The recent influx of Albanian migrants into Michigan is a result of both the nationalist upheavals in the Balkan region as well as the breadth of opportunities that Michigan affords. The diversity of Michigan's people is reflected in the Albanian community itself; as Christians and Muslims strive to maintain religious; ethnic; and linguistic identities in their new communities. Frances Trix explores the ways in which Michigan's Albanian community has forged an unusual cohesiveness and unity; and thus has remained more traditional in its orientation than have large; immigrant Albanian communities in other parts of the United States. These characteristics make the Albanian experience in Michigan unique.
#1027975 in Books Vendome Press 2008-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.50 x 6.50l; 3.25 #File Name: 0865651841400 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Great Visual FeastBy D. John HopperBuying books online can be a hit and miss strategy at the best of times. If you can only view the cover; or have limited access to the contents; it gives you little idea as to the merits of the book. Art and design books are also notorious for placing one good illustration on the cover; giving the impression the insides are up to the same standard; but then finding that they are blatantly not.So; although the book had been sitting on my wish list for ages; I crossed my fingers and bought it; purely for the fact that I both loved the front cover; a gorgeously colourful Leon Bakst costume for the Ballets Russes; as well as loving the period in Russian artistic history. As soon as it arrived; it turned into one of my favourite books. At nearly four hundred pages and with at least two illustrations per page; many in colour; the book is stuffed with visual information.From fine art; to the crafts; from literature to dance; the period 1900 to 1920 was an explosion of individual and group creative talent never before seen in Russia. Whether you are interested in the formative years of Russian modernist fine art and its development into wild experimentation during the early Soviet years; or the formation of the Ballets Russes under the leadership of Serge Diaghilev and Vaslav Nijinsky and then its development into the creative phenomenon that brought in so many of the leading artist and designers of the period. Perhaps you are interested in the Russian Arts and Crafts Movement; with its belief in the continuation of Russian tradition through innovation in architecture; textiles; wood; metal; ceramics and glass. All this and more seemingly crammed into Bowlt's book.1900 to 1920 was a momentous period in history for Europe. Starting with an enthusiastic embrace of all that was new; novel and intriguingly creative in the new century; it soon turned into a pointless; devastating and tragically avoidable continent-wide conflict with the resulting collapse of Empires and dynasties. However; in many ways perhaps Russia suffered more than most; but also perhaps gave the most creatively as well.The period from the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union is one whereby a whole range of Russian artists; designers and craftspeople; many of whom I had never heard of until this book; were producing work that could; with fairness; be said to have been influenced by what was going on creatively in the rest of Europe. However; there were also large numbers of creative individuals across Russia who were producing work that paid little if any heed to European influence; being more in tune to the traditions that were so much a part of Russian life.The book; in its title; signifies that it concentrates on what was going on creatively in the two significant cities of Russia; then as now; Moscow and St. Petersburg. However; this does not imply that the book concentrates on just the native creative talent of both cities. Both Moscow and St. Petersburg were magnets to creativity and brought in talent from across the old Russian Empire and later the newly formed Soviet Union.Both Bowlt and Vendome; the publishers; have done a great job in producing Moscow and St. Petersburg; 1900-1920; and if like me you are fascinated by this particular period in history; and Russia in particular; I highly recommend the title. I was so thrilled by this book that I actually ordered another Vendome title in the same format as the Russian book; Christian Brandstatter's Vienna 1900.48 of 51 people found the following review helpful. interesting subject and coverage but the book is too smallBy Ivor E. ZetlerWhile agreeing with the generally laudatory comments posted by the other reviewers of this book; I would like to inform the prospective purchaser of a few negative aspects to take into consideration. Firstly the size of the publication is roughly equivalent to that of a large paperback novel; ideally given its nature it should be bigger.The book is very liberally illustrated-an average of 2 photographs per page (although they tend to be clumped together). Thus some of the reproductions-which are of good quality- can be very small in dimension. Furthermore the print size of the text is also small and not particularly comfortable to read. I realise I might be sounding picky; but had the publishers presented this book in a more generous dimension; it would be far more recommendable.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A brilliant touch on Russian art by my professorBy K. YaoI still kept this book even after my graduation. I took a Russian Modern Art class with Professor Bowlt and it was my favorite class at USC. This book is very well written; dives deep on the subject matter and opens my horizon regarding the Russian art.
