"CORE OF MY HEART, MY COUNTRY" AUSTRALIA DAY

LOVE OF MY COUNTRY - AUSTRALIA DAY

AUSTRALIA

"CORE OF MY HEART, MY COUNTRY"

                                      " And freedom’s sons the banner bear,

                            No shackled slave can breathe the air,"

To-day is Australia Day! I thank God for bringing me to Conception and Birth in this remarkable Country.

Not the most beautiful country in the world, not the strongest country in the world, not the leading country in the world. You can have all that.

My Country is a place of real freedom, of real peace, of frank and trustworthy folk, whose friendship isn't feigned. An open, generally trusting people who are nevertheless not too easily fooled. They abhor pretension and if they have a fault it is a desire to ensure that no-one rises too high - it is called the "tall poppy syndrome" - tall poppies get cut down to size!

AUSTRALIANS GATHERED AT ANZAC COVE GALLIPOLI  -   LEST WE FORGET

Australians are a pragmatic people, no doubt a product of the sometimes harsh extremes of weather, and the lack of almost everything except land in early colonial days. As a result public discourse is not big on principles, but more on what will work. Our political system and legal system are born out of our English colonial origins. Our independence was sought and given, rather than fought for and won. We remain a constitutional monarchy, with the British Monarch as our Head of State, but our pragmatic nature makes the majority of Australians see that we are really and factually independent; and advocates of a Republic have been unable to gain traction. The system works, the pragmatists don't need to fix it.

AUSTRALIAN ICONS

Politically, we are fairly evenly divided between political Conservatives and a Labor based group. The latter have lost a fragile balance of power in the Federal sphere at present,and were rolled out of office at the  last  election. There is an underlying small "c" conservatism in the Australian psyche, which, combined with pragmatism, kills off such ideas as a Republic, identity cards, or anything that excites modern radicals.

One of the best summaries of Australia, the land, is contained in Dorothea Mackellar's 1904 poem "My Country”. It is a fine piece of work, addressed to many of the British citizens of Australia who, at the time it was written, would still speak of "home" and mean England! So it begins:

"The love of field and coppice,

Of green and shaded lanes,

Of ordered woods and gardens,

Is running in your veins.......................

I know, but cannot share it,

My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains............

Her beauty and her terror,

The wide brown land for me!

AYERS ROCK

An opal - hearted country,

A willful lavish land -

All you who have not loved her,

You will not understand,

Though Earth holds many splendors,

Wherever I may die,

I know to what brown country

My homing thoughts will fly!

AMEN to that!

Yet another lady, this time English - born Caroline Carleton, wrote in 1859 the Song of Australia which was set to music by the German Carl Linger. It won a competition sponsored by the South Australian Gawler Institute for a patriotic song. It also has things to say, which merit attention, despite some of the flourishes of its time. It begins:

"There is a land where summer skies

  Are gleaming with a thousand dyes,

  Blending in witching harmonies, in harmonies;

  And grassy knoll, and forest height,

  Are flushing in the rosy light,

  And all above in azure bright-

  Australia!

BOUNTEOUS CROP IN WAKE OF DROUGHT BREAKING RAIN

........

  On hill and plain the clust'ring vine

  Is gushing out with purple wine,

  And cups are quaffed to thee and thine-

  Australia!                

  .........

  There is a land, where floating free,

  From mountain top to girdling sea,

  A proud flag waves exultingly,

  And freedom’s sons the banner bear,

  No shackled slave can breathe the air,

   Fairest of Britain's daughters fair,

   Australia!

I love it!  - Australia, Yes - But the Song of Australia too! Oh, I know it's more than a little over the top! But it has the spirit of my country. And any lady who can write about "gushing out with purple wine and cups are quaffed to thee and thine" has got my vote!

There is another patriotic song by Father Maurice Reilly C.M. Which is more subtle and substantive, which I also love, and which I first heard in First Class at my Convent School in 1946:

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL HYMN

God bless our lovely morning land!

God keep her with enfolding hand

Close to His side.

While booms the distant battle's roar

From out some rude, barbaric shore.

In blessed peace forever more,

There to abide.

............

