Author: Joanna Ziarkowska
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1443864528
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
Retold Stories, Untold Histories concentrates on how challenging questions concerning the nature of historical representation, the formation of national/ethnic identities, and creative agendas are addressed in the diverse and inspiring writings of Maxine Hong Kingston and Leslie Marmon Silko. The rationale behind juxtaposing two writers coming from diverse cultural contexts originates in the fact that both Kingston and Silko share the experience of historical and cultural marginalization and, more importantly, devise similar methods of rendering it in creative writing. Writing from the perspective of two distinct marginalized groups, Kingston and Silko share the view that the official version of national history may be seen as a narrative of misrepresentation and the exclusion of people who either greatly contributed to the building of the country or occupied the territory of the present United States long before its creation. In their texts, both writers engage in a polemic against a history that, using its legitimizing power as a scientific discipline, produces and perpetuates stereotypical images of Chinese and Native Americans, and, more importantly, eliminates the two groups from the process of constructing the national narratives of origins that monitor and control the borders of what constitutes American identity. Despite apparent differences in cultural and historical contexts, Kingston and Silko share an enthusiasm for employing unconventional tools and sources for offering creative reconstructions of a past which had been silenced or repressed.
Retold Stories, Untold Histories
Author: Joanna Ziarkowska
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1443864528
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
Retold Stories, Untold Histories concentrates on how challenging questions concerning the nature of historical representation, the formation of national/ethnic identities, and creative agendas are addressed in the diverse and inspiring writings of Maxine Hong Kingston and Leslie Marmon Silko. The rationale behind juxtaposing two writers coming from diverse cultural contexts originates in the fact that both Kingston and Silko share the experience of historical and cultural marginalization and, more importantly, devise similar methods of rendering it in creative writing. Writing from the perspective of two distinct marginalized groups, Kingston and Silko share the view that the official version of national history may be seen as a narrative of misrepresentation and the exclusion of people who either greatly contributed to the building of the country or occupied the territory of the present United States long before its creation. In their texts, both writers engage in a polemic against a history that, using its legitimizing power as a scientific discipline, produces and perpetuates stereotypical images of Chinese and Native Americans, and, more importantly, eliminates the two groups from the process of constructing the national narratives of origins that monitor and control the borders of what constitutes American identity. Despite apparent differences in cultural and historical contexts, Kingston and Silko share an enthusiasm for employing unconventional tools and sources for offering creative reconstructions of a past which had been silenced or repressed.
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1443864528
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
Retold Stories, Untold Histories concentrates on how challenging questions concerning the nature of historical representation, the formation of national/ethnic identities, and creative agendas are addressed in the diverse and inspiring writings of Maxine Hong Kingston and Leslie Marmon Silko. The rationale behind juxtaposing two writers coming from diverse cultural contexts originates in the fact that both Kingston and Silko share the experience of historical and cultural marginalization and, more importantly, devise similar methods of rendering it in creative writing. Writing from the perspective of two distinct marginalized groups, Kingston and Silko share the view that the official version of national history may be seen as a narrative of misrepresentation and the exclusion of people who either greatly contributed to the building of the country or occupied the territory of the present United States long before its creation. In their texts, both writers engage in a polemic against a history that, using its legitimizing power as a scientific discipline, produces and perpetuates stereotypical images of Chinese and Native Americans, and, more importantly, eliminates the two groups from the process of constructing the national narratives of origins that monitor and control the borders of what constitutes American identity. Despite apparent differences in cultural and historical contexts, Kingston and Silko share an enthusiasm for employing unconventional tools and sources for offering creative reconstructions of a past which had been silenced or repressed.
History and Hope in American Literature
Author: Benjamin Railton
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442276371
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 175
Book Description
Throughout history, creative writers have often tackled topical subjects as a means to engage and influence public discourse. American authors—those born in the States and those who became naturalized citizens—have consistently found ways to be critical of the more painful pieces of the country’s past yet have done so with the patriotic purpose of strengthening the nation’s community and future. In History and Hope in American Literature: Models of Critical Patriotism, Ben Railton argues that it is only through an in-depth engagement with history—especially its darkest and most agonizing elements—that one can come to a genuine form of patriotism that employs constructive criticism as a tool for civic engagement. The author argues that it is through such critical patriotism that one can imagine and move toward a hopeful, shared future for all Americans. Railton highlights twelve works of American literature that focus on troubling periods in American history, including John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath,David Bradley’s The Chaneysville Incident, Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine, Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and Dave Eggers’s What Is the What. From African and Native American histories to the Depression and the AIDS epidemic, Caribbean and Rwandan refugees and immigrants to global climate change, these works help readers confront, understand, and transcend the most sorrowful histories and issues. In so doing, the authors of these books offer hard-won hope that can help point people in the direction of a more perfect union. History and Hope in American Literature will be of interest to students and practitioners of American literature and history.
