Friday, November 3, 2017

ANGELS IN THE SKY : HOW A BAND OF VOLUNTEER AIRMEN SAVED THE NEW STATE OF ISRAEL
by Robert Gandt 

Very close to midnight, on November 29, 1947, the people of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were dancing in the streets and absolutely delirious. David Ben-Gurion was not. He knew in no time there would be problems ahead. The reason for the jubilation was that the United Nations had voted to partition Palestine into two states: Arab and Jewish. The oppressive rule of Great Britain would cease and the occupying forces would leave in May 1948. This is what worried Ben-Gurion. The five Arab countries that surrounded Israel were heavily fortified militarily. Israel's defense force (the Haganah) could not possibly compete with the Arab strength. They had no army, no air force, and no big ally to support them. One week after the resolution, President Truman ordered an embargo on arms being shipped to Israel. (He had originally supported having a Jewish state, but his own State Department was anti-Israel.) Great Britain and most of the countries in Europe followed suit. Ben-Gurion knew that what was needed most for Israel to survive was aircraft. 
Volunteer airmen from the United States, Canada, Britain, France, and South Africa signed up. Most of them had flown in World War II. They were idealistic, brave, and extremely courageous. Some of them were Jewish, but many were not. It was a small group who were fearless. They risked everything for Israel, flying, fighting, and dying. Because of what these airmen did, they helped save Israel.
Angels in the Sky is another one of those untold stories that nobody has ever heard about. Luckily for us, author Robert Gandt stepped in. He knows plenty about the military and aviation having already written other books on these subjects. If you enjoy reading about combat flying, this is the book for you. It's truly a terrific story. Hats off to to these selfless, heroic men.
Highly recommended. 

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

SONS AND SOLDIERS : THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE JEWS WHO ESCAPED THE NAZIS AND RETURNED WITH THE U.S. ARMY TO FIGHT HITLER
by Bruce Henderson 

When Adolph Hitler became Germany's chancellor in 1933, the Jewish citizens were doomed. All of their basic rights were torn from them. If they thought that maybe things could get better that idea was quashed in 1938 because of Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass"). Nazis destroyed their homes, businesses, and synagogues. Many Jews were killed and thousands of them were shuttled off to concentration camps where they perished. The ones that were left knew that they had to get out as soon as possible. The big problem was the U.S. immigration quotas which limited how many could come. Also, it was very difficult for an entire family to leave. So it was decided that the eldest sons would go to live with either relatives or foster families. In a few years, these young men had become Americanized loving democracy and freedom. They joined the U.S. Army so that they could return to Europe to fight Hitler's persecution against them. The military soon realized that they had a goldmine with these German Jews. They spoke the language, knew the culture, and the psychological makeup of the enemy. In 1942, they were molded into a top secret force. For the next eight weeks, extensive training was taught at Camp Ritchie in Maryland. Close to 2,000 of these young men were instructed to interrogate POWs. They were sent overseas with all the combat units to fight the Germans, which for the Ritchie Boys (as they came to be known) was entirely personal. By collecting tactical intelligence on troop movements, enemy strength, and defensive positions, the Ritchie Boys were able to save thousands of American lives and helped win the war.
Sons and Soldiers is one incredible story. There's so many books out on World War II and yet here comes one where the subject matter is virtually unknown. Author Bruce Henderson writes about six of these Ritchie Boys from their childhood days in Germany to their flight to America, their incredible exploits during the war, and then their return to Europe to find out what happened to their families. Through extensive research and interviews with four of the six Ritchie Boys who were written about here and are still living plus many others, Henderson has crafted a terrific read of courage, heroism, and patriotism that is not to be missed.
Highly recommended.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

ALGER HISS : FRAMED : A NEW LOOK AT THE CASE THAT MADE NIXON FAMOUS
by Joan Brady 

Was Alger Hiss really a spy for the Soviets and therefore a traitor to the United States? It has certainly seemed that way with everything that has been written about him. Seventy years ago (1947), his case kept Americans transfixed and it was all anybody talked about. This was the time of the atomic age. Communists were deemed dangerous and paranoia was spread quickly by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). They needed a scapegoat and Hiss was the perfect one in their eyes.
But, maybe it wasn't so. Maybe Hiss really was innocent. Perhaps what happened to him was one big cover-up.
If you thought and believed that Alger Hiss deserved to be indicted for The Trial of the Century, then you need to read this book. Author Joan Brady turns an entire case on its head and then some. She read through all of the transcripts of both the hearings and the trial. Brady reveals how Richard Nixon was the accuser and exploiter. Nixon suppressed evidence, manipulated facts, fabricated orders of events, and bribed witnesses. No wonder he was called "Tricky Dick." It's because of this case that Nixon eventually became the President of the United States.
Brady is a crime writer and it definitely shows here. She lays out all the evidence, analyzes it, and questions everything. Brady dissects the entire case and the more she deciphers the more you shake your head that Hiss could have been found guilty. Alger Hiss: Framed is definitely a page-turner and a book not to be missed.
Highly recommended.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

