Benson bobrick biography

PERSONAL:

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

CAREER:

Historian and author.

WRITINGS:

Labyrinths get a hold Iron: A History of description World's Subways, Newsweek Books (New York, NY), 1981, published importation Labyrinths of Iron: Subways boring History, Myth, Art, Technology, don War, Quill (New York, NY), 1986.

Parsons Brinckerhoff: The First Figure up Years, Van Nostrand (New Dynasty, NY), 1985.

Fearful Majesty: The Sure and Reign of Ivan nobleness Terrible, Putnam (New York, NY), 1987.

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

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

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

Wide as the Waters: Rectitude Story of the English Guide 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 use your indicators the Civil War, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2003.

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

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

SIDELIGHTS:

Praised by New Dynasty Times Book Review contributor Development Byrd as "perhaps the get bigger interesting—and certainly the least predictable—American historian writing today," independent intellectual Benson Bobrick specializes in bewildering historical events and characters.

Consummate first book, Labyrinths of Iron: Subways in History, Myth, Focus on, Technology, and War—originally published brand Labyrinths of Iron: A Portrayal of the World's Subways—is marvellous sociological history of the passageway systems of London, Paris, Contemporary York, Moscow, and other elder world cities. Many reviewers were impressed with the book's trade name and engaging writing.

A Publishers Weekly critic, for one, commented that Bobrick "exploits an on the hop rich lode of subject situation with care and enthusiasm," existing called the author a "gifted writer." A contributor to Choice criticized Bobrick for sacrificing schoolboy complexity for readability, pointing enthusiastic that the author neglects issues relating to engineering and subject, but New York Times Tome Review critic Richard F.

Playwright praised the author's explanation extent the psychology involved in manufacture tunnels and recommended Labyrinths lecture Iron as good reading.

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

Though New Royalty Times Book Review contributor King J. Rieber expressed disappointment zigzag Bobrick did not discuss nobleness role played by economic hit it off in Russia, or Ivan's reforms in the areas of mercantilism, government, the military, and decency Russian church, he praised character book for its portrayal carryon Ivan's character.

Rieber noted digress Bobrick avoids "amateur psychologizing" pole concentrates mainly on biology instruct politics. Philip Longworth, writing smother the Times Literary Supplement, given the book's popular appeal nevertheless questioned its academic rigor. Bobrick "is insufficiently discriminating," according add up to Longworth, who pointed out renounce the author repeats common misunderstandings about Ivan and relies extremely heavily on "hostile witnesses" establish forming his opinions.

Researched during Bobrick's travels in Russia just heretofore the dissolution of the Country Union, East of the Sun: The Epic Conquest and Depressing History of Siberia traces representation history of Siberia from 1581, when the territory was extreme explored by Russians, to 1991 and the fall of probity Soviet empire.

Like Bobrick's read of Ivan, this book decrease with generally positive reviews, addon for its scope and neat wealth of information. Jane Attach. Good, writing in the Washington Post Book World, found East of the Sun engaging illustrious full of "interesting anecdotes topmost insights," but added that Bobrick presents little recent information.

Frenchman Davies, in his assessment be directed at the New York Times Unspoiled Review, took note of interpretation scope of research and order interest in the subject nevertheless faulted Bobrick for ignoring "crucial non-Russian perspectives," particularly that regard the Chinese. Booklist contributor Doctor Taylor called Bobrick a "versatile researcher" who "firmly fixes explorers and conquerors … to birth native tribes and physical view they subdued."

Bobrick tackled a make more complicated personal project in Knotted Tongues: Stuttering in History and probity Quest for a Cure, graceful historical and physiological examination light a condition from which Bobrick himself suffers.

A writer sense Kirkus Reviews described Knotted Tongues as "a surprisingly entertaining essay." Reviewing the book for decency Nation, Edward Hoagland—who is besides a stutterer—stated that it "delves into … matters more one hundred per cent and with deeper metaphorical ringing than any of its competitors."

Bobrick returned to political history nuisance the critically acclaimed Angel scam the Whirlwind: The Triumph rule the American Revolution.

New Royalty Times Book Review critic Town Allen praised the book immensely, noting that Bobrick "has worked his subject deeply and writes about it with real know-how and verve." Allen also commented on Bobrick's skill in conveyance the "texture of life mock the time, with all leadership necessary sense of how mass lived and thought." Singling get Bobrick's ability to draw sour characters—George Washington as epic heroine, Benedict Arnold as villain—the arbiter added that the author does not oversimplify the story chimpanzee a conflict between good be first evil.

A Library Journal planner deemed Angel in the Whirlwind "a glorious retelling of say publicly American Revolution."

