Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
3rd out of 8 books
—
7 voters
The Long Way Home
by
David Laskin (Goodreads Author)
From the author of The Children's Blizzard comes an epic story of the sacrifice of an immigrant generation.
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, one-third of the nation's population had been born overseas or had a parent who was an immigrant. At the peak of U.S. involvement in the war, nearly one in five American soldiers was foreign-born. Many of these immig...more
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, one-third of the nation's population had been born overseas or had a parent who was an immigrant. At the peak of U.S. involvement in the war, nearly one in five American soldiers was foreign-born. Many of these immig...more
Hardcover, 386 pages
Published
2010
by HarperCollins
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
314)
David Laskin's "The Long Way Home: An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War" tells the story of the millions of immigrants who came to the United States at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. He focuses on twelve men beginning with the back stories of their families’ plight in Europe. We learn of the struggles they had with daily survival in Europe. We experience their decisions to immigrate and the gauntlet of risks they encountered just getting out...more
Jul 28, 2011
Homer H Blass
added it
In this book David Laskin takes 13 individual who came to America as immigrants in the high tide of foreign immigration. He discusses problems in their country that caused them to leave; how they got to America; how they assimilated or tried to; the effect that the outbreak of war in 1914 had upon them or their relatives still living in Europe; the impact that American entry in World War 1 had upon them; why they joined the army or got drafted; their pre-war training; their combat experiences; t...more
David Laskin has written an incredibly readable engaging account of twelve immigrants who served in the United States military during World War I. The book seeks to detail how immigrants to the United States valiantly served in the armed forces of a country that many of them weren't even citizens of when the United States entered World War I.
The majority of the individuals Laskin chooses as the subjects of his book served in the U.S. Army. Laskin chose only one Marine and no one who served aboar...more
The majority of the individuals Laskin chooses as the subjects of his book served in the U.S. Army. Laskin chose only one Marine and no one who served aboar...more
"They had gone into the army expecting Jews to be cowards, Italians to be thieves, Germans to be spies, Poles to be lazy, Irish to be disloyal - but even in the thick of combat they stopped to acknowledge how wrong they had been." (pg 245) But this isn't just a war story - it's a story of immigrants who came to America seeking a better life. Some found it, while others only traded locations. While focusing mostly on 12 individuals, this book tells the stories and experiences of some who emigrate...more
Touching, eloquent, sometimes even lyrical. Laskin shows that many Americans were not melted into the American melting pot but forged into Americans in battle. Stuck in cold wet muddy trenches, being shelled by an enemy, where the person next to you was born took on less importance than how well they stuck by you when you needed them. And those new immigrants took on a (sometimes new) idea of themselves not only as Americans but good and proud Americans. I'm afraid that Laskin sometimes errs on...more
Laskin uses the stories of 12 immigrants (well, one was born and raised in Wisconsin but if the town he grew up in was pretty well entirely Polish and English was his third language, I'm willing to lump him with the other immigrants), how they came to America and how and why they went back to Europe to fight in the Great War. At first it was a little tough to track the individual stories but I eventually became quite engrossed and found myself flipping back to the photo section again and again,...more
I wasn't sure at first that I'd be able to keep the 12+ immigrants profiled in this book all straight, but quickly became so involved in this very well done book that I had no problem keeping track of these amazing men and their stories. What an innovative way to look at the immigrant experience in America. Most of the men profiled here came from Europe--Italy, Russia, Poland, Ireland--lived here for a few years, and shortly found themselves fighting for their new country in a miserable war. Whi...more
Wow! There are many books with "Long Way Home" in the title and I have just read 2 of them. This one tells about the young men who came to America from Europe, Russia, etc. and then ended up going back as American Soldiers in WWI. Laskin is a good historical author who told this story and it needed to be told. I know many things about WWII as many in our generation do, but not so much about the trenches. We also learn about integration of nationalties in the military and the citizenship awarded...more
This book takes a different perspective of the immigrant experience. The author follows 12 immigrants on their journey from the "old country" (Italy, Norway, Poland, Ireland) and follows them on their journeys to America and then back to Europe as soldiers during WWI. It's a testament to what the human soul can endure for freedom (as immigrants) and what courage they displayed for their adoptive country. Incredible detail of the battles of WWI, often drawing from military excerpts and personal t...more
A fascinating book about immigrants who came to the US in the years immediately prior to WWI, and then ended upfighting in the American military in that war. Some were drafted, many enlisted. Some feared that they would be fighting against family members who had remained in "the old country," others hated that country so much that they were eager to fight against it. Many spoke virtually no English, and the military had to find a way to deal with that. Prior to WWI, there was MUCH prejudice in t...more
An American Journey From Ellis Island To The Great War is the Sub Title. David Laskin follows 12 immigrants and documents their experience in World War 1 and after, if they survived, through military records, letters home, interviews and contributions from family memories. The photographs in the center were particularly moving for me. His premise is that the war brought immigrants together and created the emotional melting pot that has become the American heritage.
I found it well written, histo...more
I found it well written, histo...more
Having visited Ellis Island twice, I am looking forward to burrowing into this book. Note to self: follow up with a visit to the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side.
