|
|
Author e-blast from Stephen Puleo
December 2025
| |
An Issue Filled With Gratitude
Greetings, dear readers!
I'm wrapping up my 25th anniversary year as an author, and in this Christmas and holiday season of giving thanks, my theme for this issue is gratitude. I'm so grateful for your constant and deep support, loyalty, and interest in my work -- I can't say that enough -- and I'm sharing several items with you in this issue that have made me particularly thankful.
First, you'll read about the 80th anniversary of my dad's return from World War II -- December 10, 1945, which the Puleos refer to as "Coming Home Day." I'm dedicating this issue of the newsletter to dad to mark this special anniversary.
Next, I hope you enjoy the items about a very kind and thoughtful couple from Canada who provided me with a priceless gift by way of a hard-to-believe "letter-in-a-bottle" story; and a small-business owner on Boston's North Shore who opened a very interesting shop and incorporated one of my books into his overall theme.
You'll also read about my very busy and fulfilling fall speaking season, which included an amazing trip to Gettysburg to speak on a panel at a conference hosted by The Lincoln Forum -- a real thrill for me. I also recap keynote addresses I delivered at a local author forum and on Columbus Day for a Boston-area Italian-American organization. You'll read summaries of other Fall speaking events and some nice comments from a book club, a bookstore, and a reader! And as always, I share book recommendations that I think you 'll enjoy.
Please let me know your thoughts on the e-blast – or share anything else you’d like – by contacting me at spuleo@aol.com. Because I respect your time and fully recognize the flood of emails you receive, I try to limit these newsletters to 4-5 per year (I've had several readers say they appreciate this!). For those "in-between times" and more "breaking news," I hope you’ll follow me on Facebook and Instagram, and Linkedin.
Thanks again for providing me with the greatest gift an author can wish for – engaged, supportive, loyal, and communicative readers who enjoy books and who always feel free to express their opinions.
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a healthy New Year. I'll see you in 2026, when I'll be announcing the topic of my ninth book! Stay tuned!
And happy reading!
|
|
Grateful for My Dad on the 80th Anniversary of His "Coming Home Day" from World War II
| | |
As I mentioned, I'm starting my "gratitude newsletter" with a personal story...
I’m not sure exactly when you’ll be reading this, but it’s no accident that I scheduled this e-blast to be distributed on December 10.
Those of you who have been kind enough to follow me on social media or have received these newsletters are aware that December 10 is a special day in the Puleo family.
It’s my dad’s World War II "Coming Home Day."
And in 2025 it’s an extra special anniversary. It was on December 10, 1945 – exactly 80 years ago -- that U.S. Army Private First Class (PFC) Anthony W. Puleo returned home to his family after 20 months overseas during the Second World War.
| | |
The photos here show my dad (in dress uniform and cap) as an eighteen-year-old shortly after being drafted; leaning on a Jeep (likely in Belgium in late 1944); and in January 1945 from Belgium, four months shy of his 20th birthday.
After being drafted in 1943 at the age of 18, my dad served in Europe -- first in England, and then marching across France, Belgium, Luxembourg, part of Austria, and Germany – and was awarded the Purple Heart after being seriously wounded in Germany in April 1945.
Then — after 37 harrowing days in the hospital — he returned to his outfit just in time to be shipped to the Pacific. He was in the Philippines awaiting the invasion of Japan when the dropping of the atomic bombs ended the war.
He then served in Tokyo as part of the occupation force before heading back to the U.S. shortly before Thanksgiving, as the military worked to get as many troops as possible home before Christmas 1945. This massive effort was called "Operation Magic Carpet," which successfully transported more than eight million U.S. military personnel home in 1945 -- nearly 700,000 in December alone! -- under the call of "Home Alive By '45." Some newspapers labeled this expansive operation "the greatest mass movement" of personnel in history.
Dad’s journey home took him by ship from Japan to the State of Washington, where he boarded a troop train to begin the 3,000-mile journey across the U.S. He mustered out at Ft. Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts, and arrived home in Boston’s North End on the chilly evening of December 10, 1945, where he experienced joyful tears when he was reunited with his family. His mother -- my grandmother -- had been praying for his safe return in Boston's Sacred Heart Church shortly before his arrival.
