Immediately after the Second World War; the victorious Allies authorized and helped to carry out the forced relocation of German speakers from their homes across central and southern Europe to Germany. The numbers were almost unimaginable—between 12;000;000 and 14;000;000 civilians; most of them women and children—and the losses horrifying—at least 500;000 people; and perhaps many more; died while detained in former concentration camps; while locked in trains en route; or after arriving in Germany exhausted; malnourished; and homeless. This book is the first in any language to tell the full story of this immense man-made catastrophe. Based mainly on archival records of the countries that carried out the forced migrations and of the international humanitarian organizations that tried but failed to prevent the disastrous results; Orderly and Humane: The Expulsion of the Germans after the Second World War is an authoritative and objective account. It examines an aspect of European history that few have wished to confront; exploring how the expulsions were conceived; planned; and executed and how their legacy reverberates throughout central Europe today. The book is an important study of the largest recorded episode of what we now call "ethnic cleansing;" and it may also be the most significant untold story of the Second World War.
#233916 in Books Yale University Press 2012-12-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 12.80 x 1.42 x 10.31l; 5.72 #File Name: 0300187335352 pages
Review
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful. "A powerful layer of meaning inflected by the Civil War"By Michael J. EttnerIf you decide to buy THE CIVIL WAR AND AMERICAN ART as a gift for some lucky person; be prepared to receive effusive thanks for a thoughtful and beautiful gift. If you are thinking of it as a gift to yourself; that too will bring long-lasting rewards. The book is of such quality it should appeal beyond the camps of Civil War buffs and lovers of American Art.What impresses most is how successfully all elements of the book converge.First and foremost is the text. Eleanor Jones Harvey's thesis is a simple one: "The Civil War had a profound and lasting impact on American Art; as it did on American culture. Both genre painting and landscape painting were fundamentally altered by the war and its aftermath." As well; she demonstrates how photography--the third of her areas of interest--was newly empowered as an art form.Harvey's writing occupies pages 1 through 241 of this large book. Each generous page measures 12 1/2 by 9 15/16 inches; allowing double-column formatting of the text. The prose is wonderfully clear; a pleasure to dip into; blessedly free of academic jargon and devoid of esoteric pleading. Harvey conveys a mountain of essential facts and observations without halting the forward momentum of her narrative and argument. This is no mean feat. She uncovers layers of meaning within 77 paintings and photographs of the era. Among the works closely analyzed are thirteen Civil War related paintings by Winslow Homer; an artist who will grow larger in your estimation thanks to the findings of Harvey's eye and mind.Additional documentation includes a section of Notes (32 pages); a Bibliography of over 300 sources and references (20 pages); a Catalog listing the 77 works featured in the Exhibition currently on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington; DC; through April; 2013 (the show will travel to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC; May-September; 2013); and a list of the 123 Figure Illustrations found throughout this well designed book. A helpful Index rounds out the volume. Overall the illustrations of works of art are of fine quality; yet; unavoidably; they are imperfect substitutes for the originals. The reproductions of the paintings cannot convey the overwhelming beauty of the luminous landscapes of Frederick Church; Albert Bierstadt and Sanford Gifford. The genre paintings; even when reproduced in full-page spreads; cannot reveal all the small but important details the artist included. Missing too is the emotional pull of actual vintage albumin prints on the walls of the exhibition. All of which is to say something obvious: If you can; please try to get yourself to one of the two museum venues -- there to enjoy a complete experience.THE CIVIL WAR AND AMERICAN ART is co-published by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Yale University Press. It is printed and bound by Artegrafica in Verona; Italy. If you want a sense of the superb production values applied to the making of the book; please see the photographs I've uploaded to the "Customer Images" section found in the upper left corner of this webpage.Note: Only the hardcover is available for purchase here on . A softcover version; identical in every way to the hardcover except for the binding; is available at the bookstores at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and also from each museum's online bookstores (Google: SAAM Bookstore or MetMuseum store) at a $45.00 list price. That's more than 's hardcover price; with a museum membership discount; it's about the same.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. The chapter titled "The Human Face of War" tells it all.By With Brush in HandThis beautiful book is for artists; Civil War buffs and historians. The photography is outstanding. The paintings by Homer; Church; Gifford; Chapman; I could go on and on; bring a much deeper meaning than photos could ever do. This book is filled with human emotion and been compiled brilliantly by Eleanor Jones Harvey. I highly; highly recommend this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fine Tribute to the Civil WarBy Military WarriorThis volume is a fine commemoration of the Civil War's 150th anniversary. The art of the war is depicted in fine quality illustrations with descriptive text written by experts in the field. I particularly enjoyed the revealing chapter on the role of Civil War photography. The Smithsonian's stellar collection of art from the Civil War is lavishing reproduced. This is really a top quality book of impressive coffee table size. I find myself going back to it repeatedly. I highly recommend this fine illustrated volume for all who are interested in the Civil War.