Land of the dawning! Lo! At last,

The shadows of the night are past;

Across the sea,

Is spreading far the purple light,

The lonely mountain peaks are bright,

And visions crowd upon the sight,

Of days to be.

"THE WARM OF HEART AND STOUT OF HAND"
CREW OF HMAS PERTH - LOST IN THE BATTLE OF SUNDA STRAIT
DEFENDING AUSTRALIA FROM THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN

The future is thine own, loved land,

The warm of heart, the stout of hand,

The noble mind,

Shall build a Nation truly great,

With Christ for King; where love not hate,

Shall be the charter of the State

To all mankind.

There is much more, all warm with faith in God and belief in Australia's promise.

PATRONISING  ENGLISH VIEW AT THE TIME OF FEDERATION !
THE AUSTRALIAN COMMENTS MIGHT HAVE SURPRISED THE CARTOONIST AND EDITOR

In fact, at the time of Federation there was a widespread confidence in Australia's unique character and mission to show the world a new way of true freedom and peace and justice for all. It was a heady idealism, which sadly seemed to be overwhelmed by the tragedy of the First World War, the Great Depression, and the crusade of the Second World War. It still survives in wisps of spirit which are caught here and there. But is largely lost to the national consciousness.

Let's not get too analytical - it is a day for Fair Dinkum CELEBRATION. With a very great deal to celebrate! We can save the “cerebration" for another day!

STRUGGLING OUT OF ADVERSITY WITH STYLE AND EXCELLENCE - THE 1930s

THE CHRYSLER BUILDING
NEW YORK CITY

It is true that THE GREAT DEPRESSION, which began in 1929, never really ended, rather, World War II began in 1939 and consumed the world economy , and almost everything else.

Nevertheless, struggling through the horrors of mass unemployment and crumbling economic activity, the Western World in particular steadily picked itself up and patched its spirit together - even if it could not find the right formula for restoring the economy to health and vigour.

We can see this recovery of spirit in the images of the time. At the head of this Post, we see the ever beautiful Chrysler Building completed in 1930 in New York City. It has become a symbol of that brilliantly resurgent spirit, even though it had been commenced in 1928. In 1993, my wife and I were staying at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York  City(trying to exorcise the memory of our 1986 visit when we had to stay in the City's second worst hotel The Aberdeen - another story) and we had a room looking out to The Chrysler Building - what a joy!

CHRYSLER BUILDING - EXULTANT DETAIL

The Art Deco style which was also born in the 1920s became the characteristic style of the 1930s. It was evident across the board, in architecture,transport, art and advertising and attire.One of the leading demonstrations of this, and one which also became iconic was in railway transport and it was The Twentieth Century Limited :

1930s ICONIC IMAGE

Like most streamlined Steam Locomotives, the streamlining was applied to an existing group of locomotives. The named train dated back to 1902 and was already well known, but the streamlining in 1938 brought about its iconic status.The design styling was done by Henry Dreyfuss.The New York Central Railroad gloried in the standing of its premier train. They maintained an extremely fast service covering the 960 miles between Chicago and New York at an average of the magic ( Mile a Minute) 60 mph! The train was handsome coming or going:

......or going......

A few years earlier in fact, the British had introduced an even faster train the Silver Jubilee of 1935 ,picking up on the Royal Silver Jubilee, running between Newcastle and London at 67.4 mph average over 270 miles   miles. The A4 Class Locomotives of the London and North Eastern Railway were designed and built as Streamliners under the masterly hand of Sir Nigel Gresley.

THE SILVER JUBILEE in 1936

But the recovery spirit was also notable at sea. In this element British design fell short of the leadership one might have expected.The Queen Mary completed in 1936  still came across to those in the Dominions beyond the Seas as the greatest ship in the World. But that was because the Imperial propaganda machine was so good. It is plain now, for everyone to see that the French ( with the Italians ,masters of design excellence) with the absolutely beautiful,stunningly elegant S.S. NORMANDIE had produced the 1930's and perhaps all time's finest ship:

