A Chosen Few: The Resurrection of European Jewry

By Mark Kurlansky

Book Overview

Despite the horrors of the Holocaust, decades of Soviet dominance, the rise of neo-Nazism, and a resurgence of anti-Semitism, Jewish communities have been recreated throughout postwar Europe. In A Chosen Few, Mark Kurlansky visits the homes and lives of those Jews who have returned or remained, and explores the many reasons why they continue to build their lives in Europe. From Antwerp to Budapest, in Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw, through individuals both ordinary and famous, Kurlansky shows us the face of European Jewry--a face that may bear the scars of persecution, but looks toward a better future with hope and boundless determination.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201489368
• ISBN13: 9780201489361
• Release Date: August 1995
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful needed text on oft ignored subject

This is a wonderful book by a great author. It reads like a novel, from character to character from country to country surveying Europe from 1945 to present and the lives of the Jews who remained after the Nazi horror. Looking deeply into the lives of Jewish communities in the eastern block the author illuminates the still struggling Polish community, who suffered anti-Semitism either because they were communists or because they were not, usually simply as an excuse. The author deals with specific individuals and this is probably the greatest flaw of the text. Jews came to the very pinnacles of government in Poland and Czechslovakia(Slansky) and yet these pivotal government officials are all but ignored, because the author concentrates on the everyday lives of Jews who chose to either immigrate to or remain in Europe. So one is found wishing they could read more about Bruno Kriesky the Jew who led Austria in the 70s and was noted for being anti-Israel.The book is broken up into neat sections detailing the growth out of the rubble of the holocaust, 1968 and the rebirth of European anti-Semitism among other subjects. Good portions are devoted to large Jewish communities in France and Italy. One overlooked community are the Spanish Jews who supported Franco, but otherwise this book is a must read for anyone interested in modern Judaism or post WWII Europe. Seth J. Frantzman

A movie translated into written words.

More than typing a review , I want to deeply congratulate the author. I am 40 and it is the best book in the subject I have ever read. Eventhough English is not my native language I can feel the passion the writter used in describing us a real life movie in written words I should say BRAVO for his book.... ...I wish I can get in contact with the author and ask thousands of questions.......