A great American tale told with a deft historical eye; painstaking analysis; and a supple clarity of writing.â€â€•Jean Baker “My husband considered you a dear friend;†Mary Todd Lincoln wrote to Frederick Douglass in the weeks after Lincoln’s assassination. The frontier lawyer and the former slave; the cautious politician and the fiery reformer; the President and the most famous black man in America―their lives traced different paths that finally met in the bloody landscape of secession; Civil War; and emancipation. Opponents at first; they gradually became allies; each influenced by and attracted to the other. Their three meetings in the White House signaled a profound shift in the direction of the Civil War; and in the fate of the United States. James Oakes has written a masterful narrative history; bringing two iconic figures to life and shedding new light on the central issues of slavery; race; and equality in Civil War America._x000D_ A brilliant and readable book...a rich study of humankind's restless spirit." ―Candice Millard; New York Times Book ReviewGreeted with coast-to-coast acclaim on publication; Fernández-Armesto's ambitious history of world exploration sets a new standard. Presenting the subject for the first time on a truly global scale; Fernández-Armesto tracks the pathfinders who; over the past five millennia; lay down the routes of contact that have drawn together the farthest reaches of the world.The Wall Street Journal calls it "impressive...a huge story [told] with gusto and panache." To the Washington Post; "Pathfinders is propelled by an Argonaut of an author; indefatigable and daring. It's a wild ride." And in a front-page review; the Seattle Times hails its "tart and elegant presentation...full of surprises. Fernández-Armesto's lively mind; pithy phrasing; and stunningly thorough and diverse knowledge are a constant pleasure."A plenitude of illustrations and maps in color and black and white augment this rich history. In Pathfinders we have a definitive treatment of a grand subject.
#1187504 in Books Ruth Gay 2001-10-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x .80 x 5.50l; .90 #File Name: 0393322408320 pagesUnfinished People Eastern European Jews Encounter America
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A revelation about my family and perhaps yours as wellBy afpadcNot long after beginning this book I exclaimed out loud "that's Aunt Ethel; that's Aunt Sophie". In her book Ruth Gay explains how an entire generation of immigrants who left Europe as children or teenagers had never actually "finished" growing up and how that affected them; their lives in the New World and their children. I wonder how much of this is true for today's immigrants as well. I truly enjoyed this book; more than most I have read of the genre; and strongly recommend it to anyone seeking to understand their immigrant past.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. I love reading about Jewish history in New York CityBy Beth E FloreyI'm a Midwesterner; and yet; I love reading about Jewish history in New York City. I became interested 45 years ago; when I read an excellent book called "Mama Made Minks" about a Jewish immigrant family; where the parents were furriers.Anyhow; this book is excellent. It really describes the immigrant's lives; and also their emotions and fears. The book first describes the conditions in Eastern Europe and the motivations for leaving. (Poverty and extreme restrictions against Jews). These people then worked extremely hard in the U.S. and also had to really change their culture. This isn't just a history lesson - it's personalized.