S.S.NORMANDIE ENTERS NEW YORK HARBOUR
IN TRIUMPH AFTER WINNING THE COVETED  BLUE RIBAND
1935

NORMANDIE IN NEW YORK - WOWING THE LOCALS
AFTER WINNING THE BLUE RIBAND FOR THE
FASTEST ATLANTIC CROSSING 1935


But Normandie's excellence extended to the realm of art as well - nothing was too good for this great ship as the image below illustrates:

Design excellence sans frontieres

Sadly, S.S. NORMANDIE was destroyed by fire in New York Harbour during the War as she was being gutted for troop carrying. The fire was a complete accident as an oxy -acetylene torch touched a huge curtain. The fire spread quickly. In their zeal to put out the fire the U.S. authorities put so much water into the NORMANDIE that the great ship rolled over at her berth and sank alongside.

Automotive design move unevenly , but spectacularly  during the 1930s. Consider the following :

1931 STUTZ LE BARON SEDAN

The Stutz Le Baron of 1931 is not very far advanced from the cars of the late 1920s, but it makes a good benchmark for the beginning of the decade.Everything is there : Trunk Mud Guards, Running Boards, Head lights, Radiator Side opening Bonnet, Wire Wheels, Spare wheel on Mudguard.

1938 JAGUAR SS SEDAN

The 1938 Jaguar SS shows that in England not a great deal had changed, except that , true to its name, the Jaguar has adopted a very feline stance , and seems poised to pounce , but all the elements are preserved save the Spare wheel on the Mudguard.

"In the East the sun climbs slow, How slowly,

But Westward look! The land is bright!"

Robert Frost

And westward , across the Atlantic how true it was :

1938 BUICK WITH STYLE

The Trunk is now what we call the Boot, the Mudguards are tending to unity with the body, if not always completely there yet , the Headlamps survive but likewise, we can see their fate is fast approaching, the running boards are merely vestigial , but the side opening Bonnet appears safe as yet. Nevertheless, the whole ensemble is something altogether different 

from the Stutz and the Jaguar which are clearly  old-fashioned.Modern times are here! Depression or not!

Back East in Germany the Maybach suggests people have been concentrating on other things:

1938 Maybach D58 ZEPPELIN Sedan

The 1938 Maybach Zeppelin from Germany is an almost complete design throw back to 1931, the only concession to modern times lies in the flow of the Mudguards, the Spare wheel Metal covers and the disc wheels, though there is a boot. Minds were obviously on other things.

But, in Merrie England, where the Government was still preparing its defence plans on the basis that there would be no War for 5 years(!!), excitement was the order of the day when Vauxhall introduced the thrill a minute 1938 Ten Four!

 What can we say! Is this not Modern ! Well, look : a Boot, vestigial Running Boards,Rear Mudguards fairing into the Body, drilled Disc Wheels and, well, that's your lot for 1938 ( and more than a decade to come though no-one could know!):

In the sky a miracle of modernity created a true revolution. No more, bi-plane, no more string and wire, there arrived on the scene the Douglas DC 3 of 1935:

It was a marvel of modern design and excellence in performance and reliability. Hundreds went into service and transformed civil Aviation. No-one knew, but they were witnessing the birth of the aerial workhorse of the coming World War when thousands of these planes would be around the globe carrying troops, paratroopers, equipment, ammunition and supplies generally. They were to perform remarkable feats of difficult service and endurance. They would be known, in the military version as the Dakota. And their familiar engine drone was always re-assuring except to our enemies in their homelands.They were the Aerial success story of the 1930s , and for that matter of the 1940's.

The human spirit was sorely tried by the Great Depression, but through it all at some levels, hope shone through. It found expression in many ways as we have seen and produced a great deal of excellence. It was soon to be tried even more and further by World War II, which was to be transformative in many ways, not all for the good.But much that came out of that conflict better, had its origins in the better elements of the 1930s struggle against adversity.

AN IDOL BY THE RIVER - FOREVER 1972

My wife and I recently had occasion to visit the University of Western Sydney campus at Rydalmere on the banks of the Parramatta River. I would recommend such a visit to anyone . It is a truly beautiful historic site full of interest , and it has been very tastefully restored to accommodate the University.

