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Simon Schama

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Sir Simon Michael Schama CBE FBA FRSL is an English historian specialising in art history, Dutch history, Jewish history and French history. He is a University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University, New York. He first came to public attention with his history of the French Revolution titled Citizens, published in 1989.
26 books on the list
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Enemies and Neighbors book cover
Enemies and Neighbors
Arabs and Jews in Palestine and Israel, 1917-2017
Ian Black - 2017-11-07
Goodreads Rating
In Enemies and Neighbors, Ian Black, who has spent over three decades covering events in the Middle East and is currently a fellow at the London School of Economics, offers a major new history of the Arab-Zionist conflict from 1917 to today, published on the centenary of the Balfour Declaration. ...
Simon Schama
2023-01-23T09:36:33.000Z
Deeply sorry to hear of Ian's tragically early death. His middle east books especially Enemies and Neighbours will endure as essential reading ; he was a lovely man as well as a brilliant writer      source
Seven Types of Ambiguity book cover
Seven Types of Ambiguity
William Empson - 1966-01-17 (first published in 1930)
Goodreads Rating
"Seven Types of Ambiguity" is a renowned literary analysis that delves deep into the nuance of language and the various interpretations that arise from it. The author brilliantly categorizes and examines works from literary greats, including Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Eliot. This thought-provoking and widely quoted book is a must-read for any avid reader seeking to expand their understanding of language and its infinite possibilities.
Simon Schama
2022-12-09T10:24:38.000Z
a very great book - big influence on the teenage me      source
All That She Carried book cover
All That She Carried
The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake
Tiya Miles - 2021-06-08
Goodreads Rating
Discover the poignant life of a single object passed down through three generations of Black women, told with brilliance and tenderness in this National Book Award-winning book. A cotton bag filled with precious items became a token of love and survival in the face of the imminent sale of a nine-year-old slave girl named Ashley. Her granddaughter Ruth embroidered the bag with haunting language, preserving a sweeping family history of loss and love. Historian Tiya Miles uses objects and art to uncover the stories of these resilient women, revealing unknown facets of the experience of slavery and uncertain freedom in the United States. All That She Carried is a visionary tribute to the fierce resourcefulness of those who preserve family ties against steep odds.
Simon Schama
2022-12-08T10:55:54.000Z
phenomenal book      source
Little Dorrit book cover
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens - 2003-09-25 (first published in 1857)
Goodreads Rating
A novel by Charles Dickens that explores themes of poverty, injustice, and social hierarchy in 19th century England. The story follows the life of a young woman named Little Dorrit as she navigates the complexities of living in a debtor's prison and strives for a better life. Available in digital format, including Kindle.
Simon Schama
2022-10-06T20:47:58.000Z
@MarBenCel1 Little Dorrit's opening and closing are astonishing - unlike anything else in his books I think - more like Hugo or even Zola.. architecture is a character in its own right as it is so often w Hugo. Miss Wade a riveting character.      source
Cocktails with a Curator book cover
Cocktails with a Curator
Xavier F. Salomon - 2022-10-11
Goodreads Rating
"Discover the fascinating histories behind some of the world's greatest works of art paired with creatively inspired cocktails in this collection of lively and informative essays. From medieval times to the early twentieth century, explore exemplary pieces from esteemed New York collection as curators share their knowledge on famed artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Velázquez. Each work is thematically paired with a delicious cocktail recipe, adding a delightful twist to this crash course in art history. Whether you're an art enthusiast or cocktail lover, this innovative and intoxicating book is a must-have addition to any collection."