Post-book thoughts: A good premise for a book. The intended audience is the casual reader of history, so while the style is not overly academic, neither is it too simple. The immigrants-cum-soldiers each have unique stories, and they leave you impressed with their earnestness in, first of all, leaving their native countries and, s...more
Post-book thoughts: A good premise for a book. The intended audience is the casual reader of history, so while the style is not overly academic, neither is it too simple. The immigrants-cum-soldiers each have unique stories, and they leave you impressed with their earnestness in, first of all, leaving their native countries and, s...more
Usually lurking somewhere in today's ongoing immigration debate is an idealized notion of times when the vast majority of those coming to our shores were Europeans. One of those periods was the early part of the 20th Century when eastern, central and southern Europeans came en masse. More than 1 1/4 million immigrants arrived in 1907 alone. By 1910 foreign-born residents accounted for almost 15 percent of the country's total population. By 1914 one of every three Americans was an immigrant or th...more
Laskin has produced an interesting history of the role of immigrant Americans in World War I by focusing on the stories of several men of different nationalities who came to the US then found themselves serving in our armed forces during a terrible war. I found the personal stories very interesting but had to skip over some of the battle scenes - I just couldn't read all the gruesome details. The feelings these men developed for their adopted nation in a short time was fascinating.
It was fascinating to read about the many immigrants and their stories at the turn of the century. Many of the ideas and feelings toward immigration haven't changed much in the past 100 years - only who the immigrants are. I thought the author tried to cover too many men's stories and should have focused deeper on a smaller number. But he did a great job of telling their reasons for immigrating and then joining the army to fight in and/or against their old countries.
This is an interesting documentary into the history of twelve immigrant families, their difficulties establishing meaningful lives here in the early 1900s, the prejudices they faced both trying to settle into American life and even worse when they were drafted for WW I, their experiences in the military and when they came home.
A very thought-provoking and moving look at the lives of immigrant soldiers in the AEF during World War I. Laskin's style is similar to that of Laura Hillenbrand--thoroughly researched but made so engrossing to read with the personal and human side he shows for the soldiers who are the subject of his work. He follows several men from the countries they were born in through their immigration to the U.S., their subsequent enlistment or drafting into the armed forces, war experience, and, for those...more
This was a really well written book that covers immigrants of all origins from Ireland to Italy to Russia. The only problem I had was understanding the military jargon. The stories are captivating and the history lesson left me wanting to learn more about this forgotten war.
History of early 20th century and WWI told through the lives of a dozen men who were born in Europe, immigrated to America, and then returned to Europe as soldiers. Very interesting, an enjoyable way to learn history. Also the experience of my great-grandfather.
While I listened to most of this book, I did read the last two chapters. I really enjoyed not only learning about this time period, but also learning about these men and their families. I only wish that we could learn from this 'war to end all wars.'
I just could not get into this book. I started skimming at page 143 and it still took me a over a week to get through this. I didn't like the way the author seemed to jump around. I had a hard time following things and couldn't really get attached to any of the people they were writing about. I probably should have just stopped when I got to the skimming part but just hated to have another book on my list of books that I wasn't going to finish.
I thought this book was going to be more about immigration. It was about Immigrants that went to war. It touched more on the war aspects than the immigration process. If you like war books you will probably like this book.
Another fascinating book by Laskin. This one looks primarily at 12 individual immigrants (and their families) how they arrived in American and ultimately fought in WWI, often before becoming US citizens. He covers the period from about 1880 thru the "Great" war and finishes up with how these individuals fared after the war..those who survived. It reinspired by interest in genealogy - it is amazing the amount of information he turned up on the individuals included in the book. He uses these few i...more
WWI History as a group biography of 12 men, born in the 1890s in Italy, the Jewish Pale of Russia, Ireland, Norway and Slovakia who emigrated to America and, as hopeful citizens, served in the US Army. Laskin reconstructs from family history the circumstances of their motivation to move (dire poverty, conscription in the Czar's army, etc.), the journey to Ellis Island, military services, and perhaps most poignantly, their post-war fight to be recognized as full citizens in the face of the Klan,...more
excellent read about the tribulations of the emigrant soldiers and howthey became American.
I've read many books about WWI and this is one of my favorites. Great new aspect presented.
Sep 12, 2012
Mary
added it
Dispelled a lot of misconceptions about the immigrants of that time, and the world they lived in and the America they came to. The description of a WW1 soldier and his life were eye opening.
Initially it was tough to keep track of the 12 different immigrants Laskin was writing about. However, as the book progressed i figured out who was who. An excellent read and at times very emotional. Laskin descriptions of the WWI battlefield is excellent and in my opinion the some of best parts of the book.
Interesting to read that the views of immigrants today isn't all that different than they were prior to WWI.
"This a beautifully written book, richly and movingly detailed. If your curiosity ever leads you back to those days, this is one to read."
The rest of my review can be read at:
http://tbdeluxe.blogspot.com/2012/09/...
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Great Neck, New York, I grew up hearing stories that my immigrant Jewish grandparents told about the “old country” (Russia) that they left at the turn of the last century. When I was a teenager, my mother’s parents began making yearly trips to visit our relatives in Israel, and stories about the Israeli family sifted down to me as well. What I never heard growing up...more
More about David Laskin...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Dec 20, 2012 12:34am