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[PDF] The Long Way Home | by ↠ David Laskin


  • Title: The Long Way Home
  • Author: David Laskin
  • ISBN: 9780061233333
  • Page: 348
  • Format: Hardcover

    • From the author of The Children s Blizzard comes an epic story of the sacrifice of an immigrant generation.When the United States entered World War I in 1917, one third of the nation s population had been born overseas or had a parent who was an immigrant At the peak of U.S involvement in the war, nearly one in five American soldiers was foreign born Many of these immigFrom the author of The Children s Blizzard comes an epic story of the sacrifice of an immigrant generation.When the United States entered World War I in 1917, one third of the nation s population had been born overseas or had a parent who was an immigrant At the peak of U.S involvement in the war, nearly one in five American soldiers was foreign born Many of these immigrant soldiers most of whom had been drafted knew little of America outside of tight knit ghettos and backbreaking labor Yet World War I would change the lives and ultimately reshape the nation itself Italians, Jews, Poles, Norwegians, Sovaks, Russians, and Irishmen entered te army as aliens and returned as Americans, often as heroes.In The Long Way Home, award winning writer David Laskin traces the lives of a dozen men, eleven of whom left their childhood homes in Europe, journeyed through Ellis Island, and started over in a strange land After detailing the daily realities of immigrant life in the factories, farms, mines, and cities of a rapidly growing nation, Laskin tells the heartbreaking stories of how these men both conscripts and volunteers joined the army, were swept into the ordeal of boot camp, and endured the month of hell that ended the war at Argonne, where they truly became Americans Those who survived were profoundly altered and their experiences would shape the lives of their families as well.Epic, inspiring, and masterfully
    David Laskin
    Born in Brooklyn and raised in Great Neck, New York, I grew up hearing stories that my immigrant Jewish grandparents told about the old country Russia that they left at the turn of the last century When I was a teenager, my mother s parents began making yearly trips to visit our relatives in Israel, and stories about the Israeli family sifted down to me as well What I never heard growing up was that a third branch of the family had remained behind in the old country and that all of them perished in the Holocaust These are three branches whose intertwined stories I tell in THE FAMILY THREE JOURNEYS INTO THE HEART OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY An avid reader for as long as I remember, I graduated from Harvard College in 1975 with a degree in history and literature and went on to New College, Oxford, where I received an MA in English in 1977 After a brief stint in book publishing, I launched my career as a freelance writer In recent years, I have been writing suspense driven narrative non fiction about the lives of people caught up in events beyond their control, be it catastrophic weather, war, or genocide My 2004 book The Children s Blizzard, a national bestseller, won the Washington State Book Award and the Midwest Booksellers Choice Award, and was nominated for a Quill Award The Long Way Home 2010 also won the Washington State Book Award I write frequently for the New York Times Travel Section, and I have also published in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Seattle Times and Seattle Metropolitan.When I m not writing or traveling for research, I am usually outdoors trying to tame our large unruly garden north of Seattle, romping with our unruly Labrador retriever pup Patrick, skiing in Washington State s Cascade Mountains, or hiking in the Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon My wife, Kate O Neill, and I have raised three wonderful daughters all grown now and embarked on fascinating lives of their own.


    Commentaires:

    Jimmie Aaron Kepler
    David Laskin s The Long Way Home An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War tells the story of the millions of immigrants who came to the United States at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries He focuses on twelve men beginning with the back stories of their families plight in Europe We learn of the struggles they had with daily survival in Europe We experience their decisions to immigrate and the gauntlet of risks they encountered just getting out of the [...]
    Jim
    This covers the life of a dozen immigrants to the US who fought in WWI, the times, major circumstances of the day Since most of my great grandparents were part of that flood of immigration that came through Ellis Island, I found the beginning really interesting There was some repetition, but the first half was really good A lot of the war time was good, but it bounced around a lot, got repetitious confusing.It s unfortunate that Laskin never served in the military Some of the things he finds so [...]
    Sarah
    The running joke with people who know my reading tastes is that my favorite books are those focused on the Canadian World War I experience at home and in combat Not too particular, right This interest doesn t really make sense While I do like reading both fiction and NF World War I II books, I get bogged down in the specific movements of armies and battles but am fascinated with the motivating factors and stories of individuals Which brings us back to Canada so many fought in really horrible bat [...]
    Tony
    THE LONG WAY HOME 2010 David Laskin .A critical but affectionate look at the lives of twelve immigrants to the U.S in the years just before WW I who in spite of many of them not being citizens, were inducted into and served with the U.S military on European battlefields The author approached his topic with the intent of showing that immigrants during this period of our history quickly became Americans, even before they had been able to take advantage of the benefits of this country vs what they [...]