THE TRIALS OF THE KING OF HAMPSHIRE : MADNESS, SECRECY AND BETRAYAL IN GEORGIAN ENGLAND
by Elizabeth Foyster 

Was John Charles Wallop, the 3rd Earl of Portsmouth really insane? According to his family he was. They initiated a Commission of Lunacy against him in 1823. A the time, Lord Portsmouth was fifty-five years old and had enormous wealth. The family wanted to place that fortune under legal protection. Anybody who knew Portsmouth from aristocrats to servants gave statements to the Commission, which was well over one hundred people. They testified that he definitely was crazy. But, there was also an equal amount of witnesses who said that Portsmouth had a sound mind. So, who was to be believed? This case was a goldmine for the newspapers. A lifetime of secrets was now being aired to the public and they just ate it up. The trial would become the most expensive British insanity trial ever held.
It's almost always enjoyable to read about someone who I never of, especially if they're quirky, unconventional, have foibles and the book is especially well-written. Author Elizabeth Foyster did a masterly job with The Trials of the King of Hampshire. Her specialization is in family history, which she was able to utilize effortlessly in digging out all the machinations ("dirty laundry") that the Portsmouths had. Luckily for Foyster, there was tons of information on Portsmouth in the archives. Nobody else seemed to be interested in him until Foyster came along. I'm glad that she brought Portsmouth to the forefront as this story is really fascinating.
Highly recommended.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

THE GREAT RESCUE : AMERICAN HEROES, AN ICONIC SHIP, AND THE RACE TO SAVE EUROPE IN WWI
by Peter Heron

Almost two years later (minus one month) after the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, the most luxurious ocean liner made its appearance in New York. Germany's newest behemoth was called the SS Vaterland  and would eventually make four voyages from Europe to the United States. This boat was the biggest vessel at the time and its grandeur attracted many wealthy passengers. The total amount of people it was able to hold was 5200. By the time of its last trip on July 30, 1914, World War I had begun and the shop was ordered to remain in New York. It would stay docked for nearly three years before America entered the war. The government seized the ship for the U.S. Navy. President Woodrow Wilson renamed the liner the USS Leviathan, which in the Bible means "monster of the deep." From now on the Leviathan was to be used for transporting thousands of American troops to France fighting against the Germans. Needless to say, it was very successful considering that German U-Boats were constantly sinking American ships and the biggest prize for them would have been the Leviathan But by the end of World War I it had made nineteen crossings carrying over 100,000 soldiers.
The Great Rescue is not just about a huge ship that was completely revamped to fit in as many passengers as humanly possible. Author Peter Hernon writes about all of the interesting characters who were leaders in their own right: Henry Bryan, the captain of the Leviathan; General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force; Freddie Stowers, a black man from South Carolina whose heroism with the 371st Regiment was basically ignored; and Irvin Cobb, a war reporter for the Saturday Evening Post. FDR makes an appearance (he was assistant secretary of the navy) and he is walking at this time. Polio has not yet surfaced. 
You feel as if you have a front row seat and are actually watching the fighting. I don't know how much has been written about Americans fighting with the French against Germany, but there's certainly plenty here to keep your interest. This is one of those books of unknown history that deserves to be read.
Recommended.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

SPIES IN THE FAMILY : AN AMERICAN SPYMASTER, HIS RUSSIAN CROWN JEWEL, AND THE FRIENDSHIP THAT HELPED END THE COLD WAR
by Eva Dillon