THE CROWN EVEN ON THE WALL VENTILATION
IN THIS BUILDING OF 1813

The occasion of the visit was the open day for the historic  Female Orphan School. Why precisely the "Female" title is chosen I am not sure because  at the entry it is clear that it was "Female " on one side and "Male" on the opposite side. I guess males are not PC .

THE RUINOUS PRIME MINISTER GOUGH WHITLAM
MINDLESSLY LIONISED STILL BY THE LEFT

But the occasion proved to be more revealing in regard to more recent history. As we entered the foyer to begin the tour, I noted a collection of political memorabilia for sale. All of it related to the Australian Labor Party and the 1972 Federal Election. We all thought this was more than a little bizarre ( "Its Time!" Buttons and all). However as the tour of the buildings continued, the character of things degenerated until we reached the Board of Trustees of the University of Western Sydney Board Room. Here, there hung on the wall a framed portrait of Gough Whitlam the victor in that 1972 Election and thus Prime Minister until he was dismissed from office in 1975,  and his Government was tumbled out of office at the Federal Election of that year in a MASSIVE LANDSLIDE.

The portrait, as you will see, is titled  " BIG DADDY" and overarched by a neon sign proclaiming "SALVATION"!!!

Just how the Board of Trustees of a Federally -funded University can justify this demented adulation for a defeated Prime Minister is beyond me.  Perhaps in North Korea, Haiti or the former German "Democratic" Republic it might be predictable - but here???

It turns out that the University houses the "Whitlam Institute"this exists to keep the flame alive it seems, for those dwindling few Lefties who remember when they thought "Its Time". It was founded in 2000 as " an incorporated entity within the University". It claims to be guided " by the three great aims that drove the Whitlam Program of 1972. They are : 

to promote equality

to involve the people of Australia in the decision-making           processes of our land, and

to liberate the talents and uplift the horizons of the Australian people"

All lovely Leftie feel good stuff. Unfortunately for Mr.Whitlam and Co. the people of Australia got very much involved "in the decision-making   processes of our land" at the 1975 Federal Election and catapulted him and his Party into oblivion. Enough was enough.

The first "shrine".

But here at Rydalmere on Parramatta it is forever 1972. 

The Male and Female Orphanage of 1813 lads on one side, lasses on the other.

The story of the Orphanage as told by the guides is however quite interesting. It was commenced in 1813 and opened in 1818. The penal Colony of Botany Bay - later moved to Port Jackson (now Sydney Harbour) -  was a wild and woolly place, awash with rum, and not really a place to be bringing up children. The "Orphanage" certainly had its share of orphans, but for parents concerned about the health and welfare of their children , the institution "in the country" on the banks of the Parramatta River  was a Godsend. Many secured a place for their children at the Orphanage. Indeed there is even record of people in India seeking a place for their children there . In that connection it should be remembered that Governor Macquarie who built the Orphanage had come from a posting in India.

Only 25 years after the arrival of the First Fleet and the foundation of the Colony, it was an impressive achievement to erect this important three storey building. Governor Macquarie had arrived in the Colony on 1st January, 1810 . His building projects were many, but this only three years into his term of office which was to last until 1821, showed remarkable vision. Mention the word "orphanage" and the year 1813, and one would naturally conjure up some horrible images. But here we are surprised to find on walls stripped back to their original state, extensive stencilled decoration and friezes which reveal the intention to create a very civilised environment. 

The original wall decoration including friezes can be seen on these purposefully exposed sections

The workmanship was not of the highest order in every area.There is evidence of early repair work on a subsiding wall . But overall the impression created is quite pleasing . Detail elements imported from the "home country" include the decorative ventilation covers (the Crown of course) and the metal window awnings.

Winston was familiar with the Whitlam type.

The grounds are now well laid out and we found the Jacaranda trees in glorious flower - I envy the students of the University the surroundings they enjoy, which are complemented by many modern facilities. If only they can avoid the myth making of the Whitlam Institute.  