The Puleo family commemorates Coming Home Day every year, and before dad passed away nearly 17 years ago, we either visited or called him every December 10 to reminisce about the homecoming he never forgot, and to offer grateful thanks that he made it home as a young man at the age of twenty-and-a-half.
To him, Coming Home Day was the most important day of his WWII experience. He always said he “shipped out as a boy and came back as a man.” His pride in serving his country was eclipsed only by his joy in returning safely to his family.
Dad never forgot his buddies who didn’t make it back. “They died so young,” he said to us on more than one occasion. “They went to do a job their country asked them to do and they never came back. They are the real heroes. That’s why we must never forget them. I never will.”
And neither will I.
For me, the last several anniversaries have been emotional. First, because of Covid, it was hard to appropriately recognize the dwindling number of World War II veterans still with us during the 75th anniversary of the war’s end in 2020. It was likely the last great milestone anniversary for many of them.
And now this year – the 80th anniversary of the war’s end – it hurts that even fewer WWII vets are alive for us to honor for their service.
I would ask you to please take a moment during this Christmas and holiday season to remember, especially, these few World War II veterans who are still among us. And for other veterans stationed far from home, please thank them from afar, wish them peace and Godspeed, and pray that they will celebrate their own Coming Home Day soon.
Happy 80th Coming Home Day anniversary, Dad!
| |
|
_______________
Dad never forgot his buddies who didn’t make it back. “They died so young,” he said to us on more than one occasion. “They went to do a job their country asked them to do and they never came back. They are the real heroes. That’s why we must never forget them. I never will.”
________
| | |
My Thanks to Lee and Arlene Morris from Ontario, Canada for This Amazing "Letter-In A-Bottle" Story
That Involves My Mom!
| | | | |
I wrote about my dad in the first story, so it seems fitting that my mom is involved in the second example of gratitude -- an amazing "letter-in-a-bottle" story made possible by the compassion and thoughtfulness of Lee and Arlene Morris of Ontario, Canada.
Here's the story:
Back in 2012, when my book, THE CANING, was published, I obviously inscribed a copy to my mom, Rose Puleo (dad had passed away three years earlier). When my mom moved out of our family homestead and into an assisted living situation, she took the book with her.
Mom died in 2022, and somehow the inscribed copy of THE CANING was misplaced. Either she had donated it to the in-house library at her facility, or it had become lost when we cleaned out mom's unit after she passed.
Enter Lee and Arlene Morris. Earlier this year, they attended a fundraising event in which several used books were on sale. They saw THE CANING and bought it. When they returned home, Arlene opened the book and found my inscription written to my mother!! See the photo here.
To Arlene's immense credit -- and my eternal gratitude -- she took the time to email me (blindly) and asked: "Is this legit? Is it really the copy you inscribed to your mom?" I was totally incredulous and said -- "YES! It's my mom's copy." Somehow, in the strange world of used books, the copy had made its way from Burlington, Massachusetts to Ontario, Canada! I have no idea how...but I'm so grateful it ended up with the Morrises.
I thanked this amazing couple a thousandfold when they offered to mail the book back to me. I sent them an inscribed copy of their own and got their permission to tell the story (and use their photo!) in this issue.
What aThanksgiving gift! How grateful am I to Lee and Arlene Morris? Let me count the ways.
And as a friend of mine mused: "I wonder what your mom was trying to tell you with this gift?"
I'm not exactly sure, but I am totally sure that my mom -- one of the kindest people I've ever known -- would say "God Bless" to Lee and Arlene.
I'm saying it too!
| | | More Gratitude: Cool Shop on Boston's North Shore Focused on Storytelling Features My Book, DARK TIDE, and the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919! | | |
The name of the shop is New England Sketch Book, and according to founder and owner Corey Prince (shown here), the focus of his Newburyport, MA locale is to tell old, lost stories of the Boston and New England area.
"My dad spent most of his working life in the city and would regale us kids with classic tales of Boston, including the Great Molasses Flood," Corey explained to me. "I have been eager to tell the story since I opened my shop."
Corey also wanted to share the story with visitors and customers "but in a manner that was respectful to the loss of life" and the nature of the tragedy.