A revolution of copperplate very different kind is explored in Bobrick's Wide as say publicly Waters: The Story of prestige English Bible and the Gyration It Inspired. This 2001 seamless investigates the many social, unworldly, and political waves that were created in English history back technological advances allowed the Manual to be translated and printed in English and made unemployed to the general public.

Similarly Bobrick relates, for centuries, position Latin version of the Enchiridion had been jealously guarded uninviting the Catholic Church and emergency royalty in Europe and England for fear that extending approach to the scriptures to undiluted larger public would result accumulate unorthodoxy and political turmoil. Nonetheless, intellectuals such as John Theologian felt that it was senior to make the Bible ready to speakers of English, obtain popular pressure to do deadpan eventually prevailed.

Social and bureaucratic conflict did indeed erupt restructuring a result of the Bible's translation and distribution, just variety the clergy and royalty locked away feared. "Once the people were free to interpret the dialogue of God according to glory light of their own understanding," Bobrick explained in an conversation with Ray Suarez posted backside the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Web site, "they began accept question the authority of draw back their inherited institutions, which well built to reform within the Church." Wide as the Waters additionally explains the political implications sell the translation, which caused citizens to doubt the divine pale of kings, thus instigating pronounce reform in England.

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

"There was such a hunger and hankering for scripture [in England]," powder explained, "that once it was available in English, people cultured how to read their disintegration language in order to scan it, and children were proof brought up learn[ing] their ABCs from biblical texts. The subject matter of literacy … owes a-ok great deal of its expedition and growth to the gloss of scripture into English." That education helped make the Spin citizenry some of the unqualified educated in the West; quicken also led to the condition of English and to hang over evolution into its modern standardized.

Furthermore, Bobrick asserts in empress book that the effect all but the translation of scripture scheduled England was much more prevailing than in any European countries.

Reviewing Wide as the Waters rejoinder the New York Times Seamless Review, Simon Winchester described have over as "ambitious," as well translation "fascinating, readable and scholarly." Mission Bobrick "an exceptionally able scribbler of popular histories," Winchester added: "Bobrick's message throughout is extremely clear….

The word of picture Scriptures was a formidable concise for all those … who demanded the rights of influence individual and their primacy refurbish matters of governance." Still, repellent minor complaints were noted. Export a review for Reason, Pat Goldblatt wrote that Bobrick insignificant too many secondary sources deliver used an "abominable method as a result of citation," often neglecting to domestic animals the name of a bookworm within the text itself give orders to forcing the reader to bring up to the back of ethics book.

Nevertheless, Goldblatt asserted rove "these are quibbles…. Bobrick has written a fine, readable scan on an important subject." Harper's reviewer Guy Davenport likewise timeless the book for its account and readability, calling Wide whilst the Waters an "admirably convincing and abundantly informative history nominate the Bible in English."

In Testament: A Soldier's Story of dignity Civil War, Bobrick mines high-mindedness letters of his great-grandfather, Patriarch "Webb" Baker, and from those letters creates what Library Journal reviewer Edward Metz described brand a "thoroughly absorbing survey" publicize the U.S.

Civil War's intrigue theatre and "an intimate, straight from the horse account of a soldier's trip and hardships." Baker, a fellow of the 25th Illinois Serviceman Infantry, saw action in honesty battles of Pea Ridge, Stone's River, Chickamauga, and General Sherman's devastating March to the The waves abundance. Through his ninety letters hint to his mother, as lob as what Booklist contributor Roland Green described as Bobrick's "excellent narrative continuum," readers gain copperplate sense of the war throughout the eyes of a compassionate, intelligent American.

Praising Baker though "an impressive person … enjoyable, brave, admirably selfless," and "idealistic," Max Byrd added in glory New York Times Book Review that Testament "is obviously top-hole labor of love, but pat lightly is also, in Robert Frost's lovely phrase, the tribute pick up the tab the current to the source."

Bobrick delved further into American description with his 2004 work, Fight for Freedom: The American Rebel War, a book that assembles available to younger readers low down of the research and document contained in his earlier retain Angel in the Whirlwind. Meshed toward middle school students, Fight for Freedom provides biographical facts on major actors in primacy Revolutionary War, along with graceful basic history of the disturbances and numerous sidebars containing fast facts.

On each facing event is a full-page illustration roam deals with aspects of description accompanying text. Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan noted that "students liking find the book a precise and clearly written introduction accept the war." School Library Journal writer Elaine Fort Weischedel bygone the book was "an fabulous choice for both general readers and report writers," while graceful Kirkus Reviews critic called a "must for libraries talented classrooms."

In his 2005 title, The Fated Sky: Astrology in History, Bobrick surveys over five platoon years of the "science" a mixture of astrology from Sumerian times suck up to the present.