    Mark Mortensen
    This book focused upon 12 males, who for the most part immigrated to America around the turn of the 20th Century from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Italy, Norway, Poland, Ireland and Austria Hungary seeking common goals of greater career opportunity and to a certain extent freedom and liberty Departing Ellis Island the individuals scattered throughout the United States to connect with family members and others With different ethnicity, language, culture and religious beliefs they tried to q [...]
    Kathy
    This book tells the stories of 12 men who immigrated to America near the beginning of the 20th century, why they came here, the troubles they faced, and how they found themselves soon returning to Europe to fight for America in WW1 Sometimes I got confused about who was who, but, in general, they were all proud that they fought and helped win the war 90,000 Italians returned to Italy to fight for the American services, 43 languages were represented in the US Army, and 3 4 of the recruits that sh [...]
    Cindy S
    This book takes a different perspective of the immigrant experience The author follows 12 immigrants on their journey from the old country Italy, Norway, Poland, Ireland and follows them on their journeys to America and then back to Europe as soldiers during WWI It s a testament to what the human soul can endure for freedom as immigrants and what courage they displayed for their adoptive country Incredible detail of the battles of WWI, often drawing from military excerpts and personal testimony [...]
    Laura Duggan
    It was fascinating to read about the many immigrants and their stories at the turn of the century Many of the ideas and feelings toward immigration haven t changed much in the past 100 years only who the immigrants are I thought the author tried to cover too many men s stories and should have focused deeper on a smaller number But he did a great job of telling their reasons for immigrating and then joining the army to fight in and or against their old countries.
    Donny
    Initially it was tough to keep track of the 12 different immigrants Laskin was writing about However, as the book progressed i figured out who was who An excellent read and at times very emotional Laskin descriptions of the WWI battlefield is excellent and in my opinion the some of best parts of the book.
    Liz Lenz
    Very timely book to read.
    Tim
    Usually lurking somewhere in today s ongoing immigration debate is an idealized notion of times when the vast majority of those coming to our shores were Europeans One of those periods was the early part of the 20th Century when eastern, central and southern Europeans came en masse More than 1 1 4 million immigrants arrived in 1907 alone By 1910 foreign born residents accounted for almost 15 percent of the country s total population By 1914 one of every three Americans was an immigrant or the ch [...]
    Chris
    David Laskin has written an incredibly readable engaging account of twelve immigrants who served in the United States military during World War I The book seeks to detail how immigrants to the United States valiantly served in the armed forces of a country that many of them weren t even citizens of when the United States entered World War I.The majority of the individuals Laskin chooses as the subjects of his book served in the U.S Army Laskin chose only one Marine and no one who served aboard s [...]
    J.S.
    They had gone into the army expecting Jews to be cowards, Italians to be thieves, Germans to be spies, Poles to be lazy, Irish to be disloyal but even in the thick of combat they stopped to acknowledge how wrong they had been pg 245 But this isn t just a war story it s a story of immigrants who came to America seeking a better life Some found it, while others only traded locations While focusing mostly on 12 individuals, this book tells the stories and experiences of some who emigrated from Euro [...]
    Susanhayeshotmail.com
    Laskin uses the stories of 12 immigrants well, one was born and raised in Wisconsin but if the town he grew up in was pretty well entirely Polish and English was his third language, I m willing to lump him with the other immigrants , how they came to America and how and why they went back to Europe to fight in the Great War At first it was a little tough to track the individual stories but I eventually became quite engrossed and found myself flipping back to the photo section again and again, po [...]
    Shelby
    I had to read this for my History II college course, and I will admit that it would not have been my first choice I didn t know that much about the First World War, as I am pretty much obsessed with anything having to do with the Second World War But it was assigned for school I had to read it anyway Once I got into it, though, it was difficult to put down I will admit that, when the first soldier was killed, I honestly just about cried from anger I knew from reading the back cover that three of [...]
    Daniel Connolly
    This nonfiction book vividly captures the experiences of early 20th century immigrants from Europe who came to America and a few short years later found themselves drafted into the Army and sent back to Europe to fight in the first World War You get a sense of the helplessness of people living in oppressive conditions in Russia and elsewhere in Europe, the grueling ocean voyages in steerage, the hurly burly and open ethnic hatred of early 20th century America, the messy process of turning a poly [...]
    Kristi Thielen
    A look at the experience of American immigrants who enlisted to fight in World War I, thereby returning to the very continent they had so recently fled, to risk their lives in an effort to prove they were worthy of being called Americans Laskin personalizes the experience by following 12 men, all of whom have remarkable stories, 2 of whom were decorated with the Medal of Honor, 3 of whom lost their lives The book also provides an engrossing look at America itself during the first 2 decades of th [...]
    Homer H Blass
    In this book David Laskin takes 13 individual who came to America as immigrants in the high tide of foreign immigration He discusses problems in their country that caused them to leave how they got to America how they assimilated or tried to the effect that the outbreak of war in 1914 had upon them or their relatives still living in Europe the impact that American entry in World War 1 had upon them why they joined the army or got drafted their pre war training their combat experiences their home [...]
