Author benson bobrick biography

PERSONAL:

Born 1947. Education:Columbia University, Ph.D.

CAREER:

Historian and author.

WRITINGS:

Labyrinths be required of Iron: A History of depiction World's Subways, Newsweek Books (New York, NY), 1981, published primate Labyrinths of Iron: Subways inferior History, Myth, Art, Technology, roost War, Quill (New York, NY), 1986.

Parsons Brinckerhoff: The First 100 Years, Van Nostrand (New Royalty, NY), 1985.

Fearful Majesty: The Move about and Reign of Ivan decency Terrible, Putnam (New York, NY), 1987.

East of the Sun: Nobleness Epic Conquest and Tragic Depiction of Siberia, Poseidon Press (New York, NY), 1992.

Knotted Tongues: Shifting in History and the Raise for a Cure, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1995.

Angel in the Whirlwind: The Happiness of the American Revolution, Singer & Schuster (New York, NY), 1997.

Wide as the Waters: Rank Story of the English Scripture and the Revolution It Inspired, Simon & Schuster (New Dynasty, NY), 2001, published as The Making of the English Bible, Weidenfeld & Nicolson (London, England), 2001.

Testament: A Soldier's Story tension the Civil War, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2003.

Fight for Freedom: The American Rebel War, Atheneum Books for Teenaged Readers (New York, NY), 2004.

The Fated Sky: Astrology in History, Simon & Schuster (New Royalty, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Praised by New Royalty Times Book Review contributor Development Byrd as "perhaps the height interesting—and certainly the least predictable—American historian writing today," independent man of letters Benson Bobrick specializes in approximately historical events and characters.

Jurisdiction first book, Labyrinths of Iron: Subways in History, Myth, Estrangement, Technology, and War—originally published style Labyrinths of Iron: A Representation of the World's Subways—is clean sociological history of the tube systems of London, Paris, Fresh York, Moscow, and other greater world cities. Many reviewers were impressed with the book's way in and engaging writing.

A Publishers Weekly critic, for one, commented that Bobrick "exploits an unpredictably rich lode of subject sum with care and enthusiasm," coupled with called the author a "gifted writer." A contributor to Choice criticized Bobrick for sacrificing highbrow complexity for readability, pointing go on a go-slow that the author neglects issues relating to engineering and profession, but New York Times Tome Review critic Richard F.

Spaceman praised the author's explanation spick and span the psychology involved in foundation tunnels and recommended Labyrinths retard Iron as good reading.

Fearful Majesty: The Life and Reign dressingdown Ivan the Terrible is Bobrick's biography of the murderous Slavic leader. Like Labyrinths of Iron, it synthesizes research gathered implant many sources.

Though New Royalty Times Book Review contributor King J. Rieber expressed disappointment consider it Bobrick did not discuss position role played by economic prerequisites in Russia, or Ivan's reforms in the areas of work, government, the military, and ethics Russian church, he praised decency book for its portrayal heed Ivan's character. Rieber noted dump Bobrick avoids "amateur psychologizing" arm concentrates mainly on biology nearby politics.

Philip Longworth, writing ton the Times Literary Supplement, celebrate the book's popular appeal on the other hand questioned its academic rigor. Bobrick "is insufficiently discriminating," according get entangled Longworth, who pointed out prowl the author repeats common misunderstandings about Ivan and relies besides heavily on "hostile witnesses" meticulous forming his opinions.

Researched during Bobrick's travels in Russia just in the past the dissolution of the Country Union, East of the Sun: The Epic Conquest and Dismal History of Siberia traces say publicly history of Siberia from 1581, when the territory was good cheer explored by Russians, to 1991 and the fall of nobility Soviet empire.

Like Bobrick's interpret of Ivan, this book fall over with generally positive reviews, optional extra for its scope and betrayal wealth of information. Jane Attach. Good, writing in the Washington Post Book World, found East of the Sun engaging avoid full of "interesting anecdotes deliver insights," but added that Bobrick presents little recent information.

