The intellectual glitterati angst and confusion are on display for all to see. They obviously thought themselves more important and influential than they actually were. Their politics bordered on the faddish fringe. Writing novels to convey political ideas was really a disservice to both literature and politics. Political movements wrapped around the personalities of their leadership leads to a blurring of thought. Witness how Winston Churchill was so quickly deposed after VE Day. Much the same with George H W Bush in 1992. Most strong, charismatic leaders saw these writers as personalities to be manipulated and flattered, blided by their own self-regard.
Churchill impishly told us that history was going to treat him kindly, because he was going to write it. Seventy-five years down the road, Churchill's reputation is shopworn, but still relatively intact. History isn't hagiography.
No its not. But we can forgive mere chroniclers. It’s difficult to see now the shock effects of both WW1 and in the case of these too flawed chroniclers the effect Freud had at the time. Freud is nonsense, a kiss and tell confessor of the terminal Hapsburgs Vienna.
The Catholic Church could have had a thousand Freuds (kiss and tell confessors for sale) in its time. To its far worse than shopworn reputation it has none.
Well, you might have been Jew, like Freud in the Habsburg Empire, and be despised for upsetting 'der Mittelstand' sensibilities, but mostly for being a Jew. The Roman Catholic Church in Freud's lifetime was none too keen about Freud's theories of infant sexuality, modernity, and Jews in particular. Count yourself lucky that your personal disappointment in their outlook was unlikely to cause you much grief, much less a one-way trip to somewhere else from which there was no return. The church has yet to come to terms with its history as others have experienced that history's impact on themselves and their lives and loved ones. There are too many still alive who enthusiastically participated in those derelictions, despite the Vatican's apologies in recent years.
Yes…but for all you know I’m a Palestinian, Lebanese- or even Ukrainian who’s family was savaged by a certain ah er group with a utopian vision of Marx that translated into the Holodmor- which was simple blood vengeance under a Red Banner. However I am none of these things, but the names Kaganovich, Yagoda, Yezhov and probably Beria are quite known.
There has never been a hint of remorse never mind apology.
Of course the same ah er banner claims that 6 million were killed in the Holocaust- a very inaccurate number.
Way off.
A more accurate number is 11 million, unless the humanity of the other 5 million isn’t acknowledged - of which we Others here rumors it indeed is actively denied.
If we’re talking about the Shoah by the way , which is the only program where people disappeared into - you may want to know the Churches role according to the Chosen present at the time was quite laudable- Pinchas Lapide Israeli veteran, historian and Diplomat said 550,000 trees should be planted in Israel to acknowledge Pius XII true record of saying lives. His book was “3 popes and the Jews” which was hardly a whitewash- but was a very detailed correction of false rumors that began to circulate in the 1960s. At the time the truth was known, as the NYT during the actual war printed. Golda Meir also praised him at his funeral, I can go on.
So 💩. Indeed an utterly false blood libel confected from pure 1960s malice and mischief.
I’m also ready to refute the DaVinci Code, and the Flat Earth myth if this is helpful.
Meanwhile do try to come to terms in baby steps; it was 11 million murdered by the Nazis, not 6 million.
People normally demur from quarrel on this so sensitive subject- but I’m Irish and am always expected to rise.
Thank you for a nice write up of the book. I've added it to the queue of books to read. I remember reading a lot of John Gunther in the long ago past but little Dorthy Thompson.
(Many notes for this gem. Pardon my long comments).
* “Put not thy trust in Princes” leaps to mind. Or Heaven help you - Ideology.
* My personal judgment on Ideology- the logic of an idea- is that we humans are too flawed to follow the logic of an idea without slaughter or madness. I call as supporting witnesses- the 20th century.
* She (Thompson) was living through a Revolutionary age of Socialism left and Right. Like it or not National Socialism was a Social Revolution as well as Political.
* Fascism outside the Nazis is simply war buddies who don’t want to end up like the Kronstadt sailors. It’s program past the militarism does improve to an extent the lot of the commons in Portugal and even later Spain. Fascism is a very mild Revolution compared to the others. Its often just Reaction, which shouldn’t be ruled out automatically as the Left so often does without asking what are we reacting to?
* Austria; enemies tous azimuts (all points) - the Hapsburgs deserve far more credit than they usually get. So of course they couldn’t hold on as a social democracy. The neglect of geography is so deplorable even apparently in the Interwar pause they’re shocked, shocked that such a humane and decent system in Austria gave way. So did the dictatorship that followed. So did Poland. So did France. So would have Portugal and Spain under any system had Hitler wanted to push south in 1940 -he did and had 50 divisions at the border, Franco out negotiated him and Hitler probably decided not to make all of Napoleon’s mistakes- just the Big one in Russia. Geography is ignored at mortal peril. BTW part of the reason the Hapsburgs lasted so long is they heavily emphasized maps and cartography and had the best maps and so Intelligence , and so ability to juggle threats to a degree not even reached by Byzantium at the height of its power.