As such, he worked with a local candle maker and developed a scent he calls "Summer in the North End" to reflect the lore of the molasses scent (see candles in the accompanying photo that include a map of the North End waterfront area along with the phrase "Honoring the Great Molasses Flood of 1919"), and he worked with me to ensure that his shop had plenty of copies of my book, DARK TIDE: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, on hand.
"The combination [the candles and the book] have been a wonderful activator of conversation and dialog," Corey said, "and yes, it began to sell almost immediately."
Overall, Corey said, his shop is focused on a "deeper narrative of New England through art, reclaimed material creations, and new items telling the lost stories of the region."
I'm honored that Corey is featuring DARK TIDE in this unique store. My thanks to him and his customers!
You can go here to visit New England Sketch Book!
| | | |
My Thanks to Book Clubs, Bookstores, and All Readers!
| |
No newsletter focused on gratitude would be complete without me expressing my profound thanks to book clubs, bookstores, and all my loyal readers. I'm so grateful for the people who sell and read my books, and wanted to use this space to highlight an example in each of these categories.
__________________________
|
Say hello to the ABC (Auburn Book Club),
who read and enjoyed DARK TIDE!
| | |
My thanks to the Auburn (MA) Book Club -- which has the great acronym "ABC" -- for selecting DARK TIDE as one of their choices.
"I think our discussion was the longest we have ever had," said member Kathi Giotta. "We were impressed by all of your thorough research and sharing so much history that many were unfamiliar with. Loved your writing style."
So grateful for this club's kind words! Members are (seated from left): Rachel Lacombe, Dan Donavan, Deb Donavan, and RoxAnn Gusar; (top row from left): Kathi Giotta, a "friend" who prefers not to be identified, Michael Gusar, and Karen Anderson. Members Ray Rieder and Alice Whealan are not pictured.
My thanks to the ABC!!
_________________________________________
| |
Thanks to the Concord Bookshop for Featuring
(and Recommending) A CITY SO GRAND
| | |
I love independent bookstores, and one of the best in Massachusetts is the Concord Bookshop in historic Concord, MA.
It was great to see that the store featured and recommended my book, A CITY SO GRAND: The Rise of An American Metropolis, Boston 1850-1900! (you can see it at the bottom right of the display with the striking red cover block image).
Even better was the glowing recommendation given by staff member Matt, who referred to the book as "an enormously engaging account...a wonderful read and highly recommended to everyone." You can read Mike's full review in the photo here.
Many thanks to Matt and the Concord BookShop!
| | | | |
_________________________________
| | |
My Thanks to Marie A.E., Virginia Beach, Virginia for Her Kind Message About THE BOSTON ITALIANS and VOYAGE OF MERCY...
Here's the text of Marie's message:
"Thank you for your book, THE BOSTON ITALIANS. I discovered your writings after a friend gave me VOYAGE OF MERCY. Since my husband was so proud of his Irish heritage via Boston, that was an eye-opener. You have done it again with the Italian story.
My paternal grandparents came from Northern Italy near Parma around 1903. They met and married in Boston’s North End and settled in Framingham (MA), where I grew up in an Italian neighborhood surrounded by grandparents and relatives.
Your book brought back many memories of my nonno taking the train every Saturday to the North End to stock up on supplies, especially salami.
Thank you for a wonderful book about Italian-Americans.
Keep on writing.
PS
My sister and granddaughter (who is living in Italy) will be getting your book for Christmas!"
(Note: Marie’s last name was withheld at her request)
_____________
I'm grateful that readers like Marie feel comfortable -- even enthusiastic -- about writing to me to offer their opinions. I cherish this interaction and pay tribute to such thoughtful readers. You can find more reader comments by visiting the What Readers are Saying section of my website.
| | |
It Was An Honor to Speak at The Lincoln Forum's
30th Annual Symposium Held in Gettysburg!
| |
| | |
In this season of giving thanks, I was honored, humbled, and grateful to be invited to speak at the 30th Annual Symposium of The Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg, PA last month!
