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If this book doesn't help you understand and appreciate genius, nothing will. She recreates brilliantly the world of "Mitteleurope," now lost forever. This book provides unique insights into some of the most important scientific and artistic accomplishments in the Western world from the 1930s to the present. kati Marton offers key information about the men who did so much to change our world, information new to me even though I thought I knew a great deal about each of the emigres portrayed here.
Not because of how I felt about it. A very long, laborius story of nine men, born and raised in Eastern Europe who fled in the early 30's or late 40's and the success that they made once they left. Not really the type of book I was looking for.I gave the book 5 stars however, because of it's content.
65)To save humanity from self destruction, Leo Szilard tries to get the brightest minds to concentrate on some sort of arms control. His honesty and the way he tried to do everything he could to stop the use of the atom bomb showed how compassionate Leo Szilard was. The Great Escape by Kati Marton. The character that I enjoyed reading about was Leo Szilard because he was one of the scientists that help create the atom bomb. His sympathy for humanity since his read of the dramatic poem was inspiring. I believe there is a relationship between the bomb and the meaning behind the dramatic poem by Imre Madach. "His mission since reading The Tragedy of Man was to save humanity from self destruction." (Kati Marton, pg.
Leo Szilards sincerity is what made Kati Marton's book a wondrous read. This shows his compassion for humanity and life itself and shows how he wants to stop the tragedy of man he fears so much.
Although the creation of the atomic bomb was designed to aid the United States in gaining the upper hand in the war, it was used to kill many people. He started the Council for a Livable World.
The book is about the lives of amazing Jewish Hungarians who fled Hitler and impacted the world. He had American and Soviet scientist meet face to face, an enormous accomplishment.
Kati Marton's book and the life of Leo Szilard was influential. The book also references the dramatic poem The Tragedy of Man by Imre Madach and showed that Leo Szilard could recite the poem word for word which I thought was Ironic because of the fact that Leo Szilard created a bomb designed to help stop Hitler and save many lives but instead caused enormous destruction.Leo Szilard had much compassion for mankind which is ironic because he creates a bomb capable of destroying lives.
The bomb is the tragedy because although Leo Szilard created it to save mankind it was used to destroy it.Knowing this, Leo Szilard tries in the years later to save mankind.
These men were film directors, photographers, writers, physicists, and a computer pioneer that completely revolutionized the fields of science and art. It is the story of nine Jews who changed the world. Immigrants are generally regarded as unworthy, serving no useful purpose. Marton also tells of the legendary photographers Andre Kertesz and Robert Capa, film directors Michael Curtis and Alex Korda, and writer Arthur Koestler. The book, which is excellently written, focuses on the struggles that these nine Jews faced in achieving greatness. It is a story about the trials and tribulations that immigrants must go through. Given that the United States is primarily made up of immigrants, the novel serves to tell of the importance of such people. They were also Jews living in a time of great anti-Semitism.
Nine men, however, were responsible for most of the advancements and everlasting recollections of it.The book is the story of nine men who grew up in Budapest's brief Golden Age, then, driven from Hungary by Hitler and his fascist party, fled to the West, particularly to the United States, and ultimately changed the world as we know it. The Great Escape is a magnificent tale about finding one's self. Teller, Szilard, and Wigner's atomic bomb was one, if not the greatest, scientific advancement of the 20th century. Robert Capa's D-day photographs earned him his reputation as the best wartime photographer of all times. The New York, right in the heart of Budapest, was a refuge from the outside world for these men and the catalyst that sparked their creativity and mastermind thoughts.Kati Marton writes of the astounding lives of 4 scientists, Edward Teller, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, and John von Neuman, who helped pilot the nuclear age and the advancement of the computer.
Above all, what unites these nine men is a small, dynamic café by the name of New York. The novel serves as an encouragement to all, especially immigrants. However, in The Great Escape we see that sometimes the outsiders are the ones that change the world. Although The Great Escape is an account of the Hungarian diaspora of the 1920's and 1930's, it is an inspirational tale of hard work, perseverance, and the struggles of isolated, solitary refugees. But what can a scientist and an artist have in common. Curtis is accredited for one of best, most romantic movies of all times: Casablanca. America, the land of opportunities, is home to an array of many different cultures.
Their contributions are everlasting. As Arthur Koestler said, "Hungarians are the loneliest people on this continent." This was exceptionally true of these nine men, natives of a small, linguistically incomprehensible, landlocked country. The 20th century underwent radical changes in almost every area of human endeavors. Well, besides changing the world, these men were outsiders in every aspect.
I am partial to art over science, and so the invention of the h-bomb, though a breakthrough in science, didn't spark my interest as much as that of Capa's photographs and Curtiz's films. My favorite characters in the book reached the hearts of millions of people through art. I found myself diving into every syllable of this book. I envisioned Hollywood in its radiance. Capa and Curtiz had me captivated from the moment my eyes caught their names. It was a refreshing comeback with Kati Marton's The Great Escape. A man seen holding his chin high, a scarf around his neck, a cigar in his had and the world in his palm. It should have touched my heart in some way.
Now, after reading it, I find myself intrigued enough to perform research on their works. I haven't read a book in about 6 months. As my eyes crossed every word, the more vivid the picture became. The stronger the smell of cigar smoke and freshly painted sets. Every time I read about it, images of old-time café's and gentlemen dressed in tan-colored suits relaxing, watching one of Curtiz's films on a pull down screen or a blank wall seemed to dominate my though process.
Yet, I was distracted by this amazing city in its thriving era. Alexander Korda living above his means left a picture in my head of a man impeccably dressed even to sleep. It gave the effect of not only words on a page, but traveling through time, seeing history made through scientific discoveries and the foundation of today's artistic culture. The Normandy invasion, in its detailed clarity had me feeling the breeze of the ocean as the soldiers hit sand. Marton had a way of enticing me to play a video in my head every time I turned a page. The portrayal of Capa's adventures in photography were fascinating. Her use of vivid imagery and lively characters paved the way for an interesting and enjoyable read.
The huge studio complex of Warner Brothers, people rolling away sceneries, famous actors being chased by hair and make-up, directors shouting commands. I am fully aware that the anti-semitism should promote a feeling of sympathy or anger in me. Before this book, I hadn't heard of either of them. The idea of Budapest as this spectacular city and the New York Café as the center of the Universe probably caught my attention more that anything in the book.
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