1 comments about Tightrope: Six Centuries of a Jewish Dynasty.

1. It is difficult to conceive just how Tightrope: Six Centuries of a Jewish Dynasty was written. It is just over four hundred pages in size including very extensive footnotes, yet it is huge in its accomplishment. And this is exactly what Israeli television and news reporter Michael Karpin was able to pull off when he wrote about an Ashkenazi family, the Backenroths, dating back to 1350. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term Ashkenazi, briefly, these are Jews that are descended from the medieval ethnic Jewish communities of the Rhineland in the west of Germany. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for the region that we now know encompasses Germany and the borderland areas. Many of these Jews migrated largely eastward winding up in Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, and various Eastern European countries between the 10th and 19th centuries. The difficulty in tracing one's Ashkenazi ancestry is that most of these Jews didn't even have hereditary family names until the mid-1700s and furthermore there is an absence or loss of records of their births, marriages and deaths. However, none of this deterred Karpin from digging into the history of a most extraordinary Ashkenazi family.
   
   Karpin in his Preface informs us that he embarked on his research over twenty years ago responding to a letter he received from Allan Kahane, a young Brazilian-born businessman. Kahane asked Karpin to write about the life story of his father, Israel Kahane, whom everyone called Ullo. At the outset, Karpin was not exactly ecstatic for it seemed to be about a Holocaust survivor who migrated to South America and succeeded in business, something that was not very unusual. However, when Kahane mentioned that his family's origins dated back to Germany and its history went back to the Middle Ages, and then began listing some of his family's comings and goings, Karpin was now hooked. After I completed my reading of this fascinating tale, I can easily appreciate how he was captivated by this remarkable family's story.
   
   As a result, Karpin undertook extensive research that led him to family members scattered all over the globe. As he mentions and as he was serving as an Israeli TV correspondent in Moscow just before the break-up of the Soviet Union, he visited many towns as Lvov, Bolechow, and Sanok. The latter is on the San River, and the Backenroths had an oil refinery there. He also visited Drohobych, Schodnica, and Boryslaw at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, where oil was discovered in the late nineteenth century, enriching the Backenroth clan. All of this is more fully explored and narrated in the book's epic tale.
   
   Karpin begins his story in 1350 when the Backenroths were forced to move eastward due to economic, social and political upheaval threatening their lives. It was also the time of the Black Death and the Jews once again were the scapegoats. Karpin notes "that no accurate statistics exist for the number of Jews who died of the plague or were murdered as a result of blood libels that blamed Jews for spreading the disease."
   
   The family journeys from Ashkenaz under the leadership of their patriarch Rabbi Elimeilech Backenroth whose word is final and no one dares to question his authority. Travel conditions are not exactly perfect as small dirt roads cross the countryside, some of them treacherous because of harsh winters and outlaws. Eventually, the Backenroths stop in a town near Drohbych, whose principal industry is the mining of salt. The mine and the lands surrounding it belong to the noble Polish Lubomirski family, which, as we are informed, eventually becomes one of the most influential dynasties in Polish history. However, the Backenroths are forced to leave Droybych, as the existing community, out of fear of business competition, are not very receptive to their settling in the area. Consequently, the family moves onto the outskirts and wind up in what is known today as Urycze. Initially, there was nothing here, however, eventually the family succeeds in building a village in its own right which acquirs the name of Schodnica. Karpin provides us with an extensive history of the family's settlement here and how they were able to survive. As he mentions, "looking back from the perspective of almost seven hundred years, one could say that the Backenroths arrived in Galicia at the right time. A stormy era of war and terror had just ended, after lasting nearly a hundred years."
   
   From here the story leaps to the early 1800s where we learn about the Backenroth family's rabbinical dynasty and their involvement with the Hasidim. We also find out how the family plays an immense role in pioneering the development of the Galician Oil Belt in the 1800s. Karpin interestingly points out that until around 1880, most of the entrepreneurs in the oil belt were Jewish. Considerable ink is devoted to the family's tragic experiences during the Holocaust and how various members of the family play leading roles in saving some through their creativity, courage, deception, resourcefulness, and loyalty notwithstanding the emotional demands they faced. They were also aided by a handful of inhabitants of the region who later were recognized as "righteous Gentiles" by Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust that was established in 1953.
   