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442276371
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 175
Book Description
Throughout history, creative writers have often tackled topical subjects as a means to engage and influence public discourse. American authors—those born in the States and those who became naturalized citizens—have consistently found ways to be critical of the more painful pieces of the country’s past yet have done so with the patriotic purpose of strengthening the nation’s community and future. In History and Hope in American Literature: Models of Critical Patriotism, Ben Railton argues that it is only through an in-depth engagement with history—especially its darkest and most agonizing elements—that one can come to a genuine form of patriotism that employs constructive criticism as a tool for civic engagement. The author argues that it is through such critical patriotism that one can imagine and move toward a hopeful, shared future for all Americans. Railton highlights twelve works of American literature that focus on troubling periods in American history, including John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath,David Bradley’s The Chaneysville Incident, Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine, Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and Dave Eggers’s What Is the What. From African and Native American histories to the Depression and the AIDS epidemic, Caribbean and Rwandan refugees and immigrants to global climate change, these works help readers confront, understand, and transcend the most sorrowful histories and issues. In so doing, the authors of these books offer hard-won hope that can help point people in the direction of a more perfect union. History and Hope in American Literature will be of interest to students and practitioners of American literature and history.
Indigenous Bodies, Cells, and Genes
Author: Joanna Ziarkowska
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000194116
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 377
Book Description
This book explores Native American literary responses to biomedical discourses and biomedicalization processes as they circulate in social and cultural contexts. Native American communities resist reductivism of biomedicine that excludes Indigenous (and non-Western) epistemologies and instead draw attention to how illness, healing, treatment, and genetic research are socially constructed and dependent on inherently racialist thinking. This volume highlights how interventions into the hegemony of biomedicine are vigorously addressed in Native American literature. The book covers tuberculosis and diabetes epidemics, the emergence of Native American DNA, discoveries in biotechnology, and the problematics of a biomedical model of psychiatry. The book analyzes work by Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie, LeAnne Howe, Linda Hogan, Heid E. Erdrich, Elissa Washuta and Frances Washburn. The book will appeal to scholars of Native American and Indigenous Studies, as well as to others with an interest in literature and medicine.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000194116
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 377
Book Description
This book explores Native American literary responses to biomedical discourses and biomedicalization processes as they circulate in social and cultural contexts. Native American communities resist reductivism of biomedicine that excludes Indigenous (and non-Western) epistemologies and instead draw attention to how illness, healing, treatment, and genetic research are socially constructed and dependent on inherently racialist thinking. This volume highlights how interventions into the hegemony of biomedicine are vigorously addressed in Native American literature. The book covers tuberculosis and diabetes epidemics, the emergence of Native American DNA, discoveries in biotechnology, and the problematics of a biomedical model of psychiatry. The book analyzes work by Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie, LeAnne Howe, Linda Hogan, Heid E. Erdrich, Elissa Washuta and Frances Washburn. The book will appeal to scholars of Native American and Indigenous Studies, as well as to others with an interest in literature and medicine.
Marvel Comics
Author: Sean Howe
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062314696
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 569
Book Description
The defining, behind-the-scenes chronicle of one of the most extraordinary, beloved, and dominant pop cultural entities in America’s history -- Marvel Comics – and the outsized personalities who made Marvel including Martin Goodman, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby. “Sean Howe’s history of Marvel makes a compulsively readable, riotous and heartbreaking version of my favorite story, that of how a bunch of weirdoes changed the world…That it’s all true is just frosting on the cake.” —Jonathan Lethem For the first time, Marvel Comics tells the stories of the men who made Marvel: Martin Goodman, the self-made publisher who forayed into comics after a get-rich-quick tip in 1939, Stan Lee, the energetic editor who would shepherd the company through thick and thin for decades and Jack Kirby, the WWII veteran who would co-create Captain America in 1940 and, twenty years later, developed with Lee the bulk of the company’s marquee characters in a three-year frenzy. Incorporating more than one hundred original interviews with those who worked behind the scenes at Marvel over a seventy-year-span, Marvel Comics packs anecdotes and analysis into a gripping narrative of how a small group of people on the cusp of failure created one of the most enduring pop cultural forces in contemporary America.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062314696
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 569
Book Description
The defining, behind-the-scenes chronicle of one of the most extraordinary, beloved, and dominant pop cultural entities in America’s history -- Marvel Comics – and the outsized personalities who made Marvel including Martin Goodman, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby. “Sean Howe’s history of Marvel makes a compulsively readable, riotous and heartbreaking version of my favorite story, that of how a bunch of weirdoes changed the world…That it’s all true is just frosting on the cake.” —Jonathan Lethem For the first time, Marvel Comics tells the stories of the men who made Marvel: Martin Goodman, the self-made publisher who forayed into comics after a get-rich-quick tip in 1939, Stan Lee, the energetic editor who would shepherd the company through thick and thin for decades and Jack Kirby, the WWII veteran who would co-create Captain America in 1940 and, twenty years later, developed with Lee the bulk of the company’s marquee characters in a three-year frenzy. Incorporating more than one hundred original interviews with those who worked behind the scenes at Marvel over a seventy-year-span, Marvel Comics packs anecdotes and analysis into a gripping narrative of how a small group of people on the cusp of failure created one of the most enduring pop cultural forces in contemporary America.
