To Become a Rich American

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspThis novel is the story of a European immigrant woman, very charming and attractive tomen, attempting to become a rich American. It is also the story of Rick Stevens search, despitehis sexual hang-ups, for the ideal wife.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspKert von Fielding was in her mid thirties when she made her first voyage aboard the MSGripsholm, sailing from Helsinki, Finland, to New York City.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspKert had majored in languages at Helsinki University where she earned both a B.A. and anM.A., and had later worked as a translator. She knew five langagesFinish, Swedish, English,French, and German. She hoped someday to obtain translating work in New York City.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspBut this first time in the states, she visited her cousins in Salem on the Lake, a small townin Ohio on the banks of Lake Erie. While there, she made the acquaintance of Mart Appleby,ten years her junior, and the son of the highly esteemed and supposedly wealthy MunicipalCourt Judge of the townCalvin W. Appleby II. Their friendship, during the summer of 1957,ripened into an intense love affair, involving a lot of sex. She fell madly in love with MartAppleby and thought he loved her in return. She was mistaken, but she kept sending him loveletters after he went to the West Virginia Institute of Technology where he was employed as apsychology/sociology assistant professor.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMart did not answer any of Kerts letters. Then, failing at this affair, she turned to his older half-brother,Rick Stevens, who was closer to her age, five years her junior. Rick was interested but wary.She discussed with him her plan to become an American citizen by marrying an American.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspRick, a new high school science teacher, was conservative and not nearly as daring as hisyounger half-brother Mart. Kert definitely preferred Mart as a mate instead of Rick. But shedmarry Rick as a means to an endobtaining her citizenshipand then leave. She figured shecould hide in New York City.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspWhen her VISA expired she returned to Helsinki, Finland. While there she wrotenumerous letters to Rick, finally writing lovey-dovey type letters. She told him she wouldreturn to visit.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspShe returned to New York City the next year aboard the MS Gripsholm. During theseven-day passage she had a shipboard romance with a handsome and congenial man in hismid thirties, Chad Power, an assistant professor of English at Hunter College in NYC andthe son of a multimillionaire.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspWithout giving away any more of the story, suffice it to say that Kert, using sex and her femininewiles and machinations, managed to be married to two handsome virile men at the same time,without either of them being aware of her duplicity, and to obtain her citizenship twice.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspDid Kert ever become rich? You will need to read the book to find out. And, please dont skip around.