Ellis Island Interviews: Immigrants Tell Their Stories In Their Own Words

Like the Statue of Liberty who lifts her lamp nearby, Ellis Island symbolizes the hope, the promise, and the dreams of freedom and opportunity that lure impoverished and persecuted immigrants to seek a better life in America. Between 1892 and 1954, however, it was far more than a symbol; for millions, it was the final hurdle between them and the realization of their dreams. Indeed, if you were born in the United States, it's quite likely that at least one of your ancestors passed through Ellis Island. In Ellis Island Interviews, more than 100 immigrants from all over Europe and the Middle East offer accounts of those difficult steps that carried them to and through Ellis Island's legendary Golden Door. They describe the lives they left behind, explain why they emigrated, and offer moving stories of their often-frightening experiences, both while crossing the Atlantic and in gaining entry to the United States. They also tell us how they fared in their new homeland. Some of the adventurous souls who tell their stories here - including Bob Hope, writer Isaac Bashevis Singer, and movie director Otto Preminger - rose to fame and fortune in America. Even the unsung, however, were heroes. This book is a testament to their courage and perseverance. Peter Morton Coan, former managing editor of Boating World magazine and executive editor of World Tennis magazine, is the author of the critically acclaimed biography Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story. Ellis Island Interviews is his third nonfiction book.
ASIN: 0760753091
VSKU: BVV.0760753091.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Peter Morton Coan
Binding: Hardcover
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item is very worn but is perfectly usable. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing age related spots and browning . May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.