In his legendary novel The Jungle (1905 and 1906), Upton Sinclair included a conspicuous number of Lithuanian words, phrases and surnames. This volume is the first attempt to analyze aspects of Lithuanian linguistic and historical data from The Jungle. Sinclair discovered the Lithuanian language in Chicago and explored it with pleasure. He even confessed to having sang in Lithuanian. If you look for “a Lithuanian linguist” working in field-research conditions in Chicago’s Back of the Yards—there is Upton Sinclair! The book targets Sinclair’s motives for choosing Lithuanian characters, his sources and his work methods in “field-research” conditions in Chicago. Some real-life individuals—Lithuanian name-donors for the protagonists of The Jungle—are presented in this volume. Certain details of the turn-of-the-century Chicago depicted in The Jungle are also revealed—for example, the saloon where the actual Lithuanian wedding feast took place and its owner. This volume is of interest to American literary historians, sociolinguists, language historians, and those interested in the history of Lithuanian immigration to America and the immigrant experience in Chicago.
Of all the places and events in this nation's history, Gettysburg may well be the name best known to Americans. Millions flock each year to the little town in south-central Pennsylvania where more than 135 years ago the largest, bloodiest, and most dramatic battle of the Civil War raged across the now-peaceful hills and meadows. The subject of an epic movie and a best-selling work of fiction, the battle continues to fascinate Americans. Indeed, for most Americans, Gettysburg is the Civil War. In Beneath a Northern Sky, eminent Civil War historian Steven E. Woodworth offers a balanced and thorough overview of the entire battle, its drama, and its meaning. From Lee's decision to take his heretofore successful Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac and into Pennsylvania to the withdrawal of the battle-battered Confederate's back across the river into Virginia, Woodworth paints a vivid picture of this pivotal campaign. In this day-by-day account, he describes the fierce fighting that left 48,000 men dead or wounded at sites that have now become famous: Little Round Top, Cemetery Ridge, Devil's Den. This new book provides a realistic sequence of events surrounding the legendary Pickett's Charge, detailing the Confederate's magnificent display of courage and the Union's stalwart, rock-hard defense. Woodworth describes the strategic and tactical decision making and shows how infighting and disagreements among the leaders on both sides impacted the campaign. He details the mind set and morale of the soldiers, revealing how—surprisingly—Union leaders did not take advantage of their troops' high spirits after their victory to finish off the retreating Confederates. Instead of focusing on only one aspect of the Gettysburg Campaign as most other books do, Beneath a Northern Sky tells the tale of the entire battle in a richly detailed but swiftly moving narrative. This new approach to a defining battle is sure to fascinate Civil War buffs and all those interested in the rich history of the United States.
Supplemented by recollections from the present era, Tell Us a Story is a colorful mosaic of African American autobiography and family history set in Springfield, Illinois, and in rural southern Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas from the 1920s through the 1950s. Shirley Motley Portwood shares rural, African American family and community history through a collection of vignettes about the Motley family. Initially transcribed accounts of the Motleys' rich oral history, these stories have been passed among family members for nearly fifty years. In addition to her personal memories, Portwood presents interviews with her father, three brothers, and two sisters plus notes and recollections from their annual family reunions. The result is a composite view of the Motley family. A historian, Portwood enhances the Motley family story by investigating primary data such as census, marriage, school, and land records, newspaper accounts, city directories, and other sources. The backbone of this saga, however, is oral history gathered from five generations, extending back to Portwood's grandparents, born more than one hundred years ago. Information regarding two earlier generations--her great- grandfather and great-great-grandparents, who were slaves--is based on historical research into state archives, county and local records, plantation records, and manuscript censuses. A rich source for this material--the Motley family reunions--are week-long retreats where four generations gather at the John Motley house in Burlington, Connecticut, the Portwood home in Godfrey, Illinois, or other locations. Here the Motleys, all natural storytellers, pass on the family traditions. The stories, ranging from humorous to poignant, reveal much about the culture and history of African Americans, especially those from nonurban areas. Like many rural African Americans, the Motleys have a rich and often joyful family history with traditions reaching back to the slave past. They have known the harsh poverty that made even the necessities difficult to obtain and the racial prejudice that divided whites and blacks during the era of Jim Crow segregation and inequality; yet they have kept a tremendous faith in self-improvement through hard work and education.
