Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller
Alexandra Fuller (see photo above-- she is the youngest daughter) and her family moved to Rhodesia in the early 1970s. There they attempted to farm and ranch; however, the war for equality and independence being waged by the black majority made it difficult. After the war was over, Fuller and her family left Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and ultimately settled in Zambia.
This book tells the story of her family. It is entertainingly written and quite fascinating. If you are interested in learning more about the white Rhodesians and what it was like to be on the losing side of the war, this would be a good book to read.
With Trotsky in Exile: From Prinkipo to Coyoacan by Jean van Heijenoort
During the 1930s, Jean van Heijenoort (pictured above, second from the right, directly behind Frida Kahlo) served as an assistant, collaborator, secretary, and bodyguard to Leon Trotsky during much of the time the Russian revolutionary leader was in exile in Turkey, France, Norway, and Mexico. This book was written in the 1970s and is based upon van Heijenoort's personal memories and papers as well as some of Trotsky's documents. Despite the fact that van Heijenoort later quietly repudiated Marxism and went on to become a mathematics professor, this book is, on the whole, sympathetic to Trotsky and his struggle.
From reading this book, I learned the following facts:
- Leon Trotsky enjoyed fishing, hunting, and riding horses.
- Trotsky was a non-smoker and did not allow others to smoke in his presence.
- Trotsky was very particular about the pens that he used.
- While he had a very strict schedule of meal times, Trotsky was not at all particular about what he ate.
- The only person around whom Trotsky seemed relaxed was Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.
- Trotsky insisted that the outboard motor for the fishing boat in Turkey be operated strictly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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