—when psychology and philosophy were emerging as distinct disciplines.

Enhanced with photographs, a map, scholarly notes, and a list of key places in Stein’s life, this edition from the Institute of Carmelite Studies brings her story into sharper focus for scholars, spiritual seekers, and anyone drawn to the witness of this extraordinary saint.