Prolific writer of history and sociology Ian Buruma has
focused on a very personal history in this book: that of his grandparents, Win
and Bun (Winifred and Bernard) Schlesinger. Their love affair started around
the same time that WW I did (although at that point it was discouraged by both
families because of their youth) and continued right up to Bernard’s death in
1984, and it’s an affair that was closely narrated by their letters. During their
separations during both World Wars, they wrote every day and many of those
letters were saved, providing a treasure trove for Buruma.
Bun and Win’s parents were all prosperous- both their
fathers were stock brokers- Jews who emigrated from Germany to England. They
strove to fit into their adoptive country, celebrating Christmas and ignoring
the anti-Semitism they ran into. When the First World War came, Win and Bun
both desired to serve; Win became a nurse and Bun was a stretcher bearer on the
fields, where he saw horrible things. Between the wars they married and started
a family- which, during WW 2, increased suddenly by 12 Jewish children rescued
from the Nazis.
Buruma’s focus is not just on the loving marriage of his
grandparent’s, however. It’s also about cultural assimilation and anti-Semitism.
Despite facing prejudice- Bernard’s employment prospects were limited because
he was Jewish- the family remained devoted to England and *almost* all it stood
for. This is a fascinating look at what is going on all around us now as people
leave their home countries and face the same kind of prejudice.
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I received this book free from the Amazon Vine program in return for an honest review.
Neither of these things influenced my review.
The years "between the wars" are one of my favorite periods. Bet this is good
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