Daughter of the Waves: Memories of Growing Up in Pre-War Palestine($16.99Value)

Description

A memoir of growing up in 1920s and 1930s Haifa, seen through the eyes of a child — vivid, humorous, and deeply personal against the backdrop of a nation coming into being. Ruth Jordan was born in 1921 in British Mandate Palestine and grew up in Bat Galim, a seaside suburb of Haifa whose name means Daughter of the Waves. This award-winning autobiography weaves personal memory with the epoch-making events of her time: the transformation of Haifa into a bustling port, Toscanini's groundbreaking performances with the newly-formed Palestine Orchestra, the arrival of refugee boats from Germany turned away at the shore, and the tumult of the Arab Revolt as the Second World War approached. Her recollections are never defensive, apologetic or accusatory. A pet hyena and the superstitions he evokes; a ride atop a coffin with a kindly Arab mule driver; a profound love of the sea — Jordan's gaze is always that of a child who belongs to this place entirely, even as the world around her fractures. What readers say: "Jordan's recollections of childhood and youth in Palestine during the 1920s and 30s help to illuminate the continuing conflict there." — Publishers Weekly - "Skilfully and lovingly written memoirs." — The Independent - "Highly recommended." — Library Journal Originally published in 1982 and reissued by Sayoshi Books, Daughter of the Waves is a pioneering work of personal testimony. Its account of a childhood at the intersection of Jewish, Arab, and British cultures in pre-war Palestine speaks with particular resonance today. About the author: Ruth Jordan was a pioneering journalist and one of the first women to hold a senior post at the BBC, serving as the first female news presenter and producer in the Hebrew Section. The author of six books, she was hailed by the British press as "one of our best modern biographers." She died in 1994. ''Jordan's recollections of childhood and youth in Palestine during the 1920s and '30s...help to illuminate the continuing conflict there.'' Publishers Weekly ''Skilfully and lovingly written memoirs.'' The Independent ''Highly recommended.'' Library Journal A pioneering journalist in the 1950s, Ruth Jordan was one of the first women to achieve a senior post at the BBC. As the first woman news presenter and producer in the Hebrew Section, she specialized in politics, current affairs, and the arts. The author of six books, Jordan was hailed by the British press as ''one of our best modern biographers.'' She died in 1994, and her memories of growing up in pre-war Palestine are an enduring legacy that speaks to generations past, present and future.