Seventeen years after the early death of Paul Dillon (1997), his daughter, Eva, along with her brothers, went over to the house they had lived in sporadically in Virginia. They were there to clean it out and what they found in the attic was very surprising. Cardboard boxes were filled with letters, magazines and newspaper articles, pictures, and mementos that covered the entire span of the family's life. One of the magazines called George had an article about Eva's father. It said that Dillon was "an unsung hero of the Cold War." While working for the CIA, he was the case officer (handler) for a Soviet intelligence officer. This Soviet spy named Dmitri Fedorovich Polyakov became the most valuable asset the CIA had ever had. Of course, the spy's name was not revealed in the article; only that he spied on the Russians for the United States during a period of eighteen years. The fact that Eva's father was so deeply involved with this top Soviet spy was earth-shattering. He obviously had secrets and never explained what was going on to his children as they moved around from country to country. They thought he was a U.S. State Department employee and never asked questions. After finding this tremendous treasure trove of information, Eva was determined to learn more about her father's life.
I never tire at reading books about spies, especially the ones who are traitors to the United States. Spies in the Family does have these despicable scumbags written about here, but Polyakov was not that kind of man. Normally the reason that people spy and give out classified information to another country is because they are in need of an excessive amount of money. Not so with Polyakov. He offered his services to the United States because he was disgusted with what was going on in the Soviet Union, the lies that were being told to the citizens, the dislike he had for its leaders, and had a very favorable impression of America. So he was never paid with any cash. Instead, the CIA agents gave him small gifts for his children and to the Russian employees Polyakov worked with. The very close relationship he had with Dillon was a "match made in heaven." It was productive, they trusted one another, were co-conspirators, and became friends. The intelligence flowed to monumental proportions. And then it stopped because of a betrayal.
Spies in the Family is a riveting story and if you're an aficionado of espionage, you'll definitely want to read this book. Eva Dillon is a terrific writer and was lucky to have had interviews with many of her father's former colleagues at the CIA. She even got to interview Polyakov's son, Alexander.
Not to be missed.
Very highly recommended.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

THE BLACK HAND : THE EPIC WAR BETWEEN A BRILLIANT DETECTIVE AND THE DEADLIEST SECRET SOCIETY IN AMERICAN HISTORY
by Stephan Talty

At the beginning of the twentieth century, thousands of immigrants came to America to begin a new life. Most of the influx were from Italy. They arrived in New York City and began to establish themselves with successful businesses. The other nationalities distrusted them and considered them to be savages. Better people should have the right to become citizens not the Italians. It was a constant fight for the Italians to be accepted. This wasn't the only hostility they had to deal with.
During the summer of 1903 The Society of the Black Hand reared its ugly head. The Black Hand was an extremely dangerous crime organization that used extortion, kidnapped children, assassinated tons of people, and bombed businesses and residences. They were from Sicily and were the original mafia. Letters would be dropped into mailboxes of anyone who had done well in the new world and an exorbitant sum of money would have to be coughed up.  If they went to the police, the absolute worst could happen to them or to their children. Within a period of time, not only New York City was in a panic but the fear had spread to other cities all over the United States.
The only person who was deemed to be able to destroy the Black Hand was Joseph Petrosino. He was known as the "Italian Sherlock Holmes." Using disguises and a huge network of informants, Petrosino worked relentlessly to capture the members of this insidious Society and bring them to justice. Eventually, he would have to travel to Sicily to annihilate the source of the Black Hand's power.
The Black Hand is a tremendous book and Stephan Talty is one heck of a writer. This is definitely true crime at its finest. Joseph Petrosino was an incredible detective and an American hero. He prevailed against being a target of the Black Hand (they HATED him), lack of help from the government, and even being shunned by some of his fellow Italians. Petrosino put his life on the line for his dedication to the new immigrants and for his love of America.
Highly recommended.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

MURDER IN MATERA : A TRUE STORY OF PASSION, FAMILY, AND FORGIVENESS IN SOUTHERN ITALY
by Helene Stapinski 

There was a murder in the family. From the time when she was a young child to adulthood Helene Stapinski's mother told endless stories about this wild great-great-grandmother named Vita Gallitelli. That side of the family (the maternal) came from Matera, a province in Southern Italy. (The name actually means mother in Latin.)
Apparently the murder happened over a card game. Vita's husband, Francesco Vena, was also involved. Many years later, Vita decides to come to America without Francesco. It's 1892 and very unusual for a woman to travel without her husband alone with three children. They settled in Jersey City where the two brothers, Leonardo and Valente, worked as barbers. Vita did not live real long. On Mischief Night she was hit in the head with a sock full of rocks.Within a week she was dead at the age of sixty-four. Was this some kind of revenge for what happened in Matera?
Stapinski decides to go to Italy to find out what really occurred. At first she goes for a month with her mother and her two young children leaving her husband behind. It's not a productive trip. The people who are questioned don't know of Vita, never heard of any murder, and nothing gets resolved. It would take ten years and multiple trips before Stapinski discovered the secrets that have been hidden for decades.
Murder in Matera is not your average true crime book. The fact that there's very few clues, no photos of the perpetrators, a couple of street names, and birth and death certificates is not much to go on. But, author Helene Stapinski does some impressive research upon returning to Italy which opens up a whole flood of information. 
Stapinski is a terrific writer and is also very funny. She knows how to tell a good tale (probably inherited this from her mother) and keeps you riveted to the page. There's never a dull moment. I, for one, did not want it to end.
Very highly recommended. 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

