Writing Against Infamy
Selected Letters of Harold Kirson, 1943-1945
Seiten
2026
Fordham University Press (Verlag)
978-1-5315-1400-6 (ISBN)
Fordham University Press (Verlag)
978-1-5315-1400-6 (ISBN)
- Noch nicht erschienen (ca. August 2026)
- Versandkostenfrei
- Auch auf Rechnung
- Artikel merken
A rare documentation of a Jewish American serviceman in the war.
Writing Against Infamy presents a personal account of the Second World War through the correspondence of Harold Kirson, a Jewish American soldier and ambulance driver in Patton’s Third Army. Drawn from an archive of more than 600 letters, the collection chronicles the rhythms of his wartime life: evacuating wounded soldiers, securing daily necessities, maintaining relationships, navigating Jewish identity and belonging, and grappling with the moral complexity of war and its aftermath. The letters trace his journey from the United States to the United Kingdom and across Europe, where he supported combat troops by transporting the wounded from clearing stations to evacuation hospitals. After V-E Day, as a part of the Army of Occupation, he continued public health work, moving soldiers, former prisoners of war, Holocaust survivors and displaced persons across occupied zones.
The narrative unfolds gradually, mirroring how war was lived—day by day. It spans the mundane and the extraordinary, engaging humor and levity, often revealing moments of grace amid grim circumstances. For Kirson, writing becomes a means to record observations, make sense of experience, and sustain perseverance. By 1945, as his thoughts turn toward difficult questions of retribution, responsibility, and the limits of compassion, the end of the war offers no clear resolution but only a drawn-out and uncertain transition. His final letters, marked by speculation, convey a measured hope of returning home.
Beautifully written and blending wit with thoughtful reflection, the letters are accompanied by an introduction and notes that provide personal and cultural context to enrich the reading experience.
Writing Against Infamy presents a personal account of the Second World War through the correspondence of Harold Kirson, a Jewish American soldier and ambulance driver in Patton’s Third Army. Drawn from an archive of more than 600 letters, the collection chronicles the rhythms of his wartime life: evacuating wounded soldiers, securing daily necessities, maintaining relationships, navigating Jewish identity and belonging, and grappling with the moral complexity of war and its aftermath. The letters trace his journey from the United States to the United Kingdom and across Europe, where he supported combat troops by transporting the wounded from clearing stations to evacuation hospitals. After V-E Day, as a part of the Army of Occupation, he continued public health work, moving soldiers, former prisoners of war, Holocaust survivors and displaced persons across occupied zones.
The narrative unfolds gradually, mirroring how war was lived—day by day. It spans the mundane and the extraordinary, engaging humor and levity, often revealing moments of grace amid grim circumstances. For Kirson, writing becomes a means to record observations, make sense of experience, and sustain perseverance. By 1945, as his thoughts turn toward difficult questions of retribution, responsibility, and the limits of compassion, the end of the war offers no clear resolution but only a drawn-out and uncertain transition. His final letters, marked by speculation, convey a measured hope of returning home.
Beautifully written and blending wit with thoughtful reflection, the letters are accompanied by an introduction and notes that provide personal and cultural context to enrich the reading experience.
Johanna Frank (Edited By) Johanna Frank is professor of English at the University of Windsor, Ontario.
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 4.8.2026 |
|---|---|
| Reihe/Serie | World War II: the Global, Human, and Ethical Dimension |
| Zusatzinfo | 13 b/w illustrations |
| Verlagsort | New York |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 152 x 229 mm |
| Themenwelt | Literatur ► Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte |
| Literatur ► Briefe / Tagebücher | |
| Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Geschichte / Politik | |
| Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► 1918 bis 1945 | |
| Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte | |
| ISBN-10 | 1-5315-1400-6 / 1531514006 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-5315-1400-6 / 9781531514006 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
Mehr entdecken
aus dem Bereich
aus dem Bereich
ein Psychologe erlebt das Konzentrationslager
Buch | Hardcover (2024)
Kösel (Verlag)
CHF 30,80
Bericht aus dem Land namens Auschwitz
Buch | Hardcover (2024)
S. Fischer (Verlag)
CHF 34,95
