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Emil Draitser
Shush! Growing Up Jewish under Stalin
A Memoir
$24.95, £14.95 hardcover
978-0-520-25446-6
Available Now
320 pages, 6 x 9 inches, 22 b/w photographs, 1 line illustration
September 2008, Available worldwide
Categories: History; European Studies; Jewish Studies; Autobiography
September 2008, Available worldwide
Categories: History; European Studies; Jewish Studies; Autobiography
"Written with warmth and passion, Draitser gives the reader an intimate peek into his life, his family, and his thoughts. In the process, Draitser presents the reader with an unprecedented glimpse into what life was like for Jewish people living under Stalin. . . . This book is a must read for anyone with an interest in Jewish History, the social history of the Soviet Union, and in simply reading a well-wrought and compelling account of one man's unforgettable life." —History In Review
"The hardships experienced by Soviet Jews are poignantly described in this memoir."—The Jerusalem Post
"[Draitser's] narrative eloquently testifies to the persistence of Russian Jews in maintaining their identity as well as to the value of the protest movement on their behalf."—Foreword
"In this minutely observed and evocatively written memoir, [Draitser] skillfully draws on the often compelling life stories of his grandparents and other relatives to weave a sprawling tale that ably depicts the harrowing history of Jews in Soviet-controlled Ukraine."—Library Journal
"This painful and acutely observed memoir will resonate with many readers."—Publishers Weekly
"Draitser examines Odessa's social fabric as exemplified in film, literature, humor, headlines, holidays and vernacular to offer valuable, poignant snapshots of this turbulent, terrifying time. . . . Whimsical, heartfelt and candid."—Kirkus Reviews
"A significant contribution to our understanding of life in the Soviet Union and to the vital importance of speaking out against oppression."—Jewish Post & Opinion
"The hardships experienced by Soviet Jews are poignantly described in this memoir."—The Jerusalem Post
"[Draitser's] narrative eloquently testifies to the persistence of Russian Jews in maintaining their identity as well as to the value of the protest movement on their behalf."—Foreword
"In this minutely observed and evocatively written memoir, [Draitser] skillfully draws on the often compelling life stories of his grandparents and other relatives to weave a sprawling tale that ably depicts the harrowing history of Jews in Soviet-controlled Ukraine."—Library Journal
"This painful and acutely observed memoir will resonate with many readers."—Publishers Weekly
"Draitser examines Odessa's social fabric as exemplified in film, literature, humor, headlines, holidays and vernacular to offer valuable, poignant snapshots of this turbulent, terrifying time. . . . Whimsical, heartfelt and candid."—Kirkus Reviews
"A significant contribution to our understanding of life in the Soviet Union and to the vital importance of speaking out against oppression."—Jewish Post & Opinion
"Emil Draitser is authentic and honestly self-critical, while also full of humor and warmth. Shush! is a great tribute to the tenacity of a people who kept their identity and loyalty intact even when threatened with dire consequences."—Irena Grudzinska Gross, author of The Scar of Revolution
"A wonderfully evocative memoir of childhood and adolescence during one of the most tragic epochs in Russian history. As grim as the historical background of the memoir is, the mood is redeemed by Draitser's perfectly Odessan Jewish humor, sad yet optimistic, compared with that of another great Odessan, Isaak Babel."—Lara Vapnyar, author of There are Jews in My House and Memoirs of a Muse
"Emil Draitser resurrects the world of his Jewish childhood in the Soviet Union touchingly and with a great sense of humor, a truly rare quality."—Solomon Volkov, author of Shostakovich and Stalin and The Magical Chorus: A History of Russian Culture from Tolstoy to Solzhenitsyn
"Emil Draitser's memoir tells me, adroitly and movingly, more about being a child in Stalin's Russia than all the fiction and nonfiction I had read before put together. His work has worldwide appeal."—David Westheimer, author of Von Ryan's Express and Death is Lighter than a Feather
