{"title":"Malgorzata Szejnert","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the captivating world of Malgorzata Szejnert, an acclaimed Polish journalist and author known for her profound works in history and military literature. With a career spanning several decades, Szejnert has garnered a reputation for meticulously researched narratives that bring the past to life with rich detail and emotional depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of her standout works, \u003cem\u003eEllis Island\u003c\/em\u003e, offers a riveting exploration of the iconic gateway to America. Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, Szejnert delves into the personal stories of immigrants, painting a comprehensive picture of this pivotal chapter in history. This book is a testament to her ability to weave individual experiences with broader historical contexts, providing readers not just facts but a profound understanding of the human condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a history enthusiast or a newcomer eager to explore true stories from the past, Malgorzata Szejnert’s collection promises to educate and inspire. Her works are not merely about events, but about the people who shaped them, making history accessible and engaging for all readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eImmerse yourself in the enlightening narratives of Malgorzata Szejnert and discover the power of storytelling combined with historical precision.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ellis-island-by-malgorzata-szejnert-9781925849035","title":"Ellis Island","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEllis Island\u003c\/em\u003e is a landmark work of history that brings the voices of the past vividly to life, transforming our understanding of the immigrant experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst living in New York, journalist Malgorzata Szejnert would often gaze out from lower Manhattan at Ellis Island, a dark outline on the horizon. How many stories did this tiny patch of land hold? How many people had joyfully embarked on a new life there—or known the despair of being turned away? How many were held there against their will?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEllis Island\u003c\/em\u003e draws on unpublished testimonies, memoirs, and correspondence from many internees and immigrants, including Russians, Italians, Jews, Japanese, Germans, and Poles, along with commissioners, interpreters, doctors, and nurses—all of whom knew they were taking part in a tremendous historical phenomenon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt tells the many stories of the island, from Annie Moore, the Irishwoman who was the first to be processed there, to the diaries of Fiorello La Guardia, who worked at the station before going on to become one of New York City's greatest mayors, to depicting the ordeal the island went through during the 9\/11 attacks. At the book's core are letters recovered from the Russian State Archive, a heartrending trove of correspondence from migrants to their loved ones back home. But their letters never reached their destination; instead, they were confiscated by intelligence services and remained largely unseen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFar from the open-door policy of myth, we see that deportations from Ellis Island were often based on pseudo-scientific ideas about race, gender, and disability. Sometimes, families were broken up, and new arrivals were held in detention at the Island for days, weeks, or months under quarantine. Indeed, the island compound has spent longer as an internment camp than as a migration station.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eToday, the island is no less political. In popular culture, it is a romantic symbol of the generations of immigrants that reshaped the United States. But its true history reveals that today’s immigration debate has deep roots. Now a master storyteller brings its past to life, illustrated with unique archival photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"To me Malgorzata Szejnert embodies the image of Poland...She has grace, a gentle tone, and a serene gaze.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n—Svetlana Alexievich, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and author of \u003cem\u003eSecondhand Time\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Making extensive use of primary documents, including letters written by immigrants to family in the old country, the author captures the mingled hope and fear experienced as people entered the massive main building ... Szejnert does not scant the fear of 'degraded, backward' people 'unfit to join into American life' that culminated in the 1924 law that basically slammed the door on Italian and Jewish immigration. But her emphasis is on the immigrants' fortitude and resilience and the empathetic assistance of Ellis Island personnel - many themselves immigrants ... Warmly human and extremely moving—a welcome addition to the Ellis Island literature.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSTARRED REVIEW\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n—Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"With fine-grained details and fluid writing, Szejnert humanises the immigrant experience in late 19th- and early 20th-century America.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n—Publishers Weekly\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46343571767532,"sku":"9781925849035","price":50.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/18815683482873.jpg?v=1743997314"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/malgorzata-szejnert.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}