THE PARKER SISTERS : A BORDER KIDNAPPING
by Lucy Maddox
Chester County is an area in Pennsylvania along the southeastern border. It abuts the northern boundaries of Maryland and Delaware. In the latter part of the eighteenth century, these boundary lines converged with the fabled line drawn by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. What this means is that Chester County was sort of stuck between the free states to the north of this particular line and the slave states to the south of it. Pennsylvania was a free state then but that didn't necessarily guarantee freedom to anyone who was black due to the slave catchers. They would take them whether they were free or not and sell them across state lines.
In 1851, Elizabeth Parker, a free black child was abducted from a farm by two men and taken to a slave pen in Baltimore. Two weeks later, her teenage sister Rachel was abducted from another farm and brought to the same place as Elizabeth. The man who took both of them was caught in Baltimore and arrested. Thomas McCreary was charged but unfortunately never convicted. So, he was free and the two poor girls who had done nothing wrong spent months in jail. Blame it all on the Fugitive Slave Law of 1950.
There's quite a number of books written about slavery in the south, so finding one that talks about the antagonism between a free state such as Pennsylvania and the slave state Maryland is incredible. The heroics of a small farming community who took matters into their own hands by going after the perpetrators and saving the fugitives themselves is remarkable. Historian Lucy Maddox writes extremely well considering the amount of details and research that she accomplished. In lesser hands, The Parker Sisters could have been quite boring and plodding. Thankfully, it was not. It's most definitely a great read.
Recommended.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Friday, April 1, 2016
THE CIVIL WARS OF JULIA WARD HOWE : A BIOGRAPHY
by Elaine Showalter
The lyrics for the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" were written in 1861 by Julia Ward Howe while staying in a hotel in Washington, DC. (She had gone to sleep but then awoke with these lines in her mind, for which she had to quickly write them down.) It was actually a poem that she called "Battle Hymn" and sent it to the Atlantic Monthly. Published anonymously (Howe was paid five dollars) it was renamed "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Julia Ward was an heiress from New York (her father had been a wealthy banker) and was instructed by tutors in music (she was a contralto and played the piano) and languages (she spoke six), an avid reader, plus always had an interest in writing (mostly poetry). (She would eventually write six books.)
When Julia met Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, a world-famous doctor who developed a method for educating blind children (Perkins Institution; Helen Keller would eventually be educated here), she thought she had met her match and would have an equal partnership. Alas, it was not to be starting off on the wrong foot after they became engaged. Julia wanted to wait for a couple of years and Howe was ready to get married in three months. The power struggle between them already began to assert its place. Their eighteen-year age difference didn't help. To outsiders, it looked like the perfect marriage. They traveled the world together, were both ambitious, had tremendous energy, were committed to public services, knew many political and intellectual people, and seemed to be united. The reality was that Julia was stifled by Howe. He did not approve of married women working outside the home and expected Julia to be fulfilled in her domestic and maternal roles. Howe tried to stop her writing (she tried to do it in secret) and when he discovered some of it, he was enraged. He made all of the decisions and expected her to abide by them. Julia defied him and after her husband died, she finally had her freedom and came into her own.
Elaine Showalter has done a tremendous job of bringing this incredible, strong woman into the light. The writing is wonderful and never bogs down with irrelevant information as so many other biographies seem to do. I never even knew who originally wrote the famous anthem and after reading this marvelous biography, you understand what made her write it in the first place. Julia rose above the strife in her life and was recognized, appreciated, and revered.
Highly recommended.
by Elaine Showalter
The lyrics for the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" were written in 1861 by Julia Ward Howe while staying in a hotel in Washington, DC. (She had gone to sleep but then awoke with these lines in her mind, for which she had to quickly write them down.) It was actually a poem that she called "Battle Hymn" and sent it to the Atlantic Monthly. Published anonymously (Howe was paid five dollars) it was renamed "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Julia Ward was an heiress from New York (her father had been a wealthy banker) and was instructed by tutors in music (she was a contralto and played the piano) and languages (she spoke six), an avid reader, plus always had an interest in writing (mostly poetry). (She would eventually write six books.)