INCENDIARY : THE PSYCHIATRIST, THE MAD BOMBER, AND THE INVENTION OF CRIMINAL PROFILING
by Michael Cannell 

The bombings had begun in New York City in 1940. No place was actually safe as the homemade explosives were planted in the most populated areas: Radio City Music Hall, Penn Station, the Paramount, a library, subway stations, theaters, etc. The most formidable police force were dumbfounded and couldn't figure it out. In the beginning when the bombs were set off, nobody was hurt. That changed in 1956. The bomber began to send in letters to newspapers and they were signed as "F.P." His intent now was to kill. In desperation police Captain Finney contacted Dr. James A. Brussel, a psychiatrist who was experienced in the criminal mind.Dr. Brussel examined the evidence from crime scenes, plus the weird verbiage of F.P.'s letters. Within two hours he was able to compile a profile of the bomber even down to what kind of clothing he wore. So now the police and detectives had a vision of what this guy possibly looked like but it wasn't enough. Dr. Brussel suggested that a tabloid that everybody read called The Journal-American reach out to the public to let them know what was going on and if they knew of anybody that fit this description. It worked because not only did the information generate plenty of interest, the bomber himself wrote to the tabloid explaining his reason why he did it. F.P. was eventually discovered.
Incendiary is a terrific story. With this book you read about the minds of schizophrenics, the beginnings of forensic profiling, the amazing Dr. Brussel, what the police went through, and the aftermath when F.P. was captured Author Michael Cannell used meticulous means of research, which took him three years, to write a riveting tale.
If you enjoy reading true crime, you don't want to miss out on Incendiary. It will definitely keep you glued to the page.
Highly recommended. 

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

THE RADIUM GIRLS : THE DARK STORY OF AMERICA'S SHINING WOMEN
by Kate Moore

Radium used to be considered "the greatest find in history." At the beginning of the nineteenth century, scientists had discovered that it could destroy tumors. So, because radium saved lives it was assumed that it would be beneficial to health. The medical establishment was enthralled with it. Radium was claimed to cure hay fever, gout, cancer, give vitality to the elderly, and pretty much anything else. The sky was the limit. Everyone who was able wanted to be involved in some aspect of the radium craze.
America entered the war in April 1917 and dial-painting factories became vital and were in demand. Hundreds of girls were hired to paint watch faces using radium powder. They used very fine camel-hair brushes that would become gritty. In order to remedy that situation, the girls would put the brushes in their mouths. It was called lip-pointing. They were told that they had nothing to worry about, that it was neither dangerous nor harmful. The girls wore no protective gear and the radium dust was everywhere. This luminous chemical covered their bodies from head to toe and in total darkness they glowed.
By 1919 the war was over but the factories were busy as ever. The girls were still employed working as hard and as fast as they could to produce what was needed. They all loved their job until they began to not feel so good. Some mysterious illness was affecting them and both the doctors and the dentists were puzzled. Soon enough they could no longer work as their bodies deteriorated. They complained to the companies but they turned a blind eye to them saying that it was their imagination and the radium was not causing their problems. They were lying. In 1925 and 1927 the company had their doctors conduct medical tests on the girls. The results were terrifying. The girls were radioactive and were never told. While several of the girls ended up dying the strong ones held on and filed a lawsuit. Their case made history and enthralled the world.
The Radium Girls is quite a story. The author is British and she discovered these women by googling "great plays for women." Kate Moore ended up directing a play called These Shining Lives in London and realized that she had to write a book to let others know about these women who suffered so much and yet had strength and courage to keep fighting. Her research took her to the cities where the factories were. She was able to visit the homes where the girls had lived and interviewed relatives. She was lucky to find their diaries, letters, and court testimonies, plus spent days poring through microfilmed records in libraries. Kate even went to their graves.
Many people might not want to read the horrifying aspects of what happened to each and every one of these girls. It's not a pretty picture. I could not put this book down. It's definitely a page-turner and even though it can be gruesome, it's an important-read. Kate Moore was the right person to tell this story and to bring it to the forefront.
Highly recommended.

