Told through the harrowing experiences of the Van Rossem family of Kuyfoort, this is the story of the great flood that swept over Holland in January, 1953. The courage and heroism of the people in their fight against the encroaching sea, the search for and rescue of survivors and the reclamation of their homes and land are depicted. “How the wind blows tonight! As if it wants to tear the house up by the roots,” says Tante Anna. But the van Rossem family isn’t worried. Isn’t their house strong and solid? And the dikes that hold back the sea—aren’t they strong, too? That very night they waken to the shriek of sirens and the clang of church bells. They hear an even more frightening sound, too—the rush of water flooding the house. And then comes the cry that strikes terror to the heart of every Dutch boy and girl: “Get to your attic. The dike gave way!”
The Starving Empire traces the history of famine in the modern French Empire, showing that hunger is intensely local and sweepingly global, shaped by regional contexts and the transnational interplay of ideas and policies all at once. By integrating food crises in Algeria, West and Equatorial Africa, and Vietnam into a broader story of imperial and transnational care, Yan Slobodkin reveals how the French colonial state and an emerging international community took increasing responsibility for subsistence, but ultimately failed to fulfill this responsibility. Europeans once dismissed colonial famines as acts of god, misfortunes of nature, and the inevitable consequences of backward races living in harsh environments. But as Slobodkin recounts, drawing on archival research from four continents, the twentieth century saw transformations in nutrition, scientific racism, and international humanitarianism that profoundly altered ideas of what colonialism could accomplish. A new confidence in the ability to mitigate hunger, coupled with new norms of moral responsibility, marked a turning point in the French Empire's relationship to colonial subjects—and to nature itself. Increasingly sophisticated understandings of famine as a technical problem subject to state control saddled France with untenable obligations. The Starving Empire not only illustrates how the painful history of colonial famine remains with us in our current understandings of public health, state sovereignty, and international aid, but also seeks to return food—this most basic of human needs—to its central place in the formation of modern political obligation and humanitarian ethics.
This book explores the interplay between war and the environment in Henan Province, a hotly contested frontline territory that endured massive environmental destruction and human disruption during the conflict between China and Japan that raged during World War II. In a desperate attempt to block Japan's military advance, Chinese Nationalist armies under Chiang Kai-shek broke the Yellow River's dikes in Henan in June 1938, resulting in devastating floods that persisted until after the war's end. Greater catastrophe struck Henan in 1942-1943, when famine took some two million lives and displaced millions more. Focusing on these war-induced disasters and their aftermath, this book conceptualizes the ecology of war in terms of energy flows through and between militaries, societies, and environments. Ultimately, Micah Muscolino argues that efforts to procure and exploit nature's energy in various forms shaped the choices of generals, the fates of communities, and the trajectory of environmental change in North China.
During the occupation of the Netherlands the Germans made it impossible to carry out any maintenance work on our shores or any sounding, soil investiga tion or current-measurement work off the co ast, in the estuary of the Scheldt or in the channels between the Frisian Islands. The work ofDr. Johan van Veen, then leader of this survey, therefore came to astandstill. He then came to me and asked me to give him some task, so that he, an indefatigable worker, could continue to have work, the best antidote against the German poison, which affected only permanently unemployed men. I knew his love for the history of our traditional handling of the defence against the water. An all-round study had never been published, for in normal times a man with full knowledge of this type of work cannot find time for such a study, as water is our everlasting enemy, which must be kept under continual elose observation. From Dr. van Veen's book it will be elear that the Dutch manner of dredging, draining and reelaiming is a combination of traditions inherited from our ancestors and applied science to cope with modern demands. This tradition is in our blood. A more intimate knowledge of it will, I hope, furnish a kcy to so me of the salient points in our national character.
The Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction - Complete 20 Volumes is a monumental collection that traverses the rich territories of nineteenth and early twentieth-century literature, bringing together an unparalleled range of literary styles, from the gothic to the realist, the romantic to the naturalist. This anthology encapsulates the evolution of modern storytelling, showcasing seminal works that have shaped the literary canon. Its diversity is its strength, featuring texts that explore themes of love, morality, society, and human psychology, among others. The inclusion of works from a spectrum of authors, including standout pieces from heavyweights such as Dostoevsky, Dickens, Hugo, and Austen, offers readers a comprehensive insight into the era's diverse literary landscape. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from various cultural backgrounds and literary traditions, collectively present a multifaceted view of the human condition across different societies and historical moments. This collective effort aligns with significant historical, cultural, and literary movements, from the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason to Romanticism's celebration of emotion and individuality, offering a panoramic view of the shifts in thought that have influenced literature and society. By bringing together these varied voices, the anthology provides a unique lens through which to explore the complexities of the human experience, as conveyed through the art of storytelling. The Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction - Complete 20 Volumes is an essential collection for anyone interested in the development of fiction and its role in reflecting and shaping our understanding of the world. Offering an extraordinary opportunity to engage with the thoughts and experiences of some of literature's most influential figures, this anthology is a treasure trove for scholars, students, and general readers alike. It encourages a deep dive into a multitude of perspectives, enriching the reader's appreciation of literature's power to provoke thought, evoke emotion, and connect disparate human experiences across time and space.
