The Accidental Anarchist: From the Diaries of Jacob Marateck
Author
Bryna Kranzler
Publisher
Crosswalk Press
3 Review Copies Left
The Accidental Anarchist is the remarkable true story of Jacob Marateck, an Orthodox Jew who was sentenced to death 3 times in the early 1900s in Russia -- and lived to tell about it. He also happened to have been the author's grandfather, and the book is based on the diaries he began keeping in 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War.
As a non-commissioned officer in the notoriously anti-Semitic Russian army, Marateck led soldiers who wanted to kill him at least as much as the enemy did. Not content to merely survive the war, Marateck joined the incompetent Polish revolutionary underground movement intent on overthrowing Czar Nicholas II. It was in this capacity that Marateck was sentenced to death for the 3rd time. His life was saved by a young girl who picked up the note he dropped in despair on the way to The Citadel where he was to await execution.
Escaping from a Siberian forced labor camp, Marateck traveled nearly 3000 miles, without food, money or legal papers, to find the young girl who had saved his life. It is for this young girl that author Bryna Kranzler, Marateck’s granddaughter, was named.
The book, an eyewitness account of historical events, is written in Marateck's unique voice, which is filled with humor and optimism that contrasted with the circumstances but which helped him survive. Elie Wiesel called The Accidental Anarchist "...a profound testament to the faith and continued survival of the Jewish people."
Reviews
Our story begins in Poland at the dawn of the 20th century, when the country is occupied by Russia. Our hero, Jacob Marateck, lives in Vishigrod with his parents and brothers, and is conscripted into the Russian army to fight in the Russo-Japanese war which is centred in Manchuria. He is part of a constant stream of foot soldiers sent to do battle with the enemies of the Czar. He neither cares for the Czar nor his enemies and just wants to serve his time and head for home, with as little damage to body and mind as possible.
Jacob’s diaries form the basis for this book which has been carefully transcribed by his granddaughter Bryna, ably assisted by her parents, who undertook the translation of the journals. The resulting story is a fascinating tale of war and the utter futility of countries throwing their young men at each other until one of them runs out of steam, or moves on to another conflict. Horrifying images are described by Jacob as he travels from his home to the various battlefronts and the difficulties he encounters along the way.
In those days, as in many before and since, Jews were not the most popular citizens of Russian-occupied Poland, and their treatment in the army was no different. The hardships were many, and the tales of death and destruction numerous, but somehow Jacob survived to tell his story. He travelled thousands of miles in the service of the Czar, facing occasional imprisonment, death sentences, and terrible deprivation which made his survival all the more amazing.
A fascinating story, which brings to life those violent and troubled times, through the words of someone who was there. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written historical biography and is interested in European history.
Reviewed on 04/15/2012 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Suzy Watts
The Accidental Anarchist: From the Diaries of Jacob Marateck
Author: Bryna Kranzler
To read a diary provides an opportunity to look into the diarist's soul. The Accidental Anarchist by Bryna Kranzler is the story of her grandfather, Jacob Marateck, and the book provides just that opportunity. In the Author's Note Ms. Kranzler writes that "The objective was to create an entertaining and enlightening narrative without changing the story." She succeeded.
Jacob Marateck and his family lived in Russian occupied Poland in the latter part of the 19th century. Most people were poor and his family was no exception. He could either go to school or be sent to learn a trade. He chose school and before his thirteenth birthday he decided studying was not for him. Without telling anyone that he was going home, he ran away from the yeshiva. Around the same time, a boy his age was found drowned. "Using good Polish logic, the authorities put the missing boy together with the dead boy, and wiped their hands of both cases with remarkable efficiency." His parents were notified of his death and mourned him- not for the last time. Upon returning home his family told him he "needed to find a job". He went to Warsaw and worked at unfulfilling jobs for about eight years. It was in Warsaw that he organized a strike that demanded daily work hours be reduced to twelve hours from twenty hours. The end result was not exactly what he wanted but he learned what he was capable of doing. In 1902 twenty-one year old Jacob, who is Jewish, is conscripted into the anti-Semitic Russian army. He survives two death sentences. Upon leaving the military he becomes part of the Polish revolutionary underground and receives his third death sentence. The sentence is commuted to ten years in a Siberian prison from which he and his most interesting friend escape! Their three thousand mile journey home is nothing short of miraculous and full of surprises.
Jacob Marateck was a dignified man who was both courageous and honorable. Through the horrors of war, hunger and all the other hardships he endured his remarkable sense of humor was ever present. To read his story is a privilege. I highly recommend reading it.
I received this book for free through Review The Book and I give this review of my own free will.
Reviewed on 03/28/2012 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Evie Harris