Friday, May 5, 2017

THREE MINUTES TO DOOMSDAY : AN AGENT, A TRAITOR, AND THE WORST ESPIONAGE BREACH IN US HISTORY
by Joe Navarro

At the tender age of twenty-three, Joe Navarro was hired by the FBI back in 1988. He was truly one of their youngest agents. Most of his time was spent doing SWAT tasks, aerial surveillance, and counterintelligence, known as "CI." His real forte, though, was interpreting body language of whomever he interrogated.
Soon enough Navarro was given a routine assignment by the US Army Intelligence Security Command (INSCOM) to interview an American soldier by the name of Rod Ramsey who had been associated with Clyde Conrad, a fellow soldier. Conrad had just been arrested in Germany for espionage. As soon as Navarro meets up with and begins talking to Ramsay, he takes special notice of all of Ramsay's body movements, the most notable one being the hand trembling at the mention of Conrad's name, especially when Ramsey was told that Conrad had been arrested. It happened every time. For this reason alone, Navarro tells his bosses that an investigation must be done. He would spend two years digging information out of Ramsey in a game of wits. Ramsey had a brilliant mind with a photographic memory and was bored by people who couldn't match up to him intellectually. Navarro ended up plotting every move like in a chess game. It would take forty-two interviews before Ramsey finally broke and what he revealed was truly frightening.
Thank goodness for Joe Navarro who never gave up. He worked himself to exhaustion and almost died taking this case. It actually stalled for two years because the Washington Field Office (WFO) didn't think an investigation was necessary and they thought that Ramsey was making everything up. Eventually they were bypassed and things got rolling.
Three Minutes to Doomsday keeps you on the end of your seat. There's suspense, drama, and humor. (Navarro can be very funny.) The writing is in your face and so is Navarro's personality. This is one hell of an espionage story and a fantastic read.
Highly recommended.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

THE DEVIL'S MERCEDES : THE BIZARRE AND DISTURBING ADVENTURES OF HITLER'S LIMOUSINE IN AMERICA
by Robert Klara 

When it came to automobiles they had to be 100% German. For Hitler it was a given that whatever car he had would be a Mercedes. He was devoted to them. Luckily for him two huge German automakers would merge in 1926 and become Daimler-Benz AG. As for the name Mercedes, it was attributed to the daughter of one of Daimler's wealthiest patrons, who was Jewish. How ironic that Hitler being so obsessed with race never knew nor investigated where the name came from.
Daimler-Benz hand-built a car called the Grosser Mercedes W07 ("Great or Super Mercedes") in 1930 that was marketed to heads of state and the elite. Because it was large, the Grosser had a menacing appearance. How perfect for Hitler and the Nazi Party.
By 1938 Mercedes-Benz thought the car was outdated and told their engineers to expand the entire thing. The Grosser 770K (7.7-liter engine) Model 150 Offener Tourenwagon was now twenty feet long, seven feet wide, and weighed five tons. It could speed over 100 miles per hour. It was quite a beast. Inside the car was quite luxurious with leather seats that could easily hold eight passengers. There were hidden compartments for pistols. These limousines would be used primarily as Nazi propaganda. Hitler would ride standing in the front seat, unsmiling, while adoring crowds would cheer in ecstasy. These automobiles would come to symbolize wealth, power, and also death since they looked like hearses. By the time World War II was over many of these cars were destroyed. Two of them came to the United States separately and covertly. One was supposed to be Hitler's car and the other to be Hermann Goering's. Through the years different people would own and exhibit them. None of these owners had any paperwork on who exactly these cars belonged to. It didn't seem to matter until one of these cars ended up in the Canadian War Museum in 1970. Ludwig Kosche (the librarian) took it upon himself to find out whose car the museum actually had and to uncover the truth.
Author Robert Klara is a terrific writer. Previously I had read his The Hidden White House (reviewed in this blog) and while I thought that book was good, The Devil's Mercedes is even better. Who would have thought that a five-ton Mercedes-Benz could be so interesting? In lesser hands it would have been boring. Klara really knows how to tell a story. The amount of research that was done is mind-boggling. Just look at the Endnotes when you are finished reading the book. They consist of ninety-nine pages. These could easily be another book and are quite informative. If you're a history nut, a car buff, and would like to know how Americans felt when these two cars showed up on our shores, you must read The Devil's Mercedes.
Very highly recommended. 