"HEART OF DARKNESS" RACISM AND REACTION

ONE OF THE MANY EDITIONS OF THE CLASSIC NOVEL

 An enduring classic of English literature is the novella "Heart Of Darkness" first published in serial form in 1899 in "Blackwood's Magazine" and then as a book in 1902. But the spotlight shone on it with greater intensity in February, 1975 when the then 45 years old Nigerian Author Chinua Achebe made it the subject of an important public lecture. Achebe was already renowned for his novels "THINGS FALL APART"  (1958), "NO LONGER AT EASE" (1960) and ARROW OF GOD" (1964). At the administrative and communications level, he had been intensely active in the Biafran War (1967 -1970), in support of the effort to create Biafra out of the Igbo region of Nigeria.

CHINUA ACHEBE THE MOST RENOWNED AFRICAN AUTHOR

The lecture Achebe had been invited to give, was the prestigious Chancellor's Lecture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst on 18th February,1975, and it was later published in the Massachusetts Review in Vol. 18 No. 4 in the Winter of 1977. It was published in book form in 1983. Achebe gave the Lecture the title " An Image of Africa : Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness." That very title signalled Achebe's view of Conrad's attitudes.


Anyone who has read Achebe's works is accustomed to his generous and measured style of writing , even when he is making harsh criticisms through the mouths of his characters. It comes as a something of a shock then, to encounter the vigour of his language in his assault on Conrad's work. But vigorous he is, and he does not simply make his targets the easy and obvious marks, but is carefully analytic in his approach. The result is to cause one to reassess one's view of "Heart of Darkness" entirely. 

Obviously the Western reader will come to the task of assessing the work from a different direction to that of this African intellectual and active patriot. When their minds have met, the result is bound to be interesting

CHINUA ACHEBE A MOST IMPRESSIVE AUTHOR

Heart of Darkness

Conrad's novella is a fascinating creation.  There is about it, from its very beginning, an air of the surreal, a group of friends on a sailing vessel at the mouth of the Thames waiting for the turn of the tide as evening falls, listening to Conrad's character Marlowe recount his experiences on the great Congo River in Africa. Marlowe touches reflectively on the ancient history of the Thames, and the people unknown who knew it then.

He begins to recount how he came to take a position as Captain of a small steam boat making its way up the Congo in an effort to reach the mysterious and legendary representative of a Belgian trading company.
But that reality is subordinated in the text , to an almost dream-like contemplation of the mystery of the great river and the jungle surrounding it, and the native people that populate the territory. The jungle, the river and the people , are presented as deeply mysterious, unknowable and menacing. The only black people who are known to Marlowe are a small group of cannibal crew members, and a solitary steersman who becomes important for his ability, but we never learn his name. There is an air of weird unreality about the whole setting. The only value that the place or the people have is their part in creating the air of mystery and menace Marlowe is experiencing. The climax of the tale is itself suitably weird, as is Marlowe's return to the Company's  Head Office to report the results of his mission. 

Reading the novella it is surprising to encounter routine use of the word "nigger" . I am 75 ,and even in far distant Australia it was never acceptable in my lifetime. Nevertheless I can accept that it might have been in common use in some stratas of English society in  1899.Or at least sufficiently so, for Conrad to put it in Marlowe's mouth. He also makes Marlowe comment critically about the Belgian company's treatment of the native people , but this is done in an oblique fashion and not with any systematic sense of moral outrage. But, by and large, river, jungle and the black people of the Congo are merely part of the surreal environment that menaces Marlowe. The book is, as it was no doubt intended to be, disturbing - leaving one with an uncomfortable sense of distaste for the experience it has presented. But one never doubts that it is a remarkable piece of work.

JOSEPH CONRAD (1857  -1924)

Joseph Conrad was born in 1857 in Imperial Russia in the Kiev region. He was Polish by birth, but was granted British Citizenship in 1886. He was a highly successful novelist writing at the height of British Imperialism. He is generally  regarded as having been very influential on many other authors with his modernist style and pre-occupation with human psychology in his characters.


Chinua Achebe 's Assessment

Achebe fully realised that he was dealing with a work and an Author of great reputation. The work was a standard classic in American academic circles and in his immediate audience there would be many academics specialising in English literature.

But , in considering "Heart of Darkness" he had come to the realisation that , as in so much literature involving Africa, the land and her many peoples, were given no recognition for their reality and inherent dignity , characteristics and achievements. They became mere wallpaper for Western performers and their preoccupations and intentions.

