Earlier today I finished a book by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, James A Michener, “The Bridge at Andau” written in 1956, it is about the Hungarian Revolution and eye-witness accounts told by Michener.
Though I wasn’t even born then, I remember little, if any of what was taught to me in school of this monumental event in history.
People of any county, if you want to understand what is going on in Egypt, Libya and in other parts of the world, READ THIS BOOK.
I was shocked at the accounts, but more than that the way he described how the people felt, and why they especially the young people many not over the age of 20 stood up to the Soviet Union and changed the face of Communism forever.
Time Magazine, recognized what these young individuals accomplished and made the Hungarian Freedom Fighters their “Man of the Year,” which came out 07 January 1957. Which I am happily surprised.
Hungarian Freedom Fighters
The book “The Bridge at Andau” is well worth the time if you can find a good copy to read, you might have to check a few used bookstores. I found a 1957 paperback for $2.00 bucks and original 1st edition hard copies go from $75 -$100, depending on the condition. But unless you are into collectors editions opt for the paperback.
Though this pertains to the other side of my family, it is still relevant here. An cousin wrote 4 books they are nicely done, but a bit expensive. She could have cut it down to 3 had there not been 1 inch margins on both sides.
The margins coupled with the way things were written, for me is old school and I don’t understand it much. It reminds me when my Mom was working on the family tree 30 years ago or the books I have found in the used book stores.
I only have 3 issues, 2 with the book and 1 with my cousin.
1st the one with the cousin, first she sends the first 3 volumes to my old address in California, and then tells me if they are not forwarded then we have a problem. Problem was she didn’t insure them or put a tracking number on them. $80 a piece and she throws them into a standard envelope with little packing.
Really, they are that valuable and no insurance and its my problem that they are sitting in Burlingame. Can you say cheap, sounds to me that she is trying to save just a few pennies at others expense. The last volume she had for 20 days, knowing that others like me had already paid for it, I had to beg for it and lie saying I was going to my mothers house and wanted to take it with me. It was the only way I got it.
Again, after the first fiasco, she sends the book the exact same way with no insurance or tracking in a standard envelope. Amazing not a very good business woman.
With the book itself the publishers of the book wrote in the beginning…
All rights reserved. No part of this book, or portions thereof, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or be reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the publisher.
I have big problems with this statement, because more than 60% of this book is public records, i.e., census records, birth and marriage certificates and so forth. You can’t copy write public records.
Since I have a good 30% of this family tree information before she wrote the book am I now in violation of copy right laws, I do not think so.
The other problem I have with the book, is the lack of a editor. I guess that really isn’t the book fault but the writer and publisher and the lack of fact checking.
You can’t use birth year estimated or marriage year estimated as a source! Really, under that premise I could make up my whole history and just estimate it all as a source.
I know I am new at this family history and have a lot to learn, and will make mistakes I just hope that I will always have an open mind when it comes to suggestions and ideals.
