Betsy Mix Cowles—a champion of equality whose circle of acquaintances included Frederick Douglass; Abby Kelley; and William Lloyd Garrison—is a brilliant example of what an educated and independent woman can accomplish. A staunch defender of abolitionism; Cowles also took up the cause of women's rights and dedicated her life to the advocacy of women's access to education; equal rights; and independence in the pre–Civil War era. The life of this devoted social reformer illuminates the struggles and historical developments relating to abolitionism and the fledgling women's movement during one of the most contentious periods in American history.About the Lives of American Women series: Selected and edited by renowned women's historian Carol Berkin; these brief biographies are designed for use in undergraduate courses. Rather than a comprehensive approach; each biography focuses instead on a particular aspect of a woman's life that is emblematic of her time; or which made her a pivotal figure in the era. The emphasis is on a “good read;†featuring accessible writing and compelling narratives; without sacrificing sound scholarship and academic integrity. Primary sources at the end of each biography reveal the subject's perspective in her own words. Study questions and an annotated bibliography support the student reader.
#1347689 in Books Benjamin Jacobs 2001-01-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.01 x .68 x 6.03l; .90 #File Name: 0813190126248 pagesThe Dentist of Auschwitz A Memoir
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A story of unrelenting persecution -- and so well-writtenBy Mala BhargavaBy now I have read all but about five of the Holocaust memoirs on . I've read them in a sort of numb frenzy; sort of shocking myself into just short of feeling the experience. Many of the memoirs are expectedly similar because the experiences were similar; though each one s still individual enough to be meaningful. Through these memoirs; I feel I almost know the people who experienced Nazi persecution n World War II. You can actually contact some survivors who are happy to answer questions or just touch base with someone who's interested.Berek Jakubowicz's (now Benjamin Jacobs) story is one of unrelenting misery. But he held out through the typical journey of being thrown from one camp to another. His intelligence; likeability; and skills as a dentist helped tremendously to keep him alive. Reading about his experiences; I often find myself thinking enough already; leave them alone! But it doesn't look like the Germans let go of their obsessive persecution and killing until the very last second possible. It's so sad that so many of them just got away with what they did and even went on to live "normally" to a ripe old age of 90+. I once again saw; from reading this book; how the post Liberation struggle must have been the last straw for people who were exhausted and drained of mental and physical energy.This book spans an entire gamut of experiences and is interesting to read even after I've read so many memoirs.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Honest Portrayal Of Life In The Most Brutal Of CircumstancesBy Deepa ReddyEvery so often I have to immerse myself in the tragedy of this era. Reading personal memoirs of survivors and their struggles reminds me to never; ever forget the pain of the past.I just finished this book and could not stop thinking about Benjamin and his daily life. I was so in awe of this man; a man who used his education and his ever-present dental tools to help those that needed it and provide much needed extra rations for his family and fellow prisoners. Dr. Jacobs paints simple yet visually realistic paintings of his time under such extreme and degrading conditions.This is a must read for all and especially for those who choose; everyday; to remember the simple words - Never Again.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Poignant Holocaust memoirBy Z HayesBenjamin Jacobs has written a vivid and poignant account of his experiences as a young Jewish boy caught up in the horrors of the Holocaust. This Holocaust tale is not overly grim though it has its disturbing moments. Benjamin was a dental student who did not get a chance to complete his studies at the time the Nazis invaded Poland. He and his father were sent to work in a labor camp run by Poles and Nazis. Some of the Poles are shown to have a human side to them and not as monstrous as depicted in some other accounts. In Jacobs' account; some of the Poles are depicted as sharing a common hatred of the Nazis; such as the Polish supervisor who is bitter about his sister being sent off to work as a slave for Nazi Germany.Jacobs' account of the horrors he witnesses and experiences are balanced by some light-hearted accounts; such as his romance with a Polish Gentile which unfolds despite the horrors. In one funny account; Jacobs describes the lovers' futile attempts to kill the lice that have invaded Jacobs' body. This story is told with a comic element; yet it is also poignant as it conveys the impossibility of their circumstances and the horrors the Jewish prisoners had to endure.The dentistry tools Jacobs' possesses sees him through some difficult times; though these same tools also cause him to witness some truly horrible things. In spite of everything; Jacobs' story is one of hope and perseverance; of a young man's dreams and memories; and of the losses he suffered.