It was an amazing conference with hundreds of Lincoln afficionados and scholars. Based on my book, THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union, I spoke on a panel entitled "The Voice of the People: Lincoln and Congress." I am shown in the group shot with (from left), moderator Michelle Krowl from the Library of Congress; Cecily Zander, author of The Army Under Fire: The Politics of Antimilitarism in the Civil War Era, and Jeffrey Boutwell, author of Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy. I'm happy to say that more than 300 people packed our discussion, and I enjoyed it thoroughly!
I also had fun at an all-author book signing during which speakers and panelists who were authors got to meet and sign books for so many wonderful attendees.
The Gettysburg event was an extra special event for me because I was accompanied by my wife and biggest supporter Kate, and my sister-in-law, Pat Doyle, who was kind enough to take numerous great photos.
I want to also mention and give thanks to Shelley Fischer of Las Vegas, Nevada, who was instrumental in me being invited to the conference in the first place. Shelley, who has read several of my books, has been a long-time attendee of The Lincoln Forum Annual Symposium, and (politely) lobbied organizers to invite me to speak. I'm shown with Shelley at the famous painting entitled The Peacekeepers, painted by George P.A. Healy in 1868, which depicts a famous meeting involving President Abraham Lincoln, Generals William Tecumseh Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant, and Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter, where they discussed the future of the South in late March 1865 at Grant's headquarters in City Point, Virginia.
My deep thanks to Harold Holzer, Chairman and co-founder of The Lincoln Forum; Jonathan White, Vice Chairman; The Lincoln Forum faculty -- and everyone associated with the symposium for this honor!
| | | | |
_________________________________________
And a Gettysburg Postscript: Charles Sumner, Don Quixote, the Library of Congress, and Michelle Krowl's
Very Cool Research Nugget!
| | |
File this under a very cool nugget of historical research by Michelle Krowl, who served as the moderator in my panel mentioned above, and is also the Civil War and Reconstruction Specialist for the Manuscript Division in the Library of Congress (she is shown here in the LOC).
While reading THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST in preparation for The Lincoln Forum panel, Michelle saw that I had parenthetically mentioned that Charles Sumner borrowed Don Quixote from "the library" in preparation for his famous "The Crime Against Kansas" speech in May 1856. The controversial speech was the spark that led South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks to beat Sumner with a cane to within an inch of his life on May 22, 1856 (I first wrote about that in my 2012 book, THE CANING: The Assault That Drove America to Civil War).
Michelle wondered if Sumner borrowed Don Quixote from the Library of Congress -- a presumption that made sense since Sumner was in Washington D.C. from January of that year.
And lo and behold -- the records showed that he did exactly that! The document here is Sumner's winter/spring 1856 borrowing record from the Library of Congress (see his name on the top right of the ledger). Look carefully and you'll discover that Sumner checked the book out on January 23 of that year and returned it on February 4. It was well before his speech, but Sumner often researched speeches for months before delivering them.
My thanks to Michelle for her intellectual curiosity and for finding Sumner's LOC borrowing record!
| | | Thanks to Bellingham (MA) for Inviting Me to Deliver the Keynote Address and Conduct a Seminar at the Town's Local Author Expo! | | |
I was truly honored to deliver the keynote address and host a writing workshop at the Bellingham (MA) Local Author Expo!
This was an outstanding event that brought together published authors, aspiring authors, library supporters, members of the community, and -- perhaps the biggest treat of all -- students who participated in "The Write Stuff," a summer writing program that culminates in the library publishing their stories in book form (I'm shown here with these amazing kids in the group shot, and with Sid Kalyan as she explains her book project).
My workshop for adult authors focused on a combination of writing and marketing approaches -- these enthusiastic authors were a pleasure to work with!
I'm also shown here with a long-time loyal reader, Beckie Mirisola (holding three of my books), and with Library Director Bernadette Rivard (holding THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST).
Bernadette did yeoman's work to organize this fantastic event and make sure all ran smoothly. Diane Nelson, who's not shown here, is the director of "The Write Stuff" children's writing program. Thanks to Bellingham for inviting me and making me feel so at home!
| | | | A Fall Highlight: Giving the Keynote Address at the Boston-area Italian Heritage Month Committee (IHMC) Annual Columbus Day Breakfast! | | |
What an honor to be asked to deliver the keynote speech at the Italian Heritage Month Committee (IHMC) annual Columbus Day Breakfast.