'Beyond Blue Earth to the French Prairie, Volume I' is more than a historical account - it's a riveting revival of unsung heroes, poignant tales, and pioneering spirits that painstakingly sculpted the America we inhabit today. This volume invites you on an odyssey through time, reconstructing the past in vivid, heartrending detail with every page turned. This meticulously woven narrative chronicles the lives of Lorenz's ancestors, immortalizing their stories and the indelible marks they left on the tapestry of history. Delve into the heart of this mesmerizing saga, which breathes new life into tales of remarkable yet often overlooked individuals. The resilient spirits of these figures intricately wove the rich tapestry of North American history. Each character, from every corner of the Earth, brings a unique thread to this elaborate narrative, producing a vibrant pattern of struggle, triumph, and human endurance. Stand alongside Frank Mahowald, a symbol of courage and determination, as he withstands the violent roar of Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. Feel the echoes of fear and hope reverberate through Frank Lorentz as he bids farewell to his homeland of Neustadtl, Bohemia, traveling in the dim-lit steerage of a ship destined for Blue Earth County, Minnesota. His quest for a new life illuminates the immigrant experience - a journey of heartache, hope, and the inexorable pull of new beginnings. Live vicariously through the resilience of Jean Baptiste Cyr dit Croc, a figure who bore the profound trauma of the Great Acadian Expulsion yet persevered, leaving an indelible mark on our shared history. Share in the feverish euphoria of John Cyr as he strikes gold in the chaotic frenzy of Deadwood, a testament to the allure and madness of fortune's promise. Journey with Eloi Cyr, a daring adventurer who fearlessly treks across the untamed expanse of the Wild West. From the rolling rivers of the Madawaska to the quaint settlements of Missoula's Frenchtown, his tales of battle, survival, and adaptation will leave you awestruck. Become engrossed in the story of John F. Lorenz, a humble quarry blacksmith from Bird Island, Minnesota, whose ambition and cunning propelled him to the esteemed position of Mayor. Witness the agricultural prowess of Jacques Bourgeois as he sows the seeds of Beaubassin, his legacy leaving a lasting impact on the land and its people. Admire the audacious spirit of Pierre Sire, a skilled gunsmith hailing from Touraine, who embraced the unknown and charted a course to the New World of Acadia. Accompany John Mahowald on his quest from the familiar fields of Luxembourg to the promise of America. His voyage encapsulates the hopes, dreams, and sacrifices of countless others who yearned for a brighter future. In the unforgiving wilderness of New Market, Minnesota, observe the grit and determination of Matthias Mahowald as he constructs a log cabin - a humble yet profound symbol of a family's place on the frontier. Stand united with the proud Dakota Nation, fierce guardians of the bountiful North American plains, as they valiantly fight to protect their ancestral lands against an advancing tide of settlers. Their struggle is a narrative of a brave people holding firm against the onslaught of a new era. 'Beyond Blue Earth to the French Prairie, Volume I' is not merely a book; it's a time portal that whisks you into a past laden with courage, perseverance, and an enduring spirit of discovery. Through these immersive narratives, you'll discover a mirror reflecting our collective spirit. These tales serve as a testament to our past, and through their lessons, they provide a guiding light to our future. The past is never truly behind us; it echoes in our present and resounds in our future. This volume brings those echoes to life, illuminating the legacy of those whose footprints may have faded but whose impacts continue to shape the world we know today.
This book explains how apartheid changed South Africa's cities, how people responded to regain some control over urban life, and how the forces of urbanization held back under apartheid will affect the post-apartheid era.
First published in 1974, this classic work focuses on the relationships between landowners and the landless. It is now reissued with an extensive new section, 'Dynamics of Poverty' which grew out of the author's return to his field-area after a period of thirty years. It is rare to have a longitudinal study of the same society for such a long period of time; as such this is a unique and important contribution to the field of historical sociology. It will also be instrumental for formulating policy in developing countries for years to come.
For centuries throughout large portions of the globe, petty agriculturalists and industrialists have set their physical and mental energies to work producing products for direct consumption by their households and for exchange. This twofold household reproduction strategy, according to both Marxist and neoclassical approaches to development, should have disappeared from the global economy as labor was transformed into a producer as well as a consumer of capitalist commodities. But in fact, during the twentieth century, only the United States and Britain seem to have approximated this predicted scenario. Tens of millions of households in contemporary Asia, Africa, and Latin America and millions more in industrialized capitalist economies support themselves through petty commodity production alone or in combination with petty industry wage labor. Obliging Need provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of small-scale peasant and artisan enterprise in the Oaxaca Valley of Mexico. The authors show how commodity production is organized and operates in different craft industries, as well as the ways in which it combines with other activities such as household chores, agriculture, wage labor, and petty commerce. They demonstrate how—contrary to developmentalist dogma—small-scale capitalism develops from within Mexico's rural economy. These findings will be important for everyone concerned with improving the lives and economic opportunities of countryfolk in the Third World. As the authors make clear, political mobilization in rural Mexico will succeed only as it addresses the direct producers' multiple needs for land, credit, more jobs, health insurance, and, most importantly, more equitable remuneration for their labor and greater rewards for their enterprise.
