|
History and Current Events May 2021
|
|
|
|
| The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos by Judy BatalionWhat it's about: The courageous Jewish women resistance fighters operating in Poland during World War II.
Read it for: A propulsive and richly detailed account that's "sure to become part of the WWII canon" (Booklist).
Movie buzz: Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg has optioned The Light of Days for a film adaptation. |
|
| In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the... by Laurence BergreenWhat it's about: How pirate Sir Francis Drake's exploits on behalf of Elizabeth I helped establish the British Empire.
Why you might like it: Rife with descriptive accounts of swashbuckling derring-do and plenty of court intrigue, acclaimed historian Laurence Bergreen's dramatic latest offers fresh insights into the relationship between Drake and the queen. |
|
|
The ravine : a family, a photograph, a Holocaust massacre revealed
by Wendy Lower
What it's about: A single photograph - an exceptionally rare photo documenting the horrific final moment of the murder of a family - drives a riveting process of discovery for a gifted Holocaust scholar.
Is it for you? "No comparable title exists that focuses exclusively on the mysterious background behind one single photo, making this compelling history an essential read for World War II enthusiasts." (Library Journal)
Reviews say: "Meticulously researched and thoughtfully written, her book is a testimonial to the power of countering ignorance with education and the importance of restoring the dignity of personhood to those erased by genocide." (Kirkus)
|
|
|
The doctors Blackwell : how two pioneering sisters brought medicine to women--and women to medicine
by Janice P. Nimura
What it is: A biography of two pioneering sisters who, together, became America's first female doctors and transformed New York's medical establishment by creating a hospital by and for women.
Why you might like it: "Nimura’s compelling biography not only recovers the lives and work of Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell but also provides a colorful social history of medicine in America and Europe during the mid- to late-19th century." (BookPage)
|
|
|
George Washington : the political rise of America's founding father
by David O. Stewart
What it does: Traces the political evolution of George Washington, examining how he matured from a headstrong youth to the commander in chief of the Continental Army and unanimously elected first American President.
Reviews say: "In this lively and admirable study, Stewart offers a balanced and thoughtfully well-written appreciation of George Washington's life and leadership. A must for fans of biographies." (Library Journal)
|
|
|
The Ratline : the exalted life and mysterious death of a Nazi fugitive
by Philippe Sands
What it is: An acclaimed, award-winning author and international lawyer describes the rise and fall of Baron Otto von Wächter, a high-ranking Nazi official who set off on a post-war, four-year flight to escape justice via “the Ratline” from Rome to Argentina.
Is it for you? "Full of twists and turns, cover-ups and complicity, this gripping historical thrill ride will appeal to fans of John le Carré." (Library Journal)
|
|
Recent Releases: Current Events
|
|
| Children Under Fire: An American Crisis by John Woodrow CoxWhat it is: A sobering study examining the traumatic impact of gun violence on children.
What's inside: Heartwrenching profiles of survivors and those who've lost loved ones to gun violence; persuasive calls for gun reform backed by extensive research.
Book buzz: Children Under Fire is an expansion of reporter John Woodrow Cox's Pulitzer Prize-nominated Washington Post series. |
|
| Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America by Alec MacGillisWhat it is: An impassioned account of Amazon's destabilizing impact on American communities and labor practices, featuring interviews with Amazon employees.
Topics include: how Amazon fosters competition between cities vying to host its new facilities, despite limited job growth for the "winners;" how its campuses contribute to gentrification and displacement.
For fans of: Jessica Bruder's Nomadland. |
|
|
Flight of the diamond smugglers : a tale of pigeons, obsession, and greed along coastal South Africa
by Matthew Gavin Frank
What it is: A stunning investigation into the role of carrier pigeons in South African diamond smuggling.
Why you might like it: "Frank masterfully weaves a fast-paced history of South Africa's Diamond Coast, and the impact of De Beers controlling both the land and the government. His thorough reporting on mineworkers, their pigeons, and towns that have struggled in the wake of mine closures makes for compelling reading." (Library Journal)
|
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contactthe Winfield Public Library 630-653-7599, 0S291 Winfield Rd.
Winfield, IL 60190
|
|
|