My remarks focused on why Columbus and his achievements are important to Italian-Americans, in particular, and should be celebrated by all Americans.
I'm shown chatting with Arnaldo Minuti, Consul General of Italy in Boston; and in the group shot with Richard Vita (left), President of the Italian Heritage Month Committee, and IHMC Chairman Kevin Caira; and in the large group shot with the entire committee.
My thanks to the IHMC and the more than 80 people who attended this wonderful event -- held at the Dante Alighieri Hall in Cambridge -- despite heavy wind and rain. Mille grazie for the warm welcome the group gave to my wife Kate and me on this special day!
| | Other Fall Events for Which I'm Grateful! | | |
I was so grateful to many other organizations for inviting me to speak this Fall, and here's a brief recap of these events. In all, I have now made 735 appearances as an author! I'm thankful to the people who organize these events and the people who attend them! Thank you!
_________________
| |
Walpole (MA) Public Library:
THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST
It was a special night in Walpole, MA, as approximately 60 people attended my presentation on THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST at the Walpole Public Library.
Walpole has always been very good to me, and this night was no exception. It was my fifth appearance in this great community (for five different books), and I've also been at Walpole High School several times because a few amazing history teachers use DARK TIDE as part of their Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. history curriculum.
My thanks to the library, the Friends group, and a highly engaged -- and energetic! -- audience for making my fifth visit to Walpole a memorable experience!
| | | _____________________________ | |
The Hub50House in Boston:
DARK TIDE
My deepest thanks to the staff and the residents of Boston's Hub50House for a wonderful evening discussing DARK TIDE -- on the 38th floor, high above the bustling city.
The luxury apartment facility is located adjacent to the Boston Garden, just a short distance from the site of the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 -- so the subject matter was very appropriate! Kudos to Hub50House team members Dan Pereira and Chantal Colon for organizing and managing this event in a very intimate setting, and to the outstanding attendees who gave me a warm welcome and asked great questions.
All of this accompanied by one of the great views in the entire city!
| | | ________________________________________ | |
Sherborn, MA:
THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST
Many thanks to the beautiful Town of Sherborn, MA, the Sherborn Public Library, and the Sherborn History Center and Museum (SHCM) for sponsoring my appearance to discuss THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST.
I appreciated the wonderful audience (live and remote via Zoom) and the numerous excellent questions that I received. Special thanks to SHCM's Kevin Delaney for organizing this fun event!
| | | _______________________________________________ | |
The Village at Duxbury MA:
THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST
A huge thank you to the residents and staff of The Village at Duxbury, a beautiful retirement community in Duxbury, MA, for hosting me to discuss my book, THE GREAT ABOLITONIST.
I appreciated the warm welcome and the excellent questions from audience attendees. The Village started things off with a wine-and-cheese reception before the presentation just to add to the cordiality.
Special shout-out to Pam Curtis, Resident Services Coordinator (shown here with me), for managing this terrific event. Thanks to The Village!
| | | A Couple of Short Items That Make Me Thankful, Too! | | |
|
Nice to See DARK TIDE at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Gift Shop!
It was a pleasure to see my book, DARK TIDE: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 on sale at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) gift shop -- love the location near a few other Boston-related books and the "designer" MBTA socks (which will surely keep your feet warm if you're riding Boston's public transit system)!
My thanks for this heads-up to Hillary Schusterman of Jackrabbit Design, who handles the technical management of my website!
| |
______________
My Master's Thesis from UMass-Boston Has Now Been Downloaded
More than 28,250 Times!
I'm honored to report that my UMass-Boston History master's thesis, From Italy to Boston's North End: Italian Immigration and Settlement , 1890-1910, has now been downloaded more than 28,250 times by readers, educational institutions, non-profits, and other organizations from around the world!
I'm also grateful that it is the number one downloaded thesis ever in the UMB History Department.
Readers from more than 140 countries have downloaded my thesis -- you can go to my UMB "Author Dashboard" and play around with the map and other cool features. Be sure to click "all time" in the top right-hand corner to get the total number of downloads since the dashboard began in 2013. And feel free to download the thesis yourself!