Thursday, March 23, 2017

BLITZED : DRUGS IN THE THIRD REICH
by Norman Ohler 

After the end of World War I, the people of Germany were depressed. They could not believe that they had been defeated. How could they get themselves out of this funk? They really needed something to get through life. Would National Socialism heal them? The Nazis thought for sure that their ideology would intoxicate the people. Nope. Drugs would become the magic elixir for the population.
In the 1920s the pharmaceutical industry came to the forefront in Germany.  Many chemical factories decided to join forces together and became IG Farben, which would become one of the most powerful companies in the world. Opiates, morphine, heroin, and cocaine (Merck's was considered the best) became quite lucrative.
By the time World War II rolled around, methamphetamine (soon to be known as the Volksdroge, the "people's drug") reared its ugly head. Its trademark name was Pervitin and was available in every pharmacy all over the country. Everyone took it: firemen, doctors, barbers, businessmen, housewives. Meth was guaranteed to last for at least twelve hours. Energy was elevated, stress abated, tasks were done faster. To fight the battles against the Allies, soldiers were given the drug in pill form.
Drugs went all the way up the line of command from the Party members, the SS, and to Hitler himself. He went from being a complete teetotaler to a drug addict. How ironic that the Nazi propaganda espoused purity and abhorrence of chemical stimulants when they themselves were doped up. What would have happened if Germany had never acquired such drugs? Would they have been so invincible in their victories? 
Blitzed is a stunner.  Author Norman Ohler spent five years doing research for it in both German and American state archives. In the Bibliography he lists unpublished documents that became main sources for this book and after reading them, they are much more interesting than the published ones. There have been endless volumes about the Third Reich and many of them have been tremendous but none of them compare to this one. It's quite an eye-opener and truly outstanding.
Very highly recommended. 

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

NEVER CAUGHT : THE WASHINGTONS' RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF THEIR RUNAWAY SLAVE, ONA JUDGE
by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

In 1796 Ona Judge was living in Philadelphia as a young, black, slave woman owned by President George Washington and his wife, Martha. The Washingtons had moved from their home in Mount Vernon, in Virginia, to Philadelphia as it had become the nation's capital. They took nine slaves with them. Ona was the personal attendant to Martha. The North was quite different from the South when it came to slavery. In Philadelphia it was looked down upon and there was a large community of free blacks. For Ona, freedom was foremost in her mind and when she found out that the Washingtons would eventually be moving back to Virginia, Ona knew that she would not be returning with them. Once she made that decision, Ona slipped out of the house in Philadelphia and escaped.
George Washington was not willing to emancipate Ona and he was determined to find her and bring her back no matter what.
After reading Never Caught, my views about George Washington have changed somewhat. The man who I always thought so highly of as our first president of the United States has left a bad taste in my mouth, along with Martha. It's very disturbing to see how the two of them wanted to keep their slaves in bondage and used whatever means was necessary to pursue Ona Judge. She was their property and according to them, Ona had no right to leave.
The book is extremely well-written and quite detailed about the life of enslavement. Ona was one very brave, determined, and courageous woman. 
Highly recommended.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

EMPIRE OF DECEPTION : THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF A MASTER SWINDLER WHO SEDUCED A CITY AND CAPTIVATED THE NATION
by Dean Jobb

Chicago in the 1920s was the place to make easy money. More people were rich than ever before. The economy was booming. It was a great city for a swindler to operate in.
Leo Koretz was a charming, personable lawyer who enticed both men and women to invest in nonexistent entities: timberland and oil wells in Panama. Hundreds of people paid up ($30 million) including his entire family. He was like a Bernie Madoff except that he was a better liar and salesman and his fraud lasted much longer than Madoff's: for two decades. Leo worked by himself and took care of every aspect of the scam. By 1923 new investments (money) were not coming in as much and when everything collapsed, he disappeared. The search for him would take almost a year. Leo took off for Nova Scotia, Canada, grew a beard, and changed his name to Lou Keyte. Naturally, he was living a life of luxury and that is what did him in. Leo should not have taken his suit jacket to the tailor.
Empire of Deception is one hell of a ride. The writing is superb and you just cannot tear yourself away. Author Dean Jobb really knows how to tell a story. The amazing thing to me is why a man who duped so many people and then vanished to appear again in another country would continue to live the same way he did in Chicago. I can see him being a recluse and not bothering with anybody, but not him, although the second time around he did not swindle anyone in investing. Leo still tried, though, to morph into another person, so in actuality, he was still a con man.
This book is one fantastic read.
Very highly recommended.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

LABYRINTHS : EMMA JUNG, HER MARRIAGE TO CARL, AND THE EARLY YEARS OF PSYCHOANALYSIS
by Catrine Clay 

When one thinks of psychoanalysis the person who comes to mind is Sigmund Freud. In 1907 it was considered this new and shocking movement that everybody was talking about. Freud wanted to reach a wider audience so that the entire world would know about psychoanalysis. So he decided to name Carl Jung as his heir to take over the movement, which really annoyed Freud's colleagues. Carl was a young, Swiss, charismatic doctor who would be just perfect in the leadership role. Freud felt that because Carl was a Gentile more people would be interested in psychoanalysis. Being Jewish, as Freud was, actually hampered the movement as there was so much anti-Semitism. 
Before Carl was introduced to Freud, he was working in a lunatic asylum and didn't have much money. That all changed when he met Emma Rauschenbach whose family were wealthy industrialists, which then made her fabulously rich. They fell in love and got married. Now Carl was no longer poor. By marrying Emma he inherited all of her money and possessions. It would turn out to be a trying marriage at least on Emma's side. Carl was a complicated man. He actually had two personalities and was known as "Split Carl." He had "infatuations" that drove Emma crazy. Women just adored him. Emma learned to deal with it and Carl encouraged her to "individuate," to take classes, study, and be her own person. Eventually she would become a famous analyst herself and her career helped her in finally understanding Carl.
Labyrinths is an amazing book about two very interesting individuals. The title itself is brilliant. Labyrinth has several different meanings, but the one that applies to this story would be tortuous. Author Catrine Clay has done a terrific job in bringing Emma and Carl to such vivid life. The writing is wonderful. It was fascinating to read about psychoanalysis, Carl's patients, the Freuds, and the labyrinthine relationship between Emma and Carl. I loved it.
Very highly recommended. 

