A masterwork of W. G. Sebald, now with a gorgeous new cover by the famed designer Peter Mendelsund The four long narratives in The Emigrants appear at first to be the straightforward biographies of four Germans in exile. Sebald reconstructs the lives of a painter, a doctor, an elementary-school teacher, and Great Uncle Ambrose. Following (literally) in their footsteps, the narrator retraces routes of exile which lead from Lithuania to London, from Munich to Manchester, from the South German provinces to Switzerland, France, New York, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. Along with memories, documents, and diaries of the Holocaust, he collects photographs—the enigmatic snapshots which stud The Emigrants and bring to mind family photo albums. Sebald combines precise documentary with fictional motifs, and as he puts the question to realism, the four stories merge into one unfathomable requiem.
"Brian Buffini, an Irish immigrant who went from rags to riches, shares his strategies for anyone who wants to achieve the American dream. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Brian Buffini immigrated to San Diego, California at the age of nineteen with only ninety-two dollars in his pocket. Since then, he has become a classic American rags-to-riches story. After discovering real estate, he quickly became one of the nation's top real estate moguls and founder of the largest business training company, Buffini & Co., in North America. But Brian isn't alone in his success: immigrants compose thirteen percent of the American population and are responsible for a quarter of all new businesses. In fact, Forbes magazine boasts that immigrants dominate most of the Forbes 400 list. So what are the secrets? In The Emigrant Edge, Brian shares seven characteristics that he and other successful immigrants have in common that can help anyone reach a higher level of achievement, no matter their vocation. He then challenges readers to leave the comfort of their current work conditions to apply these secrets and achieve the success of their dreams"--
Published in 1845, this guidebook for pioneers is a reproduction of one of the most collectible books about California and the Western movement. It was the guidebook used by the Donner Party on their fateful journey. In addition, because Hastings' shortcut route through the Rockies produced such tragedy, the War Department commissioned The Prairie Traveler.
Cruel Paradise deftly weaves together the firsthand stories of men and women who emigrated from the Netherlands throughout the twentieth century. Hylke Speerstra interviewed transplanted Netherlanders in Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa for this book, which vividly recounts the trials and successes of these emigrants.
Old New Worlds intertwines the immigrant stories of the author and her great-great grandmother. Sarah Barker and her new husband sail from England in 1815 to minister to the indigenous Khoihoi in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. In the midst of conflict, illness, and natural disasters, Sarah bears sixteen children. Two hundred years later, Judith leaves post apartheid South Africa with her new American husband to immigrate to the United States. She is drawn to Sarah’s immigrant story in the context of her own experience, and she sets out to try and trace her. In the process, she finds a soul mate.
"The Story of the Emigrants" is a grand three-chapter voyage extracted from "Beyond Blue Earth to the French Prairie Volume I", wherein renowned author John d'Arc Lorenz III navigates through the uncharted waters of America's immigrant history. Set against the vivid backdrop of the ever-evolving American landscape, the tale unfurls a saga of remarkable tenacity, resilience, and the enduring human spirit, personified by two immigrant families - the Mahowalds and the Lorentzs. Our journey begins in the quaint town of Simmern, Luxembourg, where we encounter the adventurous Mahowald brothers - John and Frank - along with their cousins Mathias, John, Nick, Matthew, and Anna. Breaking free from the clutches of despair and poverty that marked their life in Simmern, the Mahowalds dared to dream beyond their known world. Their arduous journey across the Atlantic in steerage was not simply a geographic transition, but a monumental leap of faith, marking them as one of the first Luxembourger families to carve their destiny in the untamed wilderness of the American West. As the narrative sweeps eastward, we meet the industrious couple - Frank and Theresia Lorentz - hailing from Neustadtl, Bohemia. Bound by the oppressive chains of the feudal society, they decided to sever their ties and brave the turbulent seas of change. Their tale offers a vivid portrayal of the immigrant experience, documenting their gritty voyage across the Atlantic, the myriad challenges they faced, and the euphoric victories they savored in their new homeland. In stark contrast to the tales of hope and perseverance of the Mahowalds and the Lorentzs, Lorenz presents a heartrending account of the Dakota Nation. As waves of Anglo-white settlers flooded the American plains, the Dakota people were systematically displaced, deceived, and stripped of their ancestral lands by the US government. This part of the narrative serves as a stark reminder of the often overlooked dark chapters of American history, illuminating the struggles and resilience of the indigenous peoples in the face of blatant colonial oppression. The climax of the narrative is marked by the union of the Mahowald and Lorentz families, symbolized by the marriage of John F. Lorenz, a humble quarry blacksmith of German-Bohemian descent, and Anna Mary Mahowald. Their ascent to prominence in Bird Island, Minnesota, is a testament to the boundless potential of the American Dream, a testament of courage and unwavering resolve. Lorenz's writing breathes life into historical events such as the American Civil War, placing the reader right in the midst of the action. His attention to detail paints a vibrant picture of the era, allowing readers to virtually stroll the streets of Bird Island, Mankato, and New Market, Minnesota - the towns where the Mahowald, Lorentz, and Lorenz families established their legacies. This epic narrative is not just a documentation of the past; it is a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of ambition, resilience, and humanity that pervaded these times. Diving into "The Story of the Emigrants" is an immersive experience, where history leaps off the pages to pull you into a bygone era of relentless struggle and extraordinary triumphs. Packed with forgotten historical facts, charismatic characters, and beautifully rendered descriptions, it offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of those who dared to dream beyond their known horizons. It is a rich tapestry of narratives that speak of countless emigrants whose legacies continue to resonate in the annals of global history, making this masterpiece an indispensable read for every history aficionado.
A riveting family saga immersed in the gritty, dark side of Swedish immigrant life in America in the early twentieth century When Gustaf and Anna Klar and their three children leave Sweden for New York in 1897, they take with them a terrible secret and a longing for a new life. But their dream of starting over is nearly crushed at the outset: a fire devastates Ellis Island just as they arrive, and then the relentlessly harsh conditions and lack of work in the city make it impossible for Gustaf to support his family. An unexpected gift allows the Klars to make one more desperate move, this time to the Midwest and a place called Swede Hollow. Their new home is a cluster of rough-hewn shacks in a deep, wooded ravine on the edge of St. Paul, Minnesota. The Irish, Italian, and Swedish immigrants who live here are a hardscrabble lot usually absent from the familiar stories of Swedish American history. The men hire on as poorly paid day laborers for the Great Northern or Northern Pacific railroads or work at the nearby brewery, and the women clean houses, work at laundries, or sew clothing in stifling factories. Outsiders malign Swede Hollow as unsanitary and rife with disease, but the Klar family and their neighbors persevere in this neglected corner of the city—and consider it home. Extensively researched and beautifully written, Ola Larsmo’s award-winning novel vividly portrays a family and a community determined to survive. There are hardships, indignities, accidents, and harrowing encounters, but also acts of loyalty and kindness and moments of joy. This haunting story of a real place echoes the larger challenges of immigration in the twentieth century and today.
