I’ve just finished reading Philippe Sands’ East West Street: On the Origins of “Genocide” and “Crimes against Humanity.” I’d come across a recommendation to this winner of the 2016 Baillie Gifford Non-Fiction prize and added my name to the Vancouver Public Library’s waitlist for it several months ago. When the VPL emailed to say the book was now available, I’ll admit I might have winced, even grimaced, at the idea of reading it during weather more suited for lighter fare.
But as difficult as his subject matter is, Sands builds a compelling narrative about the gradual recognition in international law of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.” His narrative’s power owes much to the coincidence that the two men who introduced these crimes into international law — Rafael Lemkin and Hersch Lauterpacht, respectively –studied under the same professors, at the same university, in a Central European city called by various names: Lemberg, Lwów, Lvov, or Lviv. Further coincidence, also woven into the narrative, is that the author’s own grandfather was born in that same city. And the three men shared, also, the devastating loss of home and family as Jews living during the Third Reich.
The book begins in 2010 — the author has been invited to give a lecture at Lviv University, and is told by an audience member that he should look to the city for clues to his own family’s history. This unveiling of secrets long shrouded by his grandparents parallels his research into the lives of Lemkin and Lauterpacht and their (as much oppositional as complementary) efforts to have “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” recognized in international law. The “case study” that Sands constructs his narrative around is the case against Hans Frank as part of the Nuremberg Trials — and Frank was the governor of the Third Reich conquered territory of Galicia, home to the families of Lauterpacht, of Lemkin, and of Sands’ maternal grandfather.
This is such an important book, especially at this historical moment when we are again viewing dangerous incremental changes with horribly xenophobic notes being sounded. It’s not easy to read — particularly the passages when we hear directly from Frank and his co-defendants and when we read testimony from those who witnessed the evacuation and the murders of the Holocaust.
And yet, to repeat myself, it’s compelling. I spread the reading out over two weeks, taking a break in between with some lighter reading, but I never had to force myself back to it; rather, I felt drawn by the story Sands tells, the connections he makes between events and people and places. I think it also helps that Sands has chosen to write in very short chapters, two or three pages generally — the natural pauses sometimes pushed me forward into the next chapter, searching the solution to a mystery, and sometimes they offered me respite from witnessing horror.
The closest comparison I might make would be to Edward de Waal’s The Hare with the Amber Eyes, although de Waal’s book focuses on the theft/appropriation of the Ephrussi family’s wealth, properties, and — especially — its art, rather than wholesale destruction of a city’s Jews, of a grandfather’s family. . .
As for that lighter reading. . . .
Over the last month, I’ve spent hours plonked down next to a fan, with a mystery in hand. I’ve read three of Ruth Ware’s mysteries: The Woman in Cabin 10; In a Dark, Dark Wood; and The Lying Game. They’re all well-written and tightly plotted enough to keep me sitting and turning pages, only getting up to stretch my legs and pour another glass of mint-lime infused water from the Glug-glug jug in the fridge. The protagonist in all three is a woman — and I like her women, who are smart and flawed and resourceful. All young (do we need a contemporary Miss Marple on the writing scene? Or is there a Female Detective of a Certain Age mystery series I don’t know about? And by “of a certain age,” I’m probably hoping for something over 55, as the goalposts have shifted considerably for me — 40-45 is “young” to me. . . .
I’ve more mysteries and other reading to tell you about as well, but I’ll save that for later and click on “Publish” this Saturday morning. Let me know if you’ve read any of these books and, as always, we can chat about books you’ve been reading as well. The mic’s all yours now. . .
Great post👍 I’ve read all three of Ruth Ware's books and enjoyed each one. Haven’t read The Hare With the Amber Eyes but it’s been on my TBR list for awhile. You’ve given me the needed incentive.
They're so digestible, the Ware books, aren't they?
And I guarantee you will be glad you pushed The Hare to the top of your reading list.
Thanks for your link to the video and your earlier review of "The Emperor of Paris." I enjoyed both. This is a book I could easily reread tomorrow! Did you ever find Richardson's "The end of the alphabet?" What an intriguing title; I'm on the hunt for that now.
"East West Street" does sound like an important book; it's scary how some of the things we're hearing now harken back to the beginning of those dark days.
Frances in Sidney
No, I never did track down The End of the Alphabet, and I'd forgotten all about it until I linked up that post for you on your recent comment — I see the library has a copy so I'm putting it on the list again.
I've been reading the Susie Steiner books that Sue at Wilderness recommended – I like the main character. She's so grumpy;). My only quibble is that Steiner talks about the women's weight a lot, a pet peeve of mine. Sounds like Ware would be good too. Older women make great reads, right?
I've just read one of the Steiner books and then picked up the other from the library yesterday — that Sue in her Wilderness High Heels is great for recommendations! I get your pet peeve, but I have to say from my perspective that the talk of women's weight is pretty fair as a reflection of a character's thoughts. Not so much if it's what the third-party narrator uses to describe characters, although I don't think we're anywhere near a point where it's not relevant, sadly. Hmmm, good topic for a book discussion. . . And absolutely, older women make great reads. We need more of them in mysteries and elsewhere!
Thanks for update! Love to read what your reading!
You're very welcome. Hope you enjoy some of these books.
The Sand's book seems very important,something one has to read to recollect and think about ,especially now-thank you. I find that I can read memoirs and non-fiction books during longer period of time too,one has to think about (or google) and I need some time
I've read The Women in Cabin 10 this summer-translated,so it is always difficult to have an original impression
I've read Susie Steiner's books and liked them very much.
Miss Marple-like characters would be very welcomed,I agree
Before and after hollidays,I've read two books (actually I'm still reading The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner,the book about prison life and flashbacks "from the before"). The other one was Rachel Cusk Outline. Have you read them? Beside the authors names,I feel some links,although they are very different books-some ,not passivity or impersonality,but something similar…..
One of the books I was reading literally on the beach (light paperback-like weight,in grams,big letters…..) was Lilian Moriarty's Truly,Madly,Guilty. I didn't like The Husband's Secret at all,but did like Big Little Lies series (didn't read the book)
Truly…..I can see as a new hit series,it was maybe too lenghty,but interesting
Dottoressa
I haven't read either of the books by Rachel Kushner/Cusk — but I'm often struck by connections I find between two books chosen fairly randomly. So interesting
I read Truly, Madly, Guilty a while ago and I thought it was a perfect beach book — enough there to think about, intriguing tension, and ample humour as well. I felt the same way about Big Little Lies (haven't seen the TV series yet).
Hmmm, I haven't read any of the books you write about, but I put Ware on my list, and the Hare with Amber Eyes has been on my list a long time. I don't know if I put it in storage or brought it to my temporary digs. Well, I'll find out eventually.
I've got Phillipe Sands' book set to come to me from the local library once I return from an upcoming vacation. and I want to read the Susie Steiner books. The Mars room is now on my list, and I loved Cusk's Outline, although oddly I didn't really care for her earlier novels at all.
Actually, I haven't read much at all the last two weeks, all I've done is add books to lists so perhaps it is time to curl back up in my reading chair.
I'm not surprised you haven't been reading much lately, but it looks as though you've almost got your new (temporary) nest ready to accommodate your habit . . . and fall weather will be here before long — snuggling-with-a-book-time!