Monday, January 23, 2017

THE SPY WHO COULDN'T SPELL : A DYSLEXIC TRAITOR, AN UNBREAKABLE CODE, AND THE FBI'S HUNT FOR AMERICA'S STOLEN SECRETS
by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee 

Could someone be a dyslexic cryptologist? Sounds like an oxymoron. Except that being dyslexic means poor spelling and a cryptologist uses numbers to formulate codes. So, it is entirely possible even though it sounds impossible. There was somebody, though, who fit this characterization and he ended up being the first American in history to attempt espionage.
Brian Patrick Regan was always socially awkward. In school he was taunted by classmates and bullied, plus his teachers didn't think much of him either. He was terrible at spelling and was not so good at reading. 
After high school, Regan enlisted in the Air Force. He was determined to make something of himself. Regan had to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and, incredibly, was among the high scorers. He actually qualified for doing intelligence. Regan learned how to use Morse code and how to interpret and analyze signals. Being dyslexic was almost a plus for analysis because thinking in pictures, not words was a huge advantage. Regan did well and moved up the ranks. In 1995 he got a job with the National Reconnaissance Office and four years later thoughts of doing espionage began to fester in his brain.
The Spy Who Couldn't Spell is not your traditional story about famous spies like Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames, but it comes close. Brian Regan really believed that he would not get caught as he imagined that he was better than the other spies who were. He was cunning and thought that finally people would stop underestimating him and no longer consider him to be stupid. Fortunately for us, but unfortunately for him, Regan was sloppy. The dyslexia that helped him to be brilliant with codes was a major part of his downfall in being a successful spy.
If you're a numbers person and are interested in figuring out codes, you'll definitely want to read this book. It's well-written, and if you have visions of how a spy should look and conduct himself, (perhaps you are thinking about James Bond?), forget about it. Brian Regan is nowhere near that caliber, but he's no slouch either, which is what makes this story that much more intriguing.
Recommended. 

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

THE TUNNELS : ESCAPES UNDER THE BERLIN WALL AND THE HISTORIC FILMS THE JFK WHITE HOUSE TRIED TO KILL
by Greg Mitchell 

On August 13, 1961, a barbed wire barrier was put up between East and West Berlin courtesy of Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Thousands of people who worked in the West lost their jobs, their ability to finish their studies, and their freedom to visit family and friends. East Berlin had become a police state. If people tried to leave, they were shot. Regardless, in a couple of days, many East Germans jumped out of windows that were near the border. Some made it; some did not. Plenty were undaunted. By October, the barbed wire was replaced with an eight-foot wall of concrete. It still did not stop the escapees. They could either scale it or blast through it and there were those who were fortunate enough to get to West Berlin.
One year later, three young West German men decided to get their friends, family, and strangers out of the East to freedom in the West by digging tunnels. They risked being caught by the Stasi (secret police), thrown into prison, or executed. To them it was worth it as they were fed up with living under Communist rule.
Meanwhile, back in the United States, two television networks, NBC and CBS, heard about these hidden tunnels and took off for Berlin. Each one of them financed a tunnel (separate from the other) so they would then have the right to film the escapes and show them to the public. 
President John F. Kennedy was not keen on either network to even think of filming something that could cause a confrontation with the Soviet Union. He pressured both NBC and CBS to stop what they were doing and to forget about airing their documentaries.
The Tunnels is a terrific book written by a master storyteller. It's fascinating to read what happened during the Cold War specifically in Berlin and why Khrushchev wanted a wall put up in the first place. JFK was naive, inexperienced, and weak and Khrushchev walked all over him. There's many things that keep you riveted: how the tunnels were dug (what implements they used, how many volunteers helped); the main characters, two of whom consisted of a cyclist who could have been an Olympic champion and ended up being the prime target for arrest and an American student who assisted in the escapes. Of course, the most exciting parts (you're cheering the entire time to yourself) of the book are reading about the people who crawled their way to freedom.  
Author Greg Mitchell was able to interview just about all of the key people who were involved (that's pretty neat!) and was extremely lucky to have access to a large amount of Stasi reports on the tunnels and the specific individuals that not too many people have seen before.
This is a marvelous tale from the beginning to the end.
Very highly recommended.
 