* Speaking of Austria “Thunder at Twilight“ Vienna 1913-1914 by Frederic Morton comes to mind. Brilliant and faithful history. Why they were all in town; they being Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin and yes even Hitler. Too bad the stronger powers had already decided to carve up Austria - the motive for WW1 in part.
* The certainty of…Politics as Religion- Leads to the answer of what was missing in Thompson’s life- certainty. The Nazis and Communists had it because their politics was their religion. No God, no check - but something.
I say; Politics makes a poor religion, Power a poor God, Government a poor Church, Lawyers absolutely the worst Priests ever (look at America now). But yet the Totalitarians had more than Thompson and the other Liberals had.
As we can see once the money stops being enough as it did with WW1 - Lenin was absolutely correct in his analysis of WW1 being a war for Colonies between Capitalist Liberal systems- and the Hedonism runs out what is Left for the “Liberal “? Even their marriages are …Treaties? Not even a contract. How sad.
How empty.
Despairing!
Now look around. DC is going full Reverend Jim Jones ^- with no world left to conquer, with nothing left to corrupt, with even the thirst to groom children drying in their throats, DC flirts more and more with nuclear war. Drink the Kool Aide and despair, die!
Not parenthetically Rev Jim Jones was not only Christian Marxist but Human Rights Commissioner of San Francisco. Small world.
No reflection or analysis on Woke and modern fanatical leftism should be undertaken without a study of radical Christian leftists. Jim Jones may have been too much even for the 70s. He would have fit right in the Thirty Years War and so do the Woke.
They’ve even got rid of that pesky God ! Now THAT is Liberation, Milton and The Artist formerly known as The Prince of Light approve.
Do beware the Free Apples, namesake of Eve’s husband.
This is a great great read, AT. Thanks!
The intellectual glitterati angst and confusion are on display for all to see. They obviously thought themselves more important and influential than they actually were. Their politics bordered on the faddish fringe. Writing novels to convey political ideas was really a disservice to both literature and politics. Political movements wrapped around the personalities of their leadership leads to a blurring of thought. Witness how Winston Churchill was so quickly deposed after VE Day. Much the same with George H W Bush in 1992. Most strong, charismatic leaders saw these writers as personalities to be manipulated and flattered, blided by their own self-regard.
Brutal but true.
All leaders of any lasting legacy court this sort, Churchill honest enough to write it himself.
A fair view- too generous probably- is Chronicler of hard times.
Churchill impishly told us that history was going to treat him kindly, because he was going to write it. Seventy-five years down the road, Churchill's reputation is shopworn, but still relatively intact. History isn't hagiography.
No its not. But we can forgive mere chroniclers. It’s difficult to see now the shock effects of both WW1 and in the case of these too flawed chroniclers the effect Freud had at the time. Freud is nonsense, a kiss and tell confessor of the terminal Hapsburgs Vienna.
The Catholic Church could have had a thousand Freuds (kiss and tell confessors for sale) in its time. To its far worse than shopworn reputation it has none.
(I am of course a very disappointed Catholic).
Well, you might have been Jew, like Freud in the Habsburg Empire, and be despised for upsetting 'der Mittelstand' sensibilities, but mostly for being a Jew. The Roman Catholic Church in Freud's lifetime was none too keen about Freud's theories of infant sexuality, modernity, and Jews in particular. Count yourself lucky that your personal disappointment in their outlook was unlikely to cause you much grief, much less a one-way trip to somewhere else from which there was no return. The church has yet to come to terms with its history as others have experienced that history's impact on themselves and their lives and loved ones. There are too many still alive who enthusiastically participated in those derelictions, despite the Vatican's apologies in recent years.
Yes…but for all you know I’m a Palestinian, Lebanese- or even Ukrainian who’s family was savaged by a certain ah er group with a utopian vision of Marx that translated into the Holodmor- which was simple blood vengeance under a Red Banner. However I am none of these things, but the names Kaganovich, Yagoda, Yezhov and probably Beria are quite known.
There has never been a hint of remorse never mind apology.
Of course the same ah er banner claims that 6 million were killed in the Holocaust- a very inaccurate number.
Way off.
A more accurate number is 11 million, unless the humanity of the other 5 million isn’t acknowledged - of which we Others here rumors it indeed is actively denied.
