Dear Comrades --- Thanks to Louis for posting the review. I happen to think this review is an example of (to put a cliche on its head) "praising with faint damnation"! What I mean by that is the reviewer seems to think the biography fails --- then spends almost the entire review telling us all sorts of valuable things one learns from the book!!
My brother and I cooperated with this biographer (we also were quite scrupulous about not trying to impose our views on her --- having a fresh pair of eyes from a distinguished biographer seemed a very good idea!) and we think it is a VERY GOOD book. >From the time my parents were arrested through the early years of the CURRENT century, they were always "The Rosenbergs" --- two people mashed into one unit! My brother and I know something about that syndrome --- we have been lumped together even though we are separate individuals with different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to writing about, speaking about, our parents --- as well as in our life choices professionally and politically (One example of us being treated as a single unit: Despite the fact that it is clear from the Rosenberg Fund for Children website that my brother was its first director and my role has been as a member of the advisory committee, we have often had people refer to the fund as "Michael and Robert's organization" --- not true --- though of course I have been an enthusiastic supporter of the organization from the get go.) So we welcomed the effort to consider my parents as TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. This became necessary after it became clear (through Morton Sobell's "confession" to NY Times reporter Sam Roberts in 2008) that my father had indeed been part of a group that attempted to help the Soviet Union with American military and industrial secrets during World War II (and years after). Unlike my father, my mother never was given a code name and there is no evidence (except perjured trial testimony from the chief prosecution witnesses) that she engaged in any overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. (Knowledge of a conspiracy is NOT evidence of participation in said conspiracy). In other words --- there are two separate and distinct Rosenbergs, despite their loving marriage' and strong support for each other. In fact, we think she did not participate in his activities on behalf of the Soviets as a safety play --- if he were arrested she would be able to take care of us. This increases our understanding of the terrible bind my mother found herself in when the government took her as a hostage--- and I think the book tells her story very well. The book also benefits from being written by a woman --- who focuses on the unbelievably sexist way my mother was treated by the media and ultimately by the decision makers, Judge Irving Kaufman and President Dwight Eisenhower. I recommend it most highly. (and my brother agrees --- even though we ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE!) (I urge those who don't want to buy it to get their local library to buy it!) Solidarity, (again, thanks, Louis), Mike -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#9190): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/9190 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/83539183/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