When Julia met Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, a world-famous doctor who developed a method for educating blind children (Perkins Institution; Helen Keller would eventually be educated here), she thought she had met her match and would have an equal partnership. Alas, it was not to be starting off on the wrong foot after they became engaged. Julia wanted to wait for a couple of years and Howe was ready to get married in three months. The power struggle between them already began to assert its place. Their eighteen-year age difference didn't help. To outsiders, it looked like the perfect marriage. They traveled the world together, were both ambitious, had tremendous energy, were committed to public services, knew many political and intellectual people, and seemed to be united. The reality was that Julia was stifled by Howe. He did not approve of married women working outside the home and expected Julia to be fulfilled in her domestic and maternal roles. Howe tried to stop her writing (she tried to do it in secret) and when he discovered some of it, he was enraged. He made all of the decisions and expected her to abide by them. Julia defied him and after her husband died, she finally had her freedom and came into her own.
Elaine Showalter has done a tremendous job of bringing this incredible, strong woman into the light. The writing is wonderful and never bogs down with irrelevant information as so many other biographies seem to do. I never even knew who originally wrote the famous anthem and after reading this marvelous biography, you understand what made her write it in the first place. Julia rose above the strife in her life and was recognized, appreciated, and revered.
Highly recommended.
Monday, January 25, 2016
OPERATION THUNDERBOLT : FLIGHT 139 AND THE RAID ON ENTEBBE AIRPORT, THE MOST AUDACIOUS HOSTAGE RESCUE MISSION IN HISTORY
by Saul David
July 3, 2016, will be the 40th anniversary of the raid on Entebbe. It has been described as the greatest, most successful counteroffensive of the War on Terror. This onslaught encouraged other countries (primarily Western) to create special counter-terrorist entities. Its legacy has continued.
On June 27, 1976, Air France flight 139, which was supposed to fly from Tel Aviv to Paris, was hijacked by several Arab and German terrorists. The plane was redirected, instead, to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. There were 253 passengers and crew on board and in order for them to be relinquished, the terrorists wanted Israel, Kenya, and Europe to release "freedom fighters" (the terrorists' verbiage) from their jails. Idi Amin (a monster of a ruler in Uganda) was in cahoots with the terrorists, so he was no help.
Israel was only given a couple of days to decide what to do. Yitzhak Rabin (prime minister) was in favor of negotiating, but Shimon Peres (defense minister) was not. They certainly did not want to capitulate to the terrorists nor attempt to rescue hostages, (most of whom were Israelis), because it might end in disaster. It was discussed and argued until with not that much time left, a plan was executed: "Operation Thunderbolt" was born.
Apparently there haven't been too many or any books written on what really happened according to author Saul David. He wanted the perspective of everybody involved and was able to interview quite a good number of them.The book reads like a thriller because of the way he set it up. You get the real time and the location, which is placed above the narrative. Events unfold before your eyes. You learn about the horrible conditions of the Old Terminal in Entebbe where the hostages were kept, the soldiers who were chosen to lead and fight, the governments involved, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), and so much more.
Operation Thunderbolt is spectacular storytelling that will keep you riveted.
Very highly recommended.
by Saul David
July 3, 2016, will be the 40th anniversary of the raid on Entebbe. It has been described as the greatest, most successful counteroffensive of the War on Terror. This onslaught encouraged other countries (primarily Western) to create special counter-terrorist entities. Its legacy has continued.
On June 27, 1976, Air France flight 139, which was supposed to fly from Tel Aviv to Paris, was hijacked by several Arab and German terrorists. The plane was redirected, instead, to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. There were 253 passengers and crew on board and in order for them to be relinquished, the terrorists wanted Israel, Kenya, and Europe to release "freedom fighters" (the terrorists' verbiage) from their jails. Idi Amin (a monster of a ruler in Uganda) was in cahoots with the terrorists, so he was no help.
Israel was only given a couple of days to decide what to do. Yitzhak Rabin (prime minister) was in favor of negotiating, but Shimon Peres (defense minister) was not. They certainly did not want to capitulate to the terrorists nor attempt to rescue hostages, (most of whom were Israelis), because it might end in disaster. It was discussed and argued until with not that much time left, a plan was executed: "Operation Thunderbolt" was born.
Apparently there haven't been too many or any books written on what really happened according to author Saul David. He wanted the perspective of everybody involved and was able to interview quite a good number of them.The book reads like a thriller because of the way he set it up. You get the real time and the location, which is placed above the narrative. Events unfold before your eyes. You learn about the horrible conditions of the Old Terminal in Entebbe where the hostages were kept, the soldiers who were chosen to lead and fight, the governments involved, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), and so much more.