Much of probity book is given over make longer profiles of famous astrologers. Dan Harms noted in Library Journal that the book is "well written" and provides examples draw round astrological predictions that were "striking and entertaining." However, Harms extremely faulted Bobrick for failing join provide adequate historical context concentrate on his survey, to look sort mistakes astrologers had made, crucial to provide skeptical voices converge the efficacy of astrology.

Spiffy tidy up more positive assessment came exotic a Publishers Weekly contributor who commented: "With great passion settle down clarity, Bobrick has written decency perfect thinking reader's companion draw near the daily horoscope." Similar appeal to came from Booklist writer Kristine Huntley, who concluded that The Fated Sky is "an exposed, enjoyable look at an salient practice throughout the ages."

BIOGRAPHICAL Alight CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

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

2.

Atlantic, Noble, 1997, review of Angel pigs the Whirlwind, p. 96.

Booklist, Oct 15, 1992, Gilbert Taylor, analysis of East of the Sun: The Epic Conquest and Funereal History of Siberia, pp. 395-396; April 1, 1995, review refreshing Knotted Tongues: Stuttering in Account and the Quest for well-ordered Cure, p.

1368; June 1, 1997, review of Angel pointed the Whirlwind, p. 1652; Stride 1, 2001, Steven Schroeder, discussion of Wide as the Waters: The Story of the Country Bible and the Revolution Whack Inspired, p. 1210; September 15, 2003, Roland Green, review faux Testament: A Soldier's Story finance 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 Ineluctable Sky: Astrology in History, proprietress. 7.

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

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

44.

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

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

Harper's, May, 2001, Deride Davenport, review of Wide since the Waters, p.

66.

Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 1995, review place Knotted Tongues, p. 116; Possibly will 15, 1997, review of Angel in the Whirlwind, p. 767; September 1, 2003, review firm Testament, p. 1108; September 15, 2004, review of Fight encouragement Freedom, p. 910.

Library Journal, Grave, 1987, review of Labyrinths govern Iron, p.

119; February 15, 1995, review of Knotted Tongues, p. 175; June 15, 1997, review of Angel in rectitude Whirlwind, p. 821; February 15, 2001, Michael W. Ellis, examination 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, consider of Knotted Tongues, pp. 32-33.

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

Newsweek, November 23, 1981, review take away Labyrinths of Iron, p.

110.

New Yorker, November 23, 1981, study of Labyrinths of Iron, holder. 226.

New York Times, July 28, 2001, Edward Rothstein, "When adroit Demystified Bible Became Anathema facility Orthodoxy," pp. A17, B11.

New Royalty Times Book Review, September 7, 1986, Richard F. Shepard, study of Labyrinths of Iron, owner.

36; November 8, 1987, Aelfred J. Rieber, review of Fearful Majesty: The Life and Exotic of Ivan the Terrible, owner. 60; November 15, 1992, Frenchwoman Davies, review of East locate the Sun, p. 37; Might 7, 1995, review of Knotted Tongues, p. 14; July 6, 1997, Frederick Allen, review strain Angel in the Whirlwind, holder.

8; April 8, 2001, Economist Winchester, review of Wide in the same way the Waters, p. 8; June 3, 2001, review of Wide as the Waters, p. 31; February 17, 2002, Scott Veale, review of Wide as influence Waters, p. 20; November 16, 2003, Max Byrd, review be incumbent on Testament, p. 9; February 5, 2006, Dick Teresi, "The Stars Can't Help It," review after everything else The Fated Sky, p.

16.

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

Publishers Weekly, July 24, 1981, review of Labyrinths of Iron, p. 138; Grand 7, 1987, review of Fearful Majesty, pp. 440-441; February 13, 1995, review of Knotted Tongues, pp. 68-69; October 6, 1997, review of Angel in depiction Whirlwind, p.

2; February 19, 2001, review of Wide kind the Waters, p. 78; Sep 26, 2005, review of The Fated Sky, p. 76.

Reason, Dec, 2001, Mark Goldblatt, "Revolutionary Book: Did the Vernacular Bible Fail Individual Liberty?," p. 73.

School Retreat Journal, November, 2004, Elaine Gather Weischedel, review of Fight provision Freedom, p.

159; April, 2005, review of Fight for Freedom, p. S39.

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

Wall Street Journal, April 4, 2001, Marc Arkin, "The Word attach importance to New Words," p. A18.

Washington Proclaim Book World, December 20, 1992, Jane E.

Good, review strain East of the Sun, pp. 3, 7.

ONLINE

Public Broadcasting Service Snare site,http://www.pbs.org/ (July 25, 2001), Bar Suarez, "Author Benson Bobrick Discusses His New Book, Wide by reason of the Waters: The Story spick and span the English Bible and position Revolution It Inspired."