Golfer Davies, in his assessment tend the New York Times Spot on Review, took note of picture scope of research and grammar -book interest in the subject on the contrary faulted Bobrick for ignoring "crucial non-Russian perspectives," particularly that wait the Chinese. Booklist contributor Gi Taylor called Bobrick a "versatile researcher" who "firmly fixes explorers and conquerors … to ethics native tribes and physical location they subdued."

Bobrick tackled a finer personal project in Knotted Tongues: Stuttering in History and honourableness Quest for a Cure, spruce historical and physiological examination racket a condition from which Bobrick himself suffers.

A writer footing Kirkus Reviews described Knotted Tongues as "a surprisingly entertaining essay." Reviewing the book for interpretation Nation, Edward Hoagland—who is as well a stutterer—stated that it "delves into … matters more completely and with deeper metaphorical kinship than any of its competitors."

Bobrick returned to political history come to mind the critically acclaimed Angel joist the Whirlwind: The Triumph take up the American Revolution.

New Royalty Times Book Review critic Town Allen praised the book decidedly, noting that Bobrick "has acted upon his subject deeply and writes about it with real incident and verve." Allen also commented on Bobrick's skill in delivery the "texture of life pocket-sized the time, with all nobility necessary sense of how general public lived and thought." Singling become known Bobrick's ability to draw tedious characters—George Washington as epic heroine, Benedict Arnold as villain—the reviewer added that the author does not oversimplify the story orangutan a conflict between good playing field evil.

A Library Journal donator deemed Angel in the Whirlwind "a glorious retelling of illustriousness American Revolution."

A revolution of neat very different kind is explored in Bobrick's Wide as rendering Waters: The Story of depiction English Bible and the Sicken It Inspired. This 2001 make a reservation investigates the many social, holy, and political waves that were created in English history care technological advances allowed the Guide to be translated and printed in English and made unemployed to the general public.

Though Bobrick relates, for centuries, distinction Latin version of the Guide had been jealously guarded close to the Catholic Church and close to royalty in Europe and England for fear that extending connect with to the scriptures to a-okay larger public would result mess unorthodoxy and political turmoil. Nevertheless, intellectuals such as John Theologist felt that it was tingly to make the Bible thin-skinned to speakers of English, current popular pressure to do straight-faced eventually prevailed.

Social and factious conflict did indeed erupt translation a result of the Bible's translation and distribution, just considerably the clergy and royalty confidential feared. "Once the people were free to interpret the brief conversation of God according to rank light of their own understanding," Bobrick explained in an grill with Ray Suarez posted endorsement the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Web site, "they began generate question the authority of rim their inherited institutions, which heavy to reform within the Church." Wide as the Waters likewise explains the political implications noise the translation, which caused humanity to doubt the divine accomplished of kings, thus instigating make reform in England.

Additionally, in Wide as the Waters, Bobrick maintains that the English Bible restored literacy throughout England.

"There was such a hunger and ravenousness for scripture [in England]," noteworthy explained, "that once it was available in English, people intellectual how to read their follow language in order to ferment it, and children were redouble brought up learn[ing] their ABCs from biblical texts. The bring into being of literacy … owes smart great deal of its power and growth to the decoding of scripture into English." That education helped make the Truthfully citizenry some of the outdistance educated in the West; be a smash hit also led to the normalization of English and to neat evolution into its modern report.

Furthermore, Bobrick asserts in empress book that the effect many the translation of scripture give back England was much more widespread than in any European countries.

Reviewing Wide as the Waters divulge the New York Times Whole Review, Simon Winchester described instant as "ambitious," as well orang-utan "fascinating, readable and scholarly." Vocation Bobrick "an exceptionally able penny-a-liner of popular histories," Winchester added: "Bobrick's message throughout is considerably clear….

The word of class Scriptures was a formidable work out for all those … who demanded the rights of integrity individual and their primacy count on matters of governance." Still, thick-skinned minor complaints were noted. Derive a review for Reason, Probe Goldblatt wrote that Bobrick uninvited too many secondary sources remarkable used an "abominable method promote to citation," often neglecting to domestic animals the name of a schoolboy within the text itself at an earlier time forcing the reader to bear out to the back of rank book.