Operation Thunderbolt is spectacular storytelling that will keep you riveted.
Very highly recommended.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
THE ONLY STREET IN PARIS : LIFE ON THE RUE DES MARTYRS
by Elaine Sciolino
The rue des Martyrs is not listed in most of the Paris guidebooks. It is only half a mile long and very narrow. There are no landmarks. The street has the feel of a small village; hence its community is very tight-knit. What keeps the character strong and uncut are the old-world merchants and artisans. For this reason alone, the rue des Martyrs retains its authenticity and down-to-earth sense of closeness that is missing from other areas of Paris.
In 2002, author Elaine Sciolino came to Paris with her family to work as bureau chief for the New York Times thinking that they would only be there for a few years. They never left. Eight years later, Sciolino wanted to move out of their cosmopolitan neighborhood to the other side of the river Seine and she and husband were lucky enough to get an apartment right off the rue des Martyrs. By then they were no longer considered foreigners. As residents who took a keen interest in the history of their street, it didn't take long before they (especially Sciolino) were welcomed as part of their community.
The Only Street in Paris is one charming book that I totally enjoyed reading. Sciolino writes about the merchants' lives, what is sold (no big chain stores are allowed, whether it's clothing or food), the longevity of many of the stores: a butcher shop has been run by the same family since 1899, a bakery has been around since 1868, a pharmacy since 1848. One chapter is dedicated to why there is a street named after martyrs and who exactly they were; another about independent bookstores (they thrive in France due to government protection), one of which is called Librairie Vendredi, a tiny store crammed with ten-thousand titles where the owners don't use a computer to keep track of what they have. Instead, that information is stored in their heads. Other chapters include a woman who restores eighteenth-century mercury barometers; an eccentric showman who has been running a transvestite cabaret for almost sixty years; the demise of a long-standing fish store (a catastrophe!); a party for all of the residents organized by Sciolino so that everybody could come together to celebrate the street and they have to bring something to eat or drink where everyone shares in it (potluck in America and unheard of in France).
Having lived in France back in the late 1970s, this book brings back all my great, wonderful memories. Even if you have never been there, Sciolino writes with such warmth that she transports you right into the delectable ambiance that she calls home. Who wouldn't?
Highly recommended.
by Elaine Sciolino
The rue des Martyrs is not listed in most of the Paris guidebooks. It is only half a mile long and very narrow. There are no landmarks. The street has the feel of a small village; hence its community is very tight-knit. What keeps the character strong and uncut are the old-world merchants and artisans. For this reason alone, the rue des Martyrs retains its authenticity and down-to-earth sense of closeness that is missing from other areas of Paris.
In 2002, author Elaine Sciolino came to Paris with her family to work as bureau chief for the New York Times thinking that they would only be there for a few years. They never left. Eight years later, Sciolino wanted to move out of their cosmopolitan neighborhood to the other side of the river Seine and she and husband were lucky enough to get an apartment right off the rue des Martyrs. By then they were no longer considered foreigners. As residents who took a keen interest in the history of their street, it didn't take long before they (especially Sciolino) were welcomed as part of their community.
The Only Street in Paris is one charming book that I totally enjoyed reading. Sciolino writes about the merchants' lives, what is sold (no big chain stores are allowed, whether it's clothing or food), the longevity of many of the stores: a butcher shop has been run by the same family since 1899, a bakery has been around since 1868, a pharmacy since 1848. One chapter is dedicated to why there is a street named after martyrs and who exactly they were; another about independent bookstores (they thrive in France due to government protection), one of which is called Librairie Vendredi, a tiny store crammed with ten-thousand titles where the owners don't use a computer to keep track of what they have. Instead, that information is stored in their heads. Other chapters include a woman who restores eighteenth-century mercury barometers; an eccentric showman who has been running a transvestite cabaret for almost sixty years; the demise of a long-standing fish store (a catastrophe!); a party for all of the residents organized by Sciolino so that everybody could come together to celebrate the street and they have to bring something to eat or drink where everyone shares in it (potluck in America and unheard of in France).
Having lived in France back in the late 1970s, this book brings back all my great, wonderful memories. Even if you have never been there, Sciolino writes with such warmth that she transports you right into the delectable ambiance that she calls home. Who wouldn't?
Highly recommended.