   Karpin interweaves into the saga the Kahane and Graubert families who became part of the clan through marriage and we follow them as well as the Backenroths all the way up to the present day. We even learn about how a member of the Backenroth family becomes Leopold-Muhammad Weiss-Asad who had a close working relationship with Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia.
   
   Quite apropos, the narrative ends with Lucien Backenroth-Bronicki's remarks where he states with a smile upon returning on a visit to the land of his ancestors that he felt no hatred toward the people of Drohoybych, whose ancestors probably played a significant role in the slaughtering of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust, "Just look where they are and where we are."
   
   Karpin has crafted a moving narrative that is candid and to the point. He brilliantly succeeds, as the back cover states, in narrating a most a unique portrait of Jewish life through such pivotal events as the migration from Western to Eastern Europe, the birth of Zionism, and the Holocaust. His research is impeccable as evidenced from the extensive number of footnotes providing the reader with interesting background historical material that will surely stir your curiosity to seek out more information pertaining to the history of the Jews of Galicia.
   
   Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures

No comments about The House By the Thames: And the People Who Lived There.

No comments about Kingdom of Württemberg I - Jagstkreis (Map Guide to German Parish Registers, Volume 5).

4 comments about Women Who Ruled: Queens, Goddesses, Amazons in Renaissance and Baroque Art.

1. I had high hopes for this book but the writing is deplorable. Granted the illustrations are nice, but the essays, Ms. Dixon's in particular cycle over the same material again and again and never lead to any conclusions or opinions. It is if it was written by committee and total number of words was more important than content. There is no personal voice, no direction, no apparent humanity. Most of the useable content here is available elsewhere, and better written, more concise, and more thought through. At the end you are left knowing less than when you started. Save your time!



2. In "Women Who Ruled: Queens, Goddesses, Amazons in Renaissance and Baroque Art" it as if I were seeing Rashoman without ever getting to the final viewpoint that ties it all together and actually gives the woman's version of events. There is no continuity of thought or purpose. The writing is, for the most part, very conservative and relies on pigeonholing women into the usual stereotypical roles, virgin, whore, mother, etc. The ideas put forward of power being of the utmost importance, calls into question the authors priorities. Perhaps they are simply pandering to an audience, giving them what they want to hear. All power is not positive, neither are all powerful women.

   Overall it was an unpleasant experience to read this book. The authors use the sort of language that speaks to academia and no one else. It fails to engage the reader throughout and then abruptly ends. It is a convoluted text with little relevance.
   Pick up Art and Feminism by Helena Reckitt and Peggy Phelan instead.




3. I have to agree with the other reviews of "Women Who Ruled". I visited the exhibition here at the University of Michigan last spring and enjoyed the exhibition, so I purchased the book hoping to gain some insight from the curator. Unfortunately, Annette Dixon, the curator at UM, seems to rely too heavily on other texts as the basis for her writing. There is not much in the way of personal opinion derived from first hand observation of the artwork itself. Much of the iconography,of which I would have enjoyed having some analysis, was completely ignored. What I got in it's place was watered down, cloyingly academic essays that took no positions, offered no opinions, and sat on the proverbial fence.
   Fortunately there is an essay by Mieke Bal. From her writing, I can tell that at least she has strong opinions and is not afraid to voice them. It is too bad she did not write the whole text, instead of Dr. Dixon.
   Overall it is a staid, stale, intellectually unadventerous exercise. The University of Michigan should be ashamed by putting out such a poorly conceived and written book. I hope they will learn from their mistakes and publish texts that are better companions to their exhibitions.



4. I bought this book at a gallery bookshop, and took it home wondering if I would like it.
   
   It is now one of my favorite volumes. The illustrations are gorgeous - they are produced so finely, and range from paintings to prints and all other decorative arts.
   
   I find the essays very informative. They explain the symbolism, etc. The text of the book is not too long - much space is given to the illustrations, which is appropriate.

No comments about Families Directly Descended from All the Royal Families in Europe (495 to 1932) & Mayflower Descendants.

5 comments about The Flight Of The Romanovs: A Family Saga.