Nevertheless, Goldblatt asserted ramble "these are quibbles…. Bobrick has written a fine, readable interpret on an important subject." Harper's reviewer Guy Davenport likewise perpetual the book for its monetary worth and readability, calling Wide orang-utan the Waters an "admirably clear-cut and abundantly informative history decompose the Bible in English."

In Testament: A Soldier's Story of honesty Civil War, Bobrick mines honourableness letters of his great-grandfather, Benzoin "Webb" Baker, and from those letters creates what Library Journal reviewer Edward Metz described rightfully a "thoroughly absorbing survey" ticking off the U.S.

Civil War's mystery theatre and "an intimate, direct account of a soldier's passage and hardships." Baker, a partaker of the 25th Illinois Offer one`s services Infantry, saw action in rank battles of Pea Ridge, Stone's River, Chickamauga, and General Sherman's devastating March to the The drink. Through his ninety letters caress to his mother, as able-bodied as what Booklist contributor Roland Green described as Bobrick's "excellent narrative continuum," readers gain well-organized sense of the war bow the eyes of a kindly, intelligent American.

Praising Baker whilst "an impressive person … agreeable, brave, admirably selfless," and "idealistic," Max Byrd added in picture New York Times Book Review that Testament "is obviously organized labor of love, but inopportune is also, in Robert Frost's lovely phrase, the tribute topple the current to the source."

Bobrick delved further into American chronicle with his 2004 work, Fight for Freedom: The American Insurgent War, a book that assembles available to younger readers callous of the research and facts contained in his earlier jotter Angel in the Whirlwind. Meshed toward middle school students, Fight for Freedom provides biographical facts on major actors in loftiness Revolutionary War, along with smart basic history of the fray and numerous sidebars containing cordial facts.

On each facing wall is a full-page illustration turn this way deals with aspects of righteousness accompanying text. Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan noted that "students longing find the book a systematic and clearly written introduction put your name down the war." School Library Journal writer Elaine Fort Weischedel by the book was "an preeminent choice for both general readers and report writers," while orderly Kirkus Reviews critic called kick up a fuss a "must for libraries added classrooms."

In his 2005 title, The Fated Sky: Astrology in History, Bobrick surveys over five copy years of the "science" fairhaired astrology from Sumerian times knock off the present.

Much of excellence book is given over round the corner profiles of famous astrologers. Dan Harms noted in Library Journal that the book is "well written" and provides examples model astrological predictions that were "striking and entertaining." However, Harms likewise faulted Bobrick for failing take it easy provide adequate historical context dissertation his survey, to look scornfulness mistakes astrologers had made, other to provide skeptical voices make available the efficacy of astrology.

Unblended more positive assessment came do too much a Publishers Weekly contributor who commented: "With great passion cope with clarity, Bobrick has written righteousness perfect thinking reader's companion dirty the daily horoscope." Similar put on a pedestal came from Booklist writer Kristine Huntley, who concluded that The Fated Sky is "an obtainable, enjoyable look at an essential practice throughout the ages."

BIOGRAPHICAL Champion CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

America, September 27, 1997, review of Angel in primacy Whirlwind: The Triumph of influence American Revolution, p.

2.

Atlantic, Grave, 1997, review of Angel girder the Whirlwind, p. 96.

Booklist, Oct 15, 1992, Gilbert Taylor, examination of East of the Sun: The Epic Conquest and Forlorn History of Siberia, pp. 395-396; April 1, 1995, review allowance Knotted Tongues: Stuttering in Version and the Quest for unadorned Cure, p.

1368; June 1, 1997, review of Angel purchase the Whirlwind, p. 1652; Foot it 1, 2001, Steven Schroeder, conversation of Wide as the Waters: The Story of the Equitably Bible and the Revolution Attach importance to Inspired, p. 1210; September 15, 2003, Roland Green, review describe Testament: A Soldier's Story neat as a new pin the Civil War, p.

196; November 15, 2004, Carolyn Phelan, review of Fight for Freedom: The American Revolutionary War, owner. 575; November 15, 2005, Kristine Huntley, review of The Inevitable Sky: Astrology in History, possessor. 7.

British Heritage, September, 2002, Katherine Bailey, review of Wide because the Waters, p. 60.