Friday, January 8, 2016
THE GHOSTS OF K2 : THE EPIC SAGA OF THE FIRST ASCENT
by Mick Conefrey
The toughest mountain to climb in the world doesn't have a real name. Maybe because it's so difficult to get to that it didn't warrant having a proper nomenclature. A British officer in 1856 first laid eyes on it when he climbed up 16,000 ft on another mountain to do surveying. He saw two peaks located in Karakoram, north west of the Himalayas.The officer designated them as K1 and K2. It would be the latter one (K2) that people would set their sights on.
The height of K2 is 28,251 ft which is second to Everest, but it's much harder to ascend. It can kill you on the way up and on the way down. For a mountaineer, it's the ultimate challenge: the slopes are extremely steep, the altitude is so extreme (think headaches), it's in the middle of nowhere, and the weather is capricious (clear, beautiful skies then horrible, icy storms).
At the beginning of the twentieth century, several explorers from different countries were determined to be the first to get to the top.
The Ghosts of K2 is a tremendous story that will keep you riveted in your seat. Author Mick Conefrey definitely knows how to write a great narrative. (He previously wrote about Everest and has made films about mountaineering.) Through archives and letters, plus interviews with survivors of K2, Conefrey is able to make you feel as if you are right there with the climbers.
If you're interested in exploits of mountain climbing and are looking for a phenomenal read, get this book.
Very highly recommended.
by Mick Conefrey
The toughest mountain to climb in the world doesn't have a real name. Maybe because it's so difficult to get to that it didn't warrant having a proper nomenclature. A British officer in 1856 first laid eyes on it when he climbed up 16,000 ft on another mountain to do surveying. He saw two peaks located in Karakoram, north west of the Himalayas.The officer designated them as K1 and K2. It would be the latter one (K2) that people would set their sights on.
The height of K2 is 28,251 ft which is second to Everest, but it's much harder to ascend. It can kill you on the way up and on the way down. For a mountaineer, it's the ultimate challenge: the slopes are extremely steep, the altitude is so extreme (think headaches), it's in the middle of nowhere, and the weather is capricious (clear, beautiful skies then horrible, icy storms).
At the beginning of the twentieth century, several explorers from different countries were determined to be the first to get to the top.
The Ghosts of K2 is a tremendous story that will keep you riveted in your seat. Author Mick Conefrey definitely knows how to write a great narrative. (He previously wrote about Everest and has made films about mountaineering.) Through archives and letters, plus interviews with survivors of K2, Conefrey is able to make you feel as if you are right there with the climbers.
If you're interested in exploits of mountain climbing and are looking for a phenomenal read, get this book.
Very highly recommended.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
WHITE ESKIMO : KNUD RASMUSSEN'S FEARLESS JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF THE ARCTIC
by Stephen R. Bown
When it comes to polar exploration, Knud Rasmussen stands out from all the others. Whereas Robert Peary, Richard Bird, Robert Falcon Scott, et al, were determined to investigate the Arctic geographically, Rasmussen was more interested in learning about the native people (Inuit). (He was fluent in Kalaallisut, a dialect of Greenland due to his mother's side of the family.) For thirty years he visited every known tribe that was then existing in this part of the world.They both loved and revered him. Rasmussen lived among them helping them hunt, harnessing dog sleds, building abodes, eating what they caught and shot and by doing so eventually earned their trust. They considered him one of them. His patience, enthusiasm, charm, and intelligence worked wonders and they opened their hearts to Rasmussen telling him about their lives, legends, songs, and poetry, which he diligently recorded. Of course, then he had to translate everything which he then wrote about. Rasmussen was a born storyteller and his writings were quite lyrical. The publishers ate it up. He was in high demand between his books and the lecture circuit.
Rasmussen's reputation has never diminished nor has he been supplanted by anyone else and he is still ranked as number one in being able to explain to the general public, through his writings, the core of Inuit life.
He was many things: an ethnographer, an anthropologist, a writer, an explorer, a filmmaker, and, most importantly, a dedicated friend.
White Eskimo is a fantastic biography of an incredible man. Author Stephen Bown is a superb writer, but then, again, he should be as he has written many other books on exploration. His "Note on Sources" is fascinating enough (especially with what he went through to get the Danish language translated) and must be read to understand what he wanted to achieve with understanding the kind of man Rasmussen was.
Apparently there have been no other biographies written in English about Rasmussen. The only ones that are available are in Danish. Luckily we have Bown who did us an inestimable service by his incredible research in bringing Rasmussen to our attention.