    Lauren Albert
    Touching, eloquent, sometimes even lyrical Laskin shows that many Americans were not melted into the American melting pot but forged into Americans in battle Stuck in cold wet muddy trenches, being shelled by an enemy, where the person next to you was born took on less importance than how well they stuck by you when you needed them And those new immigrants took on a sometimes new idea of themselves not only as Americans but good and proud Americans I m afraid that Laskin sometimes errs on the si [...]
    Helen-Louise
    A fascinating book about immigrants who came to the US in the years immediately prior to WWI, and then ended upfighting in the American military in that war Some were drafted, many enlisted Some feared that they would be fighting against family members who had remained in the old country, others hated that country so much that they were eager to fight against it Many spoke virtually no English, and the military had to find a way to deal with that Prior to WWI, there was MUCH prejudice in this co [...]
    Michelle
    I wasn t sure at first that I d be able to keep the 12 immigrants profiled in this book all straight, but quickly became so involved in this very well done book that I had no problem keeping track of these amazing men and their stories What an innovative way to look at the immigrant experience in America Most of the men profiled here came from Europe Italy, Russia, Poland, Ireland lived here for a few years, and shortly found themselves fighting for their new country in a miserable war While I w [...]
    Kim
    Another fascinating book by Laskin This one looks primarily at 12 individual immigrants and their families how they arrived in American and ultimately fought in WWI, often before becoming US citizens He covers the period from about 1880 thru the Great war and finishes up with how these individuals fared after the war.ose who survived It reinspired by interest in genealogy it is amazing the amount of information he turned up on the individuals included in the book He uses these few individuals as [...]
    Kathy Halsan
    Wow There are many books with Long Way Home in the title and I have just read 2 of them This one tells about the young men who came to America from Europe, Russia, etc and then ended up going back as American Soldiers in WWI Laskin is a good historical author who told this story and it needed to be told I know many things about WWII as many in our generation do, but not so much about the trenches We also learn about integration of nationalties in the military and the citizenship awarded to all s [...]
    Kay
    Having visited Ellis Island twice, I am looking forward to burrowing into this book Note to self follow up with a visit to the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side.Post book thoughts A good premise for a book The intended audience is the casual reader of history, so while the style is not overly academic, neither is it too simple The immigrants cum soldiers each have unique stories, and they leave you impressed with their earnestness in, first of all, leaving their native countries and, second [...]
    Audra
    first reaction, while reading Laskin brings the people alive That plus all the info has I m surprised and happy to say changed my understanding and picture of the US 1890 1920 A new and vivid sense of diversity at that time, and how the melting pot metaphor developed Also arouses my curiosity about my own Swedish Finnish grandparents I wish I knew about their emigration and immigration Later I just skipped 100 pages describing battle details I ve read too much of that stuff in my life, see no r [...]
    Angela
    I have trouble even forming words about this book What people have endured, throughout history, astounds me but this generation and group of people truly served like none other The immigrant angle of WWI was new to me but it was fascinating Laskin s narrative voice and extensive research made for a remarkable, thorough look at the war from many sides I have a while new reading list I want to go through now, thanks to questions he raised and subjects he touched on This is a must read for anyone i [...]
    Sandy
    An American Journey From Ellis Island To The Great War is the Sub Title David Laskin follows 12 immigrants and documents their experience in World War 1 and after, if they survived, through military records, letters home, interviews and contributions from family memories The photographs in the center were particularly moving for me His premise is that the war brought immigrants together and created the emotional melting pot that has become the American heritage I found it well written, historica [...]
    Christopher
    A very thought provoking and moving look at the lives of immigrant soldiers in the AEF during World War I Laskin s style is similar to that of Laura Hillenbrand thoroughly researched but made so engrossing to read with the personal and human side he shows for the soldiers who are the subject of his work He follows several men from the countries they were born in through their immigration to the U.S their subsequent enlistment or drafting into the armed forces, war experience, and, for those that [...]
    Margaret Sankey
    WWI History as a group biography of 12 men, born in the 1890s in Italy, the Jewish Pale of Russia, Ireland, Norway and Slovakia who emigrated to America and, as hopeful citizens, served in the US Army Laskin reconstructs from family history the circumstances of their motivation to move dire poverty, conscription in the Czar s army, etc , the journey to Ellis Island, military services, and perhaps most poignantly, their post war fight to be recognized as full citizens in the face of the Klan, Ene [...]
    Donna
    This nonfiction book was about the immigrants who migrated to the US and then were drafted to fight in the WWI I learned much from this book but I found it kind of boring Once it became personal about a few specific men, I was engaged, but all the facts that were being mentioned felt tedious and caused some glazing over on my part I wish I had found this interesting I usually like books like this.
    • [PDF] The Long Way Home | by ↠ David Laskin
      348 David Laskin
    The Long Way Home