In 2008, Tim Tzouiadis wrote a book entitled, The Forsaken, An American Tragedy in Stalin’s Russia in which thousands of Americans left for jobs and security in the Soviet Union during the Depression.  Led to believe the stories of American journalists (such as Walter Duranty of the New York Times) and “intellectuals” like George Bernard Shaw, they saw the Soviet Union as the wave of the future after the “failure” of Capitalism.  Hundreds were also offered positions on a contract by Henry Ford who was helping the Soviets build auto plans; they were skilled tradesmen and their skills were lacking in that war-torn land.  Of all the thousands who took the trip, only a handful survived and returned to the U.S.; most of those were children who were sent home for some reason or some workers who quickly turned around and returned. Later, having lost their U.S. passports, most were arrested and sent to the Gulags or executed outright as being “spies” and “wreckers”.  Only one man and one woman survived terms in the Gulags to return to the U.S.

There is one great question that courses through this amazing book and that is, “Is there such a thing as Russian Culture?”.  In just under 700 pages, Figes, one of my favorite historians, traces Russia from its roots through the collapse of the Soviet Union, reviewing art, music, literature and culture in general.  To say the least, Russians (let’s exclude the peasant class for now) have been torn between their experience with Asia (Mongols, etc.) and their disillusionment with the West.  They have moved first one way then the other, all the time denying the worse of their history while attempting to create a new world for themselves.

In graduate school, one of my top professors was Dr. Samuel Sarkesian.  Before becoming a professor at Loyola Chicago, he had a military career, ending up as a Lieutenant Colonel.  That quiet man was one of the first officers chosen by Colonel Aaron Bank to set up the 10^th Special Forces.  Formed in 1952, it was designed to combat terrorism, operate behind enemy lines, etc.  He served behind North Korean lines during the Korean War, as well as on various missions in Africa, Eastern Europe, Viet Nam, etc.

Too often we are few raw numbers that are not put into proper perspective. This article goes beyond the norm to help us understand areas of greater danger and care. https://cms.frontpagemag.com/point/2020/03/italy-99-coronavirus-fatalities-had-medical-daniel-greenfield

Isn’t it strange that two countries, Italy and Iran, who are so far apart and have little contact, should lead be punished so much by the virus? How is it possible? What could they have in common that would cause so many deaths, so much misery? In Iran, it even affects the leaders of the country. This article points out the cost of dealing with a nation that seems to care nothing for it’s responsibility to others. https://thefederalist.com/2020/03/17/iran-and-italy-are-paying-a-hefty-price-for-close-ties-with-communist-china/

Mary Beard first went to Rome over 40 years ago and immediately fell in love with its history and culture.  Over the decades, she has written nearly a dozen books on various aspects of Rome and in this nearly six hundred page volume covers from the founding of Rome (with its legends and myths), through the first 1000 years of its existence, ending with the rule of Caracalla, son of the “last good Emperor” Septimius Severus.  Caracalla did not, unfortunately follow in his father’s footsteps and has been described as “the enemy of all mankind”.  One must wonder about that title as he is noted for granting citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire, some thirty million of them, but then as all citizens were required to pay taxes, one must wonder if his grant was all that valuable.

Hamsun is widely credited as opening European literature to a new level of realism and impacting novelist such as Mann, Zweig, D’Annunzio and even Hemmingway.  You will love this book if, 1) you enjoy the darkness of Ingmar Bergman’s films, 2) listen to Leonard Cohen while you are stoned or 3) have a burning desire to slit your wrists.  While highly acclaimed during his career, his main charter (based on 10 years of his life before his success) is the type that would make you hang garlic around your house in order to keep him away.

19 St. James St, London SWIA IES

This is the oldest cigar shop in the U.K., going back over 200 years. Located just around the corner from Jerymn St., the hearth of London’s fashion district for men, it has a full selection of excellent cigars and pip tobaccos. One real treat is their museum where you can sit in a chair used by Winston Churchill when he would come by for a cigar, or you can view the order book where you find that Oscar Wilde never paid his bill or that Churchill gave an order for cigars for a relative (good cigars but not that good, after all, Winston did have to watch his funds). Upstairs you can enjoy a cigar (sorry, no cognac or hard liquor) and you are liable to meet some very interesting individuals. Visiting Fox is a step back in history that if fun and educational. Watch this video for a good overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uorb182UhH4

History is replete with lost wars, often caused by rivalries between top decision makers over strategies, type of munitions, tactics, and of course, political turf wars.  It is refreshing to read a book which outlines how five different men, all driven (by patriotism, some also by glory) managed to create the most powerful navy in the history of the world and use it in a manner which contributed to the total victory over the forces of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.  As the book focuses on these five men, the actions of the hundreds of thousands who served under them and were at the “sharp end of the stick” are not covered, but one is struck by the force of their personalities and how those personalities much have inspired many of those lower down the ladder.

11 Knightsbridge, London

855-407-6644

The Wellesley, a smaller high end hotel is only a few blocks from Harrods, so it can be a great place to escape after the crowds in the store.