Saturday, January 7, 2017

IRENA'S CHILDREN : THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE WOMAN WHO SAVED 2,500 CHILDREN FROM THE WARSAW GHETTO
by Tilar J. Mazzeo 

She is called "the female Oskar Schindler only because they both saved people. Schindler saved 1,200 but Irena Sendler (in Polish her name was Irena Sendlerowa) saved 2,500 very young children. Today, in Poland, she is considered to be a heroine. Irena had an aversion to that word. She did not consider what she did to be extraordinary; just a normal duty.
As a social worker in 1942, Irena was allowed to go into the Warsaw ghetto using a cover as a public health specialist. She went from door to door of the Jewish families who were trapped and asked the parents if they would entrust her with their children. Soon enough Irena began smuggling infants out of the walled city in suitcases, wooden boxes, and under overcoats right past the noses of German guards. With toddlers and schoolchildren she took them through the filthy and extremely dangerous sewers.
Irena organized a huge network of dozens of men and women who quietly joined her in the rescue. They risked their lives by doing so. If they were caught by helping a Jew, their entire family would be executed. According to Irena, not one ever refused to take in and hide a Jewish child. Her success would never have been possible without these courageous and dedicated people.
For years I have heard about Irena Sendler through e-mail messages describing her indomitable spirit in whisking children out of the Warsaw ghetto and wanting to know and understand the kind of person she was. What drove her? Luckily for us, Tilar J. Mazzeo has written one tremendous book on her. Mazzeo has written many other bestsellers and I have read just about all of them, one of which The Secret of Chanel No. 5 is reviewed in this blog. There have been endless amounts of stories that have come out about the Holocaust and if you think they are all the same, then you're mistaken. Irena's Children is unlike anything that I have read before on this topic. I don't believe there is any other woman who accomplished what she did. Her selflessness, compassion, strength, and daring is awe-inspiring. Also to be commended is her network of good, upstanding Poles. It's probably the first time that I have read that not all of the Poles were bad (traitorous) as countless books have depicted them being before. So, even though Irena Sendler didn't like to be called a heroine, she definitely deserves it. Her wonderful, caring helpers should also be named as heroines/heroes. Mazzeo definitely knows how to tell an incredible story and she did justice with this one.
Very highly recommended. 

Monday, January 2, 2017

AMERICAN ENDURANCE : BUFFALO BILL, THE GREAT COWBOY RACE OF 1893, AND THE VANISHING WILD WEST
by Richard A. Serrano 

During the summer of 1893, three events were going on at the same time: the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West show, and the Great Cowboy Race. The Columbian Exposition showcased to the American public what the coming twentieth century would look like. They saw high-speed electric engines, drinking fountains, prototypes of modern conveniences, such as the dishwasher and the fluorescent light bulb, and other unique things. Both Cream of Wheat and Juicy Fruit made their debut. Over twenty-seven million people visited and it was a huge success.
Buffalo Bill leased fourteen acres of land costing him $180,000 right across the street from the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He employed 400 people of different nationalities who were Indians, cowboys, and soldiers. Cody was quite the promoter. He had glossy color programs printed up and a sixty-four-page booklet filled with articles about Cody's exploits on the frontier. Every means of transportation stopped at its front gate. His show ran for six months and drew profits upwards of one million dollars. Six million fans were enthralled and Cody was considered to be the greatest showman ever.
The Great Cowboy Race of June 1893 soon overtook the thrills of the Columbian Exposition and the Wild West show. Nine riders (not all of them were actual cowboys) rode one thousand miles starting from Chadron, Nebraska to the finish line in Chicago.The race would test endurance and would take two weeks. The Wild West may have been ending but not to the cowboys. They were proud, still had grit, and were not ready to give up on their way of life.
American Endurance is a fantastic read written by a master storyteller. Author Richard Serrano packs in the history of the Old West covering the settlers, the individual characters, the vanishing of the buffalo, Indians laying down their weapons to live on reservations, and the closing of the frontier. There's been a few books over the years about this time period but none of them have the caliber of American Endurance. The amount of detail within is mind-boggling. If you go to the Sources near the end of the book, you will see the encyclopedic research that Serrano did (29 pages worth) and they in and of themselves are fascinating to read. 
So, if you have a hankering for the Old West, you must get this book. You won't be disappointed and you will definitely be entertained.
Highly recommended.