By the age of six, John Varda had already been twice a refugee. A member of the Hungarian Székely, traditionally thought to be descended from a son of Attila the Hun, his community was thrice relocated under treaty agreements as the countries of Eastern Europe jockeyed for territory, both through alliances and brute force. They were finally settled in Tolna County, Hungary, after World War II. From the ages of eight to nineteen, John was a first-hand witness to the Communist experiment, as...