Very highly recommended.
by Stephen R. Bown
When it comes to polar exploration, Knud Rasmussen stands out from all the others. Whereas Robert Peary, Richard Bird, Robert Falcon Scott, et al, were determined to investigate the Arctic geographically, Rasmussen was more interested in learning about the native people (Inuit). (He was fluent in Kalaallisut, a dialect of Greenland due to his mother's side of the family.) For thirty years he visited every known tribe that was then existing in this part of the world.They both loved and revered him. Rasmussen lived among them helping them hunt, harnessing dog sleds, building abodes, eating what they caught and shot and by doing so eventually earned their trust. They considered him one of them. His patience, enthusiasm, charm, and intelligence worked wonders and they opened their hearts to Rasmussen telling him about their lives, legends, songs, and poetry, which he diligently recorded. Of course, then he had to translate everything which he then wrote about. Rasmussen was a born storyteller and his writings were quite lyrical. The publishers ate it up. He was in high demand between his books and the lecture circuit.
Rasmussen's reputation has never diminished nor has he been supplanted by anyone else and he is still ranked as number one in being able to explain to the general public, through his writings, the core of Inuit life.
He was many things: an ethnographer, an anthropologist, a writer, an explorer, a filmmaker, and, most importantly, a dedicated friend.
White Eskimo is a fantastic biography of an incredible man. Author Stephen Bown is a superb writer, but then, again, he should be as he has written many other books on exploration. His "Note on Sources" is fascinating enough (especially with what he went through to get the Danish language translated) and must be read to understand what he wanted to achieve with understanding the kind of man Rasmussen was.
Apparently there have been no other biographies written in English about Rasmussen. The only ones that are available are in Danish. Luckily we have Bown who did us an inestimable service by his incredible research in bringing Rasmussen to our attention.
Very highly recommended.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
CLEMENTINE : THE LIFE OF MRS. WINSTON CHURCHILL
by Sonia Purnell
What's that famous saying? Behind every great man is a great woman. Winston Churchill's wife, Clementine (her name was pronounced as if the last four letters in her name were written as "teen"), was way more than just an extension of him. For fifty-seven years, she stood by his side and was his adviser, supporter, and consultant. Clementine did so much for Winston. She was his greatest asset.
Winston trusted her completely and was completely dependent upon her. She boosted him up, guided him, and prevented him from making mistakes. Her role as the prime minister's wife went above and beyond any of America's First Ladies. Clementine made such an impression on world leaders that she was honored by both the British monarchy and the Soviet Union.
She was an incredible woman and Winston would have been nothing without her.
Clementine is an outstanding biography. The last time anything was written about her was forty years ago, a book by one of her daughters. Apparently that one had many things missing. Fortunately this current one by Sonia Purnell fills in the gaps and then some.
How Clementine was able to put up with such a self-absorbed, egotistical, vain, and compassionless man was something that she had to bear and suffered for it. Winston was very demanding and childish, yet Clementine was somehow able to rise above it and smooth things over. They loved each other very much. It was an incredible partnership.
It's about time that Clementine is now in the forefront where she belongs.
Very highly recommended.
by Sonia Purnell
What's that famous saying? Behind every great man is a great woman. Winston Churchill's wife, Clementine (her name was pronounced as if the last four letters in her name were written as "teen"), was way more than just an extension of him. For fifty-seven years, she stood by his side and was his adviser, supporter, and consultant. Clementine did so much for Winston. She was his greatest asset.
Winston trusted her completely and was completely dependent upon her. She boosted him up, guided him, and prevented him from making mistakes. Her role as the prime minister's wife went above and beyond any of America's First Ladies. Clementine made such an impression on world leaders that she was honored by both the British monarchy and the Soviet Union.
She was an incredible woman and Winston would have been nothing without her.
Clementine is an outstanding biography. The last time anything was written about her was forty years ago, a book by one of her daughters. Apparently that one had many things missing. Fortunately this current one by Sonia Purnell fills in the gaps and then some.
How Clementine was able to put up with such a self-absorbed, egotistical, vain, and compassionless man was something that she had to bear and suffered for it. Winston was very demanding and childish, yet Clementine was somehow able to rise above it and smooth things over. They loved each other very much. It was an incredible partnership.
It's about time that Clementine is now in the forefront where she belongs.
Very highly recommended.
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