1. I really enjoyed this book. It begins with czar nicholas and takes you right up to the present day romanovs. There are loads of similiar names, in fact all the romanovs seem to be called nicholas or alexander, but theres a family tree at the beginning of the book and i was constantly flicking back and forth to keep track.
   
   A fascinating read and one that'll keep you gripped. It deals with the history of all branches of the royal family and what has become of their descendants. The title may be a little misleading, the actual flight of the romanovs doesn't occur for some time into the book. Id recommend the book if you're a novice like me and really hadn't a clue about the romanov history.



2. This book provides a good view on the star-crossed Romanov family, as we see the downward spiral until much of the royal family is killed off and the remainder flees into exile. The volume features an extremely helpful genealogy at the beginning. I found it useful to refer to it from time to time to keep the "players" straight.
   
   The story begins with Tsar Alexander II, a reformer, who was rewarded by assassination. In some senses, this was most unfortunate for Russia, since his efforts at reform moved a far piece from the backward, insular, autocratic system preceding his reign. His successor, Alexander III, learned a lesson from this: no more reform. As the text reads (page 29): "Alexander III checked the liberal course abruptly; extreme conservatism resulted."
   
   He suffered from Bright's Disease and succumbed in 1894. The successor? Nicholas II (of Nicholas and Alexandra). With the Kerensky government and then the Bolshevik Revolution, the Romanovs were swept from power, and many executed by the Bolsheviks. Others escaped.
   
   The volume follows the survivors over their life course. It also provides great detail on other of the Romanovs before the Revolution. Some were quite able; others were of little moment and possessed little talent.
   
   The book provides a good picture of the family from Alexander II and his reform efforts to the death of the final "inside" members of the royal family in the late 20th century.
   
   The book is a fascinating portrayal of a royal family. Sometimes, the detail becomes almost excessive, but that also enhances the richness of the historical perspective. All in all, a nice volume.



3. This book is an easy read for the non-academically inclined reader. I thought I was finished with books like this when I graduated from college, but now years later I realize that I do enjoy reading comprehensive books on intriguing parts of world history.
   
   This book is gripping from the first page to the last & when the book is over, you almost feel like there should be more of a story to continue regardless that the family line has ended.
   
   Very enjoyable!



4. Dont waste your time with this trype. The authors are anti-monachist and The contempt for the Romonavs is fairly eveident. I thought monarch bashing went out of style with the advent of WWII. The mistakes and tribulations of The Romanovs are well known. A history more focused on the surviving family and less politically Biased would have been refreshing.



5. With all the other reviews, by now, you know this book is about the entire Romanov family. The story is told during the years leading up to, including, and after WWI, The Russian Revolution, and Civil War. It does NOT go into much detail about those subjects, I might add. since this is not the premise.
   
   What makes this book great is it's human aspect. The story is told as if you are there. Listening in to conversations, hearing gossip, and reading newspaper headlines of the times, all concerning the Romanov family and it's members. It's a story about people, with all their flaws and strengths. Almost Shakespearean in nature. At some times, it's a tearjerker, the gloomy hopes of a mother hoping her children and grandchildren are alive and safe. At other times, it's a humorous recounting of the escapades of rich playboys, with all the R-rated deeds involved. Other times, it's a desperate struggle for one's own life, hiding the incriminating fact of your own last name.
   
   If you are interested in general Russian history, Tsarist Russia, or the Romanov family you will enjoy this book.

No comments about Clan Fraser: A History Celebrating over 800 Years of the Family in Scotland.

No comments about Tartans of Scotland.

1 comments about Danes in Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition (People of Wisconsin).

1. Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Danes In Wisconsin is a brief history of Danish immigrants and their contribution to Wisconsin settlement and history during the 1800's. Vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating introduction, written for lay readers, to how Danish settlers lived and how they struggled to preserve their culture. New to revised and expanded addition are the letters of Andrew Frederickson, written over a forty-year span, which succinctly capture the personal experiences of a Dane who made a new life for himself in Wisconsin. A brief yet savory and entertaining tidbit of Wisconsin history, especially recommended as a gift or souvenir book.

No comments about Dartford (Archive Photographs).