KGB: Untold History of Soviet's Intelligence & Secret Force
Author: N. Chokkan
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN: 935562557X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
For much of the 20th century, the Soviet Union was veiled behind an Iron Curtain of secrecy and oppression orchestrated by the Communist party and intelligence services like the KGB. While the public knew of the KGB as a spy agency abroad, few glimpsed its extensive surveillance and suppression of dissent within Soviet borders. This book documents accounts of KGB assassination teams, infiltration operations, staged provocations, planted propaganda, and the capture of double agents abroad. But it also uncovers widespread interference in culture, media, religion, and daily life behind the Soviet border. The aim is not just to recount historical events but to offer an inside story that goes beyond the superficial understanding of covert operations. It is an exploration of the motivations, the betrayals, and the sacrifices made by those who operated in the shadows, shaping the course of history with every classified mission.
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN: 935562557X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
For much of the 20th century, the Soviet Union was veiled behind an Iron Curtain of secrecy and oppression orchestrated by the Communist party and intelligence services like the KGB. While the public knew of the KGB as a spy agency abroad, few glimpsed its extensive surveillance and suppression of dissent within Soviet borders. This book documents accounts of KGB assassination teams, infiltration operations, staged provocations, planted propaganda, and the capture of double agents abroad. But it also uncovers widespread interference in culture, media, religion, and daily life behind the Soviet border. The aim is not just to recount historical events but to offer an inside story that goes beyond the superficial understanding of covert operations. It is an exploration of the motivations, the betrayals, and the sacrifices made by those who operated in the shadows, shaping the course of history with every classified mission.
The Untold History of the Celts
Author: Martin J. Dougherty
Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1502619008
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 226
Book Description
Before the Vikings, before the Anglo-Saxons, before the Roman Empire, the Celts dominated central and western Europe. Today we might think of the Celts only inhabiting parts of the far west of Europe Ireland, Great Britain, France and Spain but these were the extremities in which their culture lasted longest. In fact, they had originated in Central Europe and settled as far afield as present day Turkey, Poland and Italy. From their emergence as an Iron Age people around 800 BC to the early centuries AD, Celts reveals the truth behind the stories of naked warriors, ritual beheadings, druids, magic and accusations of human sacrifice. The book examines the different tribes, the Hallstatt and La Tène periods, as well as Celtic survival in western Europe, the Gallic Wars, military life, spiritual life, slavery, sexuality and Celtic art.
Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1502619008
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 226
Book Description
Before the Vikings, before the Anglo-Saxons, before the Roman Empire, the Celts dominated central and western Europe. Today we might think of the Celts only inhabiting parts of the far west of Europe Ireland, Great Britain, France and Spain but these were the extremities in which their culture lasted longest. In fact, they had originated in Central Europe and settled as far afield as present day Turkey, Poland and Italy. From their emergence as an Iron Age people around 800 BC to the early centuries AD, Celts reveals the truth behind the stories of naked warriors, ritual beheadings, druids, magic and accusations of human sacrifice. The book examines the different tribes, the Hallstatt and La Tène periods, as well as Celtic survival in western Europe, the Gallic Wars, military life, spiritual life, slavery, sexuality and Celtic art.