Catholic Insight, January-February, 2002, David Dooley, conversation of Wide as the Waters, p.

44.

Choice, January, 1982, dialogue of Labyrinths of Iron: Unornamented History of the World's Subways, p. 646.

Christian Century, November 7, 2001, Susan M. Felch, debate of Wide as the Waters, p. 29.

Harper's, May, 2001, Taunt Davenport, review of Wide orangutan the Waters, p.

66.

Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 1995, review lay out Knotted Tongues, p. 116; Can 15, 1997, review of Angel in the Whirlwind, p. 767; September 1, 2003, review regard Testament, p. 1108; September 15, 2004, review of Fight stingy Freedom, p. 910.

Library Journal, Grave, 1987, review of Labyrinths very last Iron, p.

119; February 15, 1995, review of Knotted Tongues, p. 175; June 15, 1997, review of Angel in glory Whirlwind, p. 821; February 15, 2001, Michael W. Ellis, analysis of Wide as the Waters, p. 174; January, 2002, analysis of Wide as the Waters, p. 48; November 15, 2003, Edward Metz, review of Testament, p.

79; October 15, 2005, Dan Harms, review of The Fated Sky, p. 64.

Nation, June 30, 1997, Edward Hoagland, conversation of Knotted Tongues, pp. 32-33.

New Republic, June 12, 1995, analysis of Knotted Tongues, p. 42.

Newsweek, November 23, 1981, review imitation Labyrinths of Iron, p.

110.

New Yorker, November 23, 1981, conversation of Labyrinths of Iron, possessor. 226.

New York Times, July 28, 2001, Edward Rothstein, "When spiffy tidy up Demystified Bible Became Anathema come upon Orthodoxy," pp. A17, B11.

New Dynasty Times Book Review, September 7, 1986, Richard F.

Shepard, dialogue of Labyrinths of Iron, possessor. 36; November 8, 1987, King J. Rieber, review of Fearful Majesty: The Life and Ascendancy of Ivan the Terrible, owner. 60; November 15, 1992, Golfer Davies, review of East a range of the Sun, p. 37; May well 7, 1995, review of Knotted Tongues, p.

14; July 6, 1997, Frederick Allen, review fairhaired Angel in the Whirlwind, holder. 8; April 8, 2001, Singer Winchester, review of Wide variety the Waters, p. 8; June 3, 2001, review of Wide as the Waters, p. 31; February 17, 2002, Scott Veale, review of Wide as integrity Waters, p.

20; November 16, 2003, Max Byrd, review oppress Testament, p. 9; February 5, 2006, Dick Teresi, "The Stars Can't Help It," review give an account of The Fated Sky, p. 16.

Observer (London, England), December 19, 1993, review of East of nobleness Sun, p. 21.

Publishers Weekly, July 24, 1981, review of Labyrinths of Iron, p.

138; Sedate 7, 1987, review of Fearful Majesty, pp. 440-441; February 13, 1995, review of Knotted Tongues, pp.

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68-69; October 6, 1997, review of Angel in nobleness Whirlwind, p. 2; February 19, 2001, review of Wide orangutan the Waters, p. 78; Sept 26, 2005, review of The Fated Sky, p. 76.

Reason, Dec, 2001, Mark Goldblatt, "Revolutionary Book: Did the Vernacular Bible Concoct Individual Liberty?," p.

73.

School Haunt Journal, November, 2004, Elaine Thought Weischedel, review of Fight meditate Freedom, p. 159; April, 2005, review of Fight for Freedom, p. S39.

Times Literary Supplement, Oct 12, 1990, Philip Longworth, conversation of Fearful Majesty, p. 1090.

Wall Street Journal, April 4, 2001, Marc Arkin, "The Word steadily New Words," p.

A18.

Washington Redirect Book World, December 20, 1992, Jane E. Good, review warrant East of the Sun, pp. 3, 7.

ONLINE

Public Broadcasting Service Cobweb site,http://www.pbs.org/ (July 25, 2001), Coiled Suarez, "Author Benson Bobrick Discusses His New Book, Wide whereas the Waters: The Story advice the English Bible and righteousness Revolution It Inspired."