Simon Schama
2022-10-06T20:36:01.000Z
here's a lovely thing - just arrived - book form ( w brief foreword by me) of weekly talks during Covid lovkdown by brilliant ⁦@frickcollection⁩ curators on masterpieces from the collection plus matching cocktails. A saver of sanity; weekly glass of learned pleasure.      source
The Mirror & the Light book cover
The Mirror & the Light
Hilary Mantel - 2021-05-04 (first published in 2020)
Goodreads Rating
A captivating historical fiction novel set in Tudor England, The Mirror & the Light tells the story of Thomas Cromwell's climb to power and wealth after the execution of Anne Boleyn. Despite the threats of rebellion, traitors, and invasion, Cromwell imagines a new country in the future, but wonders if a person or a nation can truly shed their past. Hilary Mantel brings the trilogy that began with Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies to a triumphant close with this defining portrait of predator and prey, royal will and common man's vision, and the creation of a modern nation through conflict, passion, and courage.
Simon Schama
2022-09-23T14:12:12.000Z
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel — ‘majestic and poetic’ my tribute to this very great book and its author      source
Partition Voices book cover
Partition Voices
Updated for the 75th anniversary of partition
Kavita Puri - 2019-07-11
Goodreads Rating
Explore the untold stories of South Asian families who witnessed one of the most tumultuous events in the 20th century – India's partition. After discovering her father's suppressed memories of this devastating aftermath, author Kavita Puri felt compelled to seek out other first-hand accounts. Partition Voices unravels a breathtaking tapestry of human experience spanning seven decades, shaped by pain, loss, and compassion. Through empathy and nuance, Puri confronts the difficult truths at the heart of Britain's shared history with South Asia.
Simon Schama
2022-07-21T08:32:54.000Z
ditto - absolutely wonderful book about a deeply tragic moment      source
God's Chinese Son book cover
God's Chinese Son
The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan
Jonathan D. Spence - 1996-12-17
Goodreads Rating
Explore the largest uprising in human history and the foreshadowing of China's terrible convulsions in God's Chinese Son. This powerful historical account follows the Taiping rebellion of 1845-64, with the failed Confucian student Hong Xiuquan at its center. After ascending to heaven in a dream and meeting his heavenly family, including God and Jesus, he returns to earth with a mission to eradicate the "demon-devils," the alien Manchu rulers of China. His success leads him and his followers to rule a large part of south China for over a decade, until their decline and fall results in the death of over 20 million Chinese. Witness the narrative power of a great historian at his best in this must-read book.
Simon Schama
2021-12-28T13:48:37.000Z
Another of Jonathan Spence's extraordinary books was God's Chinese Son, his history of the Taiping Rebellion - no one can really claim they know the 19th century unless they have understood this epic upheaval that took millions of lives.      source
The Ants book cover
The Ants
Bert Holldobler, Edward O. Wilson - 1990-03-22
Goodreads Rating
Discover the fascinating world of ants with this comprehensive and visually stunning book. Written by the world's leading experts, it covers all aspects of ant anatomy, physiology, social organization, ecology, and natural history. With almost a thousand illustrations, it is both an introduction to the subject and an encyclopedia reference for researchers in entomology, ecology, and sociobiology.
Simon Schama
2021-12-27T17:28:33.000Z
The Ants (1990) is an astonishing book; absolutely gripping and confounding - however much you think that entomology isnt your thing, it will be,, I promise. It's a huge book about amazing creatures. And Ed Wilson was a lovely committee colleague at Harvard when I was there.      source
Persuasion book cover
Persuasion
The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters' Letters and Papers, Written and Folded by Hand
Jane Austen, Barbara Heller - 2022-10-04
Goodreads Rating
Immerse yourself in the world of Anne Elliot with this special edition of a much-beloved classic. Experience Jane Austen's captivating story of second chances and enduring love in a whole new way with removable replicas of characters' letters and other paper ephemera. With two upcoming film adaptations of Persuasion, now is the perfect time to revisit the original text and deepen your connection to Austen's world. This unique format, featuring masterful calligraphy and historical detail, stands apart on the shelf and makes for a truly lovely gift and keepsake for fans of Jane Austen, letter writing, and vintage ephemera.
Simon Schama
2021-09-25T03:08:27.000Z
@CassCookson the book is so wonderful - autumnal, stained with sorrowing regret, intense with its quietness .. makes Emma look lurid and contrived by comparison and P n P too stagey      source
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