But , a man of great literary achievements himself, and an active participant in the inspired , yet ultimately tragic Biafran War he knew better than most the great reality of Africa : places, peoples and aspirations. These had and have the right to be treated with respect, consideration and recognition of their inherent dignity and merit.  What was it  that drove Conrad to refuse all of these and proceed as he did? One word summed it up : Racism.

Achebe carefully and thoroughly examined Conrad's work, his past works and was satisfied that yes, that was Conrad's real heart of darkness.

Needless to say, the occasion of the Lecture itself - immediately upon its conclusion - found Achebe  surrounded by outraged academic critics and some who actually approved of his view, others still were to come to him later and acknowledge conversion to his point of view. In time Achebe's view came to be accepted as correct. But again , in time - such is the nature of academic opinion - the revisionists came forward and at least put a contrary view once again.

What Are We to Believe?

What a cheeky question! There is only one thing to do : Read "Heart of Darkness" - the novella is easy to read in a short period. Then read the Lecture ! Both are continually available. Then judge for yourself.

For my money, the question hinges upon how far we are prepared to distance Conrad's creation from his personal views at one level. Then we need to consider the structure he has chosen to give the novella - and here is where , I believe it is hard to avoid Achebe's conclusion.

The very fact that Conrad's creation is not purposefully vicious in the nature of its racism does not avoid the fact that it is, that he is, racist. For he chooses to refuse the African peoples identity, presents them solely as menacing phantoms,menacing cannibals or a competent, but somehow ridiculous steersman whose life is nothing. He denies them their human dignity, motivation and any aspirations. And the whole of Africa becomes merely a stage for his European real people to act out their intentions.This attitude was wholly unsurprising in its time . Indeed it would have been regarded as simply the natural order of things.

This is not the view I had of the book until I read Achebe's Lecture and I resisted his presentation at first. I had been inclined to accept Conrad's scheme for the novella as  merely a legitimate choice of presentation.  But I have come to see that it was NOT a legitmate choice and it was reflective of a very deep seated and distasteful attitude in Joseph Conrad.

Altogether a very interesting exercise.   

JEWS, ITALIANS,BOOKS AND A SPARROW

Some weeks back my good friend on FB Stephen Sparrow from Christchurch New Zealand, recommended to me "A Thread of Grace" by Mary Doria Russell. I was able to secure it via Audiobook from Audible.Com and to have it accompany me on my daily Rehab. Walk for some days.  I am very grateful to Stephen for the recommendation, because the book itself is a very worthwhile, well-researched fictionalised account of real events. 

But that is not the only reason I found it so satisfying. In fact it cross- referenced loosely with another book (actually two books) which were given to me in Audiobook format by my Brother -in - Law. The books are "The Winds of War " and "War and Remembrance" both by Herman Wouk (best known perhaps for writing "The Caine Mutiny" made into a fine film starring Humphrey Bogart, Fred MacMurray and Van Johnson). 

To further enhance the experience, it also cross-referenced well with the grand novel "The Red Horse" by Eugenio Corti published some years back by Ignatius Press and which I read in hard copy back in the day.

" A Thread of Grace" is the beautifully told story of several Jews who find themselves moved, under the threat of Nazi persecution, to escape firstly to France, then to Italy and the tale unfolds as various Italian Catholic families and groups including Dioceses, Convents and Parish Priests and Partisan groups, spirit them along and hide them in mountain valleys, in convents, in caves - wherever they can be made safe from the Fascist Regime at first and later from the invading , and later retreating Nazis. The fact that the author's research has been so thorough, enables her to base all the events on actual happenings in that time of great struggle. I would recommend this book without reservation. It is beautifully written and the story sensitively told without mere sentimentality. The author is a self-proclaimed convert to Judaism. ( I have never been convinced of the validity of such a process - how can one elect to become a member of a racial group of "Chosen People"?). 