Hag
Author: Daisy Johnson
Publisher: Virago
ISBN: 0349013586
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
'Engaging, modern fables with a feminist tang' Sunday Times DARK, POTENT AND UNCANNY, HAG BURSTS WITH THE UNTOLD STORIES OF OUR ISLES, CAPTURED IN VOICES AS VARIED AS THEY ARE VIVID. Here are sisters fighting for the love of the same woman, a pregnant archaeologist unearthing impossible bones and lost children following you home. A panther runs through the forests of England and pixies prey upon violent men. From the islands of Scotland to the coast of Cornwall, the mountains of Galway to the depths of the Fens, these forgotten folktales howl, cackle and sing their way into the 21st century, wildly reimagined by some of the most exciting women writing in Britain and Ireland today. 'A thoroughly original package that has a hint of Angela Carter' The Times 'Sharp writing and cleverly done' Spectator
Publisher: Virago
ISBN: 0349013586
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
'Engaging, modern fables with a feminist tang' Sunday Times DARK, POTENT AND UNCANNY, HAG BURSTS WITH THE UNTOLD STORIES OF OUR ISLES, CAPTURED IN VOICES AS VARIED AS THEY ARE VIVID. Here are sisters fighting for the love of the same woman, a pregnant archaeologist unearthing impossible bones and lost children following you home. A panther runs through the forests of England and pixies prey upon violent men. From the islands of Scotland to the coast of Cornwall, the mountains of Galway to the depths of the Fens, these forgotten folktales howl, cackle and sing their way into the 21st century, wildly reimagined by some of the most exciting women writing in Britain and Ireland today. 'A thoroughly original package that has a hint of Angela Carter' The Times 'Sharp writing and cleverly done' Spectator
The Unknown History of Jewish Women Through the Ages
Author: Rachel Elior
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3111044521
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 974
Book Description
The Unknown History of Jewish Women—On Learning and Illiteracy: On Slavery and Liberty is a comprehensive study on the history of Jewish women, which discusses their absence from the Jewish Hebrew library of the "People of the Book" and interprets their social condition in relation to their imposed ignorance and exclusion from public literacy. The book begins with a chapter on communal education for Jewish boys, which was compulsory and free of charge for the first ten years in all traditional Jewish communities. The discussion continues with the striking absence of any communal Jewish education for girls until the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and the implications of this fact for twentieth-century immigration to Israel (1949-1959) The following chapters discuss the social, cultural and legal contexts of this reality of female illiteracy in the Jewish community—a community that placed a supreme value on male education. The discussion focuses on the patriarchal order and the postulations, rules, norms, sanctions and mythologies that, in antiquity and the Middle Ages, laid the religious foundations of this discriminatory reality.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3111044521
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 974
Book Description
The Unknown History of Jewish Women—On Learning and Illiteracy: On Slavery and Liberty is a comprehensive study on the history of Jewish women, which discusses their absence from the Jewish Hebrew library of the "People of the Book" and interprets their social condition in relation to their imposed ignorance and exclusion from public literacy. The book begins with a chapter on communal education for Jewish boys, which was compulsory and free of charge for the first ten years in all traditional Jewish communities. The discussion continues with the striking absence of any communal Jewish education for girls until the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and the implications of this fact for twentieth-century immigration to Israel (1949-1959) The following chapters discuss the social, cultural and legal contexts of this reality of female illiteracy in the Jewish community—a community that placed a supreme value on male education. The discussion focuses on the patriarchal order and the postulations, rules, norms, sanctions and mythologies that, in antiquity and the Middle Ages, laid the religious foundations of this discriminatory reality.
REBUILDING SANATAN
Author: Rishabh Karnawat
Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
In "REBUILDING SANATAN" the reader embarks on a transformative journey through the corridors of time, unveiling the rich tapestry of Hinduism's hidden history and the collective amnesia that has long plagued its followers. This eye-opening narrative is a call to action, urging Hindus to reconnect with their roots, rekindle their pride in their culture, and reawaken the spiritual essence that lies within. It uncovers a past often overshadowed by biases, colonial narratives, and misconceptions, revealing the profound contributions of Hinduism to the world in areas of science, philosophy, and spirituality. "Afraid to Remember, Eager to Forget" is a recurring theme in the book, exploring how Hindus have been systematically conditioned to downplay their own culture and adopt an inferiority complex. It discusses the impact of colonialism, biased historical accounts, and a skewed educational system that has perpetuated this self-deprecation. Through powerful examples and historical anecdotes, the author illustrates how these influences have eroded the self-esteem of many Hindus. The narrative takes a turn towards empowerment, presenting a roadmap for change. It argues that reawakening Hinduism begins at the individual level. Through introspection and self-awareness, each person can discover the depth of their own culture and spirituality. The book highlights the importance of education, offering practical steps to bridge the gap between mainstream knowledge and the true history of Hinduism. It encourages readers to explore their heritage, traditions, and spiritual practices, fostering a sense of pride and connection. "REBUILDING SANATAN" emphasizes the importance of dialogue and open-mindedness. It promotes interfaith harmony and dispels misconceptions that perpetuate division. By acknowledging the shared values and wisdom within Hinduism, the book promotes unity among diverse communities. The narrative is enriched with inspiring stories of individuals who have reclaimed their Hindu heritage, igniting a sense of purpose and pride. The book highlights initiatives that have successfully challenged stereotypes and prejudices, ultimately creating a more inclusive and accepting society. Throughout the pages of "REBUILDING SANATAN" the author strikes a delicate balance between historical analysis, introspection, and hope. The message is clear: the reawakening of Hinduism is not an insurmountable task. By embracing the true history of their culture, Hindus can empower themselves and uplift the entire community. The book serves as a rallying cry for readers to explore their roots, embrace their heritage, and, in doing so, strengthen the foundation of Hinduism for future generations. In a world where knowledge is power, "REBUILDING SANATAN" is an enlightening guide for Hindus seeking to reclaim their heritage, rekindle their self-worth, and revitalize their connection to the spiritual essence that has always defined their culture.
Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
In "REBUILDING SANATAN" the reader embarks on a transformative journey through the corridors of time, unveiling the rich tapestry of Hinduism's hidden history and the collective amnesia that has long plagued its followers. This eye-opening narrative is a call to action, urging Hindus to reconnect with their roots, rekindle their pride in their culture, and reawaken the spiritual essence that lies within. It uncovers a past often overshadowed by biases, colonial narratives, and misconceptions, revealing the profound contributions of Hinduism to the world in areas of science, philosophy, and spirituality. "Afraid to Remember, Eager to Forget" is a recurring theme in the book, exploring how Hindus have been systematically conditioned to downplay their own culture and adopt an inferiority complex. It discusses the impact of colonialism, biased historical accounts, and a skewed educational system that has perpetuated this self-deprecation. Through powerful examples and historical anecdotes, the author illustrates how these influences have eroded the self-esteem of many Hindus. The narrative takes a turn towards empowerment, presenting a roadmap for change. It argues that reawakening Hinduism begins at the individual level. Through introspection and self-awareness, each person can discover the depth of their own culture and spirituality. The book highlights the importance of education, offering practical steps to bridge the gap between mainstream knowledge and the true history of Hinduism. It encourages readers to explore their heritage, traditions, and spiritual practices, fostering a sense of pride and connection. "REBUILDING SANATAN" emphasizes the importance of dialogue and open-mindedness. It promotes interfaith harmony and dispels misconceptions that perpetuate division. By acknowledging the shared values and wisdom within Hinduism, the book promotes unity among diverse communities. The narrative is enriched with inspiring stories of individuals who have reclaimed their Hindu heritage, igniting a sense of purpose and pride. The book highlights initiatives that have successfully challenged stereotypes and prejudices, ultimately creating a more inclusive and accepting society. Throughout the pages of "REBUILDING SANATAN" the author strikes a delicate balance between historical analysis, introspection, and hope. The message is clear: the reawakening of Hinduism is not an insurmountable task. By embracing the true history of their culture, Hindus can empower themselves and uplift the entire community. The book serves as a rallying cry for readers to explore their roots, embrace their heritage, and, in doing so, strengthen the foundation of Hinduism for future generations. In a world where knowledge is power, "REBUILDING SANATAN" is an enlightening guide for Hindus seeking to reclaim their heritage, rekindle their self-worth, and revitalize their connection to the spiritual essence that has always defined their culture.
Storm Kings
Author: Lee Sandlin
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307473589
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
With 16 pages of black-and-white illustrations In Storm Kings, Lee Sandlin retraces America's fascination and unique relationship to tornadoes and the weather. From Ben Franklin's early experiments, to "the great storm debates" of the nineteenth century, to heartland life in the early twentieth century, Sandlin shows how tornado chasing helped foster the birth of meteorology, recreating with vivid descriptions some of the most devastating storms in America's history. Drawing on memoirs, letters, eyewitness testimonies, and numerous archives, Sandlin brings to life the forgotten characters and scientists that changed a nation and how successive generations came to understand and finally coexist with the spiraling menace that could erase lives and whole towns in an instant.
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307473589
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
With 16 pages of black-and-white illustrations In Storm Kings, Lee Sandlin retraces America's fascination and unique relationship to tornadoes and the weather. From Ben Franklin's early experiments, to "the great storm debates" of the nineteenth century, to heartland life in the early twentieth century, Sandlin shows how tornado chasing helped foster the birth of meteorology, recreating with vivid descriptions some of the most devastating storms in America's history. Drawing on memoirs, letters, eyewitness testimonies, and numerous archives, Sandlin brings to life the forgotten characters and scientists that changed a nation and how successive generations came to understand and finally coexist with the spiraling menace that could erase lives and whole towns in an instant.