"A poignant and gripping book. . . . A compelling memoir. . . . A sweeping panorama of the Jewish history in Russia, this richly documented work is a remarkable humanitarian contribution and a challenge to the continued silence in Russia surrounding its persecution of Jews. The volume touches a nerve and is written with a depth of feeling. The reader will appreciate the skilled craftsmanship that elevates Draitser's perfect gem of a memoir to fine literature."—Notes on Contemporary Literature
"Vivid and engaging. . . .The most moving episodes are concerned with Draitser's coming to terms with his Jewish identity. . . . Elegantly and warmly written, this volume will be of interest to scholars exploring Jewish life in the Soviet period. . . . Despite the dramatic nature of the material, the stories are told with humor. A welcome addition to curricula in Russian culture, as well as for Jewish studies, sociology, history, and psychology."—Slavic and East European Journal
"Rich in minute observations, psychological insights, and vivid descriptions."—World Literature Today
"A wonderfully evocative memoir of childhood and adolescence during one of the most tragic epochs in Russian history. As grim as the historical background of the memoir is, the mood is redeemed by Draitser's perfectly Odessan Jewish humor, sad yet optimistic, compared with that of another great Odessan, Isaak Babel."—Lara Vapnyar, author of There are Jews in My House and Memoirs of a Muse
"Emil Draitser resurrects the world of his Jewish childhood in the Soviet Union touchingly and with a great sense of humor, a truly rare quality."—Solomon Volkov, author of Shostakovich and Stalin and The Magical Chorus: A History of Russian Culture from Tolstoy to Solzhenitsyn
"Emil Draitser's memoir tells me, adroitly and movingly, more about being a child in Stalin's Russia than all the fiction and nonfiction I had read before put together. His work has worldwide appeal."—David Westheimer, author of Von Ryan's Express and Death is Lighter than a Feather
"A poignant and gripping book. . . . A compelling memoir. . . . A sweeping panorama of the Jewish history in Russia, this richly documented work is a remarkable humanitarian contribution and a challenge to the continued silence in Russia surrounding its persecution of Jews. The volume touches a nerve and is written with a depth of feeling. The reader will appreciate the skilled craftsmanship that elevates Draitser's perfect gem of a memoir to fine literature."—Notes on Contemporary Literature
"Vivid and engaging. . . .The most moving episodes are concerned with Draitser's coming to terms with his Jewish identity. . . . Elegantly and warmly written, this volume will be of interest to scholars exploring Jewish life in the Soviet period. . . . Despite the dramatic nature of the material, the stories are told with humor. A welcome addition to curricula in Russian culture, as well as for Jewish studies, sociology, history, and psychology."—Slavic and East European Journal
"Rich in minute observations, psychological insights, and vivid descriptions."—World Literature Today
Many years after making his way to America from Odessa in Soviet Ukraine, Emil Draitser made a startling discovery: every time he uttered the word "Jewish"—even in casual conversation—he lowered his voice. This behavior was a natural by-product, he realized, of growing up in the anti-Semitic, post-Holocaust Soviet Union, when "Shush!" was the most frequent word he heard: "Don't use your Jewish name in public. Don't speak a word of Yiddish. And don't cry over your murdered relatives." This compelling memoir conveys the reader back to Draitser's childhood and provides a unique account of midtwentieth-century life in Russia as the young Draitser struggles to reconcile the harsh values of Soviet society with the values of his working-class Jewish family. Lively, evocative, and rich with humor, this unforgettable story ends with the death of Stalin and, through life stories of the author's ancestors, presents a sweeping panorama of two centuries of Jewish history in Russia.
Surviving Freedom: After the Gulag, by Janusz Bardach and Kathleen Gleeson
Man Is Wolf to Man: Surviving the Gulag, by Janusz Bardach and Kathleen Gleeson
Man Is Wolf to Man: Surviving the Gulag, by Janusz Bardach and Kathleen Gleeson
Visit Emil Draitser's book website at www.shushthebook.com
Also visit Emil Draitser's personal website at www.emildraitser.com