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The Oxford Book of Exile John Simpson

The Oxford Book of Exile By John Simpson

The Oxford Book of Exile by John Simpson


$40.99
Condition - Very Good
Only 4 left

Summary

An anthology on the experience of exile, enforced and voluntary, for political, religious, economic and intellectual reasons, told through personal accounts as well as fiction and verse, ranging from Ovid to John McCarthy, from China to Palestine.

The Oxford Book of Exile Summary

The Oxford Book of Exile by John Simpson

From the moment Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise, exile has been a part of the human experience. The circumstances in which individuals or entire peoples are compelled to leave their homeland are as various as they are numerous, and in this book John Simpson has brought together examples of exile from all over the world, and from all periods of history. The emphasis is on personal experience, with writers from Ovid to Solzhenitsyn describing their exile, their emotions, their struggle and their despair. For those who have chosen a life in exile, the response is more mixed: ambivalence about the country they have left and the country they have chosen suffuses the writing of intellectuals seeking freedom of speech, as of ex-pats living in India or Australia. Those persecuted for their faith or their politics rub shoulders with those fleeing from war, or from debt, or even from the weather. Castaways and spies, premiers and princes describe their departure, their reception and sometimes their return, in an anthology that is by turns inspiring, moving, and deeply thought-provoking. With sources ranging from police records, newspaper articles, interviews, letters and memoirs, as well as verse and fiction, and settings as remote as Iran and Russia, China and Palestine, The Oxford Book of Exile provides a fascinating insight into an experience that touches so many, and captures the imagination of us all.

The Oxford Book of Exile Reviews

'Mr Simpson has steered a course through these tricky waters with great skill and judgment, inclining always towards diversity. This is an extremely interesting book, continuously interesting, not just pleasant to dip into ... a brilliantly organised book and it is absorbing to read. One cannot ask for more.' Barry Unsworth, Sunday Telegraph
'Some exiles ended in tragedy, others in triumph, and this lends the book a sense of great poignancy.' Tim Hathaway, Birmingham Post
'he has an enviable narrative gift, and the 11 entries of his own are among the most interesting here ... One of this anthology's pleasing aspects is the way Simpson allows the same exiles to pop up to illustrate the cycle of banishment, unbearable nostalgia and return.' Nicholas Shakespeare, Daily Telegraph
'Simpson has chosen with admirably imaginative empathy, beginning at the beginning, with excerpts from the Book of Genesis, and covering all the world and the history of exile.' Patrick Skene Catling, The Irish Times
John Simpson's collection is to be commended for its range, both in interpretation of exile and in selection. This readable and enlightening selection is a delight to dip into and savour again and again. * Victoria Ellis, Yorkshire Gazette & Herald *
intelligent and accessible book ... Simpson's light touch and his imaginative selection of 'exiled' authors - plus an optimistic chapter entitled The End of Exile - ensure that this is not too depressing a read. * Robert Beaumont, Yorkshire Evening News *
delightful anthology of exile ... Simpson's anthology shows, again and agaqin the ecile's feelings of bereavement are darkly coloured by a sense of guilt and the struggle to find a reason for being cast away. * Alberto Manguel, The Observer *
John Simpson's excellent collection of writings on exile includes some moving pieces from Jewish refugees, as well as some from Palestinians, which haunt us and crave our sympathy. * Julia Neuberger, Jewish Chronicle *
altogether admirable anthology of exilement ... ingenious and imaginative book * Jan Morris, The Spectator *
imaginately compiled by John Simpson, will be perfect for sporadic holiday reading * Barry Unsworth, Sunday Times *

About John Simpson

John Simpson is known to millions as the BBC Foreign Affairs Editor; he is also an associate editor of the Spectator and author of several books. He has travelled extensively in the course of his work, reporting from over 80 or more countries, including Afghanistan, Lebanon, Libya, Iran, South Africa and the USSR. His familiarity with many of the countries and contemporary exiles covered in the book give it a particular authority.

Additional information

GOR002028841
9780192142214
0192142216
The Oxford Book of Exile by John Simpson
Used - Very Good
Hardback
Oxford University Press
19950323
368
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

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