"The Winds of War " and "War and Remembrance" are   superficially very American  - the story of an American Naval Family and their lives in the lead up to and during World War II. But the Jewish Author  Herman Wouk has a lot more in mind as he sets about  unfolding his truly ambitious epic tale. For the two novels allow him a very broad canvas upon which he displays several things simultaneously. Yes, there is the story of the American Naval family, whose patriarch "Pug" Henry rises to Admiral status via a brilliant career and significant dealings with world leaders.  But we pretty soon begin to realise that the Henry family are really the backdrop to Wouk's main effort to give his view of World War II, and an alternative view of it as well, via a fictitious German General's Commentaries.  And in the very foreground is the plight of the Jews in Europe in the lead up to, and during the War. At the same time Wouk , through his characters makes devastating assessments of world leaders, including Franklin D.Roosevelt and Winston Churchill and the French military and political leadership of the time. Much of his analysis is only possible because of the perspectives that he chooses, and is not necessarily objectively correct.  But there is no doubting the brilliance of his work. In following the lives of Natalie Jastrow who marries into the Henry family, and her wealthy author Father who lives in Italy, and her efforts to escape Italy to re-join her husband, we see reflections of the same struggles so well told in "Thread of Grace" in a more restricted geographical area. I commend both of Wouk's novels to any reader for the quality of conception, writing and research. Much of what was involved, I  was familiar with, in military and naval history, as well as political history. In these areas he is really solid. As for the Jewish angle - he is much more obvious than Russell in "Thread of Grace" , but it is not suffocating.

I took these two photographs outside the Palazzo Communale facing onto Piazza Maggiore in the heart of Bologna in 2009.  Bologna has been a centre of Italian Left politics for decades. The photographs show some of the fallen Partisans.   The lower photo gives some statistics Partisan combatants  14,425 (2212 women), Partisans fallen 2,059, Partisans wounded 945, Patriots Arrested 6,543, Patriots executed as reprisals 2,350 Patriots Died in Nazi Prison Camps 829, Recognition of Military Valour 22 Gold Medals, 40 Silver Medals. (N.B. The relatively small number of wounded compared to the number of Fallen is testimony to the ferocity of the fighting.  I do not believe it could be taken for granted that all of the fallen were victims of the Nazis, but some victims of other Partisan groups of different political persuasion

"The Red Horse" by Eugenio Corti is a story of heroic proportions It is years since I read it, but the above novels refreshed my memories in a  number of ways. In this case, the novel gains its authentic character because the author was in fact one of the principal characters in real life. Needless to say the particular character is a very attractive personality as we read along . He is very active politically and when he is called-up, his military service takes him deep into Russia where events of the blackest horror take place. The book is extremely well written, characters are finely drawn and the tale is thoroughly engrossing. Along the way it recounts the complex stories of the Italian Partisan groups. It is a complicated situation. Many but not nearly all, were Communist , and the various groups were just as adept at fighting each other, as they were  fighting the Germans. The bitterness of this internicine strife was truly terrible and led to vicious post war vengeance being carried out. The book also brings out the peculiar character of Italian Communism which was a much less ruthless strain than was to be found in Northern Europe. Much of the responsibility for this lay with the leadership of the Party and the experience of Palmiro Togliatti  Leader of the Italian Communist Party from 1927until his death in 1964. Togliatti, like so many other Communist sympathisers went to Russia before the war to get close to the authentic Communist spirit. He got a little too close for his comfort and, when the Revolution started consuming its own children, he found himself on one of the extermination lists and quickly did a runner back home to mother Italia! From then on, he talked the talk , but he and his followers were always careful where and how they walked.The result was a form of Communism that was big on rhetoric but not so big on ruthlessness. "The Red Horse" is another novel of heroic proportions, but the author never loses control and the whole is finely crafted, and reveals many things not known at all in the West generally, including the terrible fate of the huge numbers of Italians who fought in Russia during the War.  The Jews do not figure largely in this novel for it is telling another story, but , in its extensive coverage of the Partisans it is even more revealing than Russell's book. Again, this is a book well worth reading, to complete one's understanding of wartime and post War Italy.

To sum it all up, my thanks to Stephen Sparrow for introducing me to " A Thread of Grace" for its own value, and also inadvertently causing me to complete and deepen my knowledge of the Italian experience of World War II .