My thesis eventually led to my book, THE BOSTON ITALIANS: A Story of Pride, Perseverance, and Paesani, from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day, which was published in 2007.
| | | |
My Year-End Thanks to You as I
Wrap-Up my 25th Year as an Author!
| | | | |
I say it every time I publish a newsletter, and many times in between, and in this issue focused on gratitude, I'll say it once more: THANK YOU!
I'm so grateful for your support, and especially so as I wrap-up my 25th year as an author. Consider this the culmination of a year-long thank you to all of you who have supported me this year and for many years before!
I’ve been enormously blessed as an author – so many people have encouraged me and been by my side throughout the journey – and it all starts with you!
Whether you are a loyal and devoted reader, a good friend or family member, a school administrator or teacher, a member of a library staff, a book club member, a student who loves history or writing, part of a community organization, a corporate or non-profit staffer, a publicity professional, or a member of the media (and maybe you fill more than one of these roles!) -- you have all done so much to make my author career very special!
Thanks for your attendance at my author appearances, your emails, your visits to my website, your responses to my social media posts, your book purchases, and your general well wishes.
With eight published books, a ninth on the way, and 735 appearances since this author journey began, you have humbled me with your support.
I'm profoundly grateful! I can't say it enough.
I'm truly honored that you're members of the "Puleo team."
| | |
And finally, a few books (besides mine)
for your reading pleasure..
| | |
Those of you who have received my e-blasts before know that I like to recommend nonfiction books (with an occasional fiction title thrown in, like this issue) from other authors that I think you'll enjoy. Many of you have let me know that you appreciate this, which I'm glad to hear. I love talking about books, so consider this our online book club conversation.
For previous books I've recommended, you can always go to my "What I'm Reading" section of my Website (this issue's selections will be added shortly).
My recommendations for this issue:
-
COLUMBUS AND THE QUEST FOR JERUSALEM: How Religion Drove the Voyages That Led to America, by Carol Delaney
If you want to move past the regrettable caricatures of Columbus that have become vogue in recent years, read this book. Carol Delaney delves into actual primary sources to paint a new interpretation of the man and his mission, arguing that Columbus was inspired to find a western route to China not only on a quest for gold for the Spanish crown, but also to fund a new crusade to take Jerusalem back from the Muslims and into Christian hands before judgement day. Delaney depicts Columbus as an outstanding navigator (he made four voyages without knowledge or benefit of longitude), and a thoughtful interpreter of native cultures, though also as an ineffective governor whose men often defied his wishes when it came to the treatment of indigenous peoples. The book also shows Columbus in the context of his times rather than through the prism of present-day perspectives. It's a thoughtful, well-researched, and well-written book that is very much worth a read!
-
THE RIDE: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America, by Kostya Kennedy
I've read lots about Paul Revere's ride and the beginning of the American Revolution, and each time I do, I learn something new. This book is no exception. Kennedy does a great job drawing and explaining the "man who was Paul Revere," and placing him in the middle of the breathtaking events that led to his historic and iconic ride on the night of April 18, 1775, and the morning of the 19th. Kennedy also places into historical context Revere's relationship with other colonial leaders -- John Hancock, Samuel Adams, William Dawes, Dr. Joseph Warren and others -- who helped set in motion the events that would ultimately lead to America's independence. This year -- 2025 -- is the 250th anniversary of "The Ride," but if you can't squeeze it in before year's end, it's a good book to kick off 2026, the 250th of the country declaring its independence from England.
-
THE RESTLESS WAVE (historical fiction special), by Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.)
Closing out my recommendations for this issue with this novel of the United States Navy. The book's main character, Scott Bradley James, arrives at Annapolis as a plebe in the U.S. Naval Academy's class of 1941. The story follows him, his friends, and his girlfriend as tensions with the Japanese reach a boiling point, and then through the attack on Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Guadalcanal. It's really a gripping account of the Navy during the first three years of the war. Kennedy is working on another novel that follows Scott James through the war. I liked both the fictional story and the very accurate historical portrayal of big events that are interwoven in this excellent book.
| |
| | | |