If we’re talking about the Shoah by the way , which is the only program where people disappeared into - you may want to know the Churches role according to the Chosen present at the time was quite laudable- Pinchas Lapide Israeli veteran, historian and Diplomat said 550,000 trees should be planted in Israel to acknowledge Pius XII true record of saying lives. His book was “3 popes and the Jews” which was hardly a whitewash- but was a very detailed correction of false rumors that began to circulate in the 1960s. At the time the truth was known, as the NYT during the actual war printed. Golda Meir also praised him at his funeral, I can go on.
So 💩. Indeed an utterly false blood libel confected from pure 1960s malice and mischief.
I’m also ready to refute the DaVinci Code, and the Flat Earth myth if this is helpful.
Meanwhile do try to come to terms in baby steps; it was 11 million murdered by the Nazis, not 6 million.
People normally demur from quarrel on this so sensitive subject- but I’m Irish and am always expected to rise.
Cheers!
Thank you for a nice write up of the book. I've added it to the queue of books to read. I remember reading a lot of John Gunther in the long ago past but little Dorthy Thompson.
I think that when you quoted Thompson saying ' it ties to noting, it is part of nothing' you meant ' it ties to nothing, it is part of nothing'.
superb post -- I loved reading this
(Many notes for this gem. Pardon my long comments).
* “Put not thy trust in Princes” leaps to mind. Or Heaven help you - Ideology.
* My personal judgment on Ideology- the logic of an idea- is that we humans are too flawed to follow the logic of an idea without slaughter or madness. I call as supporting witnesses- the 20th century.
* She (Thompson) was living through a Revolutionary age of Socialism left and Right. Like it or not National Socialism was a Social Revolution as well as Political.
* Fascism outside the Nazis is simply war buddies who don’t want to end up like the Kronstadt sailors. It’s program past the militarism does improve to an extent the lot of the commons in Portugal and even later Spain. Fascism is a very mild Revolution compared to the others. Its often just Reaction, which shouldn’t be ruled out automatically as the Left so often does without asking what are we reacting to?
* Austria; enemies tous azimuts (all points) - the Hapsburgs deserve far more credit than they usually get. So of course they couldn’t hold on as a social democracy. The neglect of geography is so deplorable even apparently in the Interwar pause they’re shocked, shocked that such a humane and decent system in Austria gave way. So did the dictatorship that followed. So did Poland. So did France. So would have Portugal and Spain under any system had Hitler wanted to push south in 1940 -he did and had 50 divisions at the border, Franco out negotiated him and Hitler probably decided not to make all of Napoleon’s mistakes- just the Big one in Russia. Geography is ignored at mortal peril. BTW part of the reason the Hapsburgs lasted so long is they heavily emphasized maps and cartography and had the best maps and so Intelligence , and so ability to juggle threats to a degree not even reached by Byzantium at the height of its power.
* Speaking of Austria “Thunder at Twilight“ Vienna 1913-1914 by Frederic Morton comes to mind. Brilliant and faithful history. Why they were all in town; they being Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin and yes even Hitler. Too bad the stronger powers had already decided to carve up Austria - the motive for WW1 in part.
* The certainty of…Politics as Religion- Leads to the answer of what was missing in Thompson’s life- certainty. The Nazis and Communists had it because their politics was their religion. No God, no check - but something.
I say; Politics makes a poor religion, Power a poor God, Government a poor Church, Lawyers absolutely the worst Priests ever (look at America now). But yet the Totalitarians had more than Thompson and the other Liberals had.
As we can see once the money stops being enough as it did with WW1 - Lenin was absolutely correct in his analysis of WW1 being a war for Colonies between Capitalist Liberal systems- and the Hedonism runs out what is Left for the “Liberal “? Even their marriages are …Treaties? Not even a contract. How sad.
How empty.
Despairing!
Now look around. DC is going full Reverend Jim Jones ^- with no world left to conquer, with nothing left to corrupt, with even the thirst to groom children drying in their throats, DC flirts more and more with nuclear war. Drink the Kool Aide and despair, die!
Not parenthetically Rev Jim Jones was not only Christian Marxist but Human Rights Commissioner of San Francisco. Small world.
No reflection or analysis on Woke and modern fanatical leftism should be undertaken without a study of radical Christian leftists. Jim Jones may have been too much even for the 70s. He would have fit right in the Thirty Years War and so do the Woke.
They’ve even got rid of that pesky God ! Now THAT is Liberation, Milton and The Artist formerly known as The Prince of Light approve.
Do beware the Free Apples, namesake of Eve’s husband.
Beware.
Ta!
Our host is a good man.
So without impertinence I hope;
When your name is Adam beware free apples, especially when offered by…a shiny suited creature who claims to be in the know…
With Respect- get some distance from the shiny suits, you are looking into the abyss.
Oh, and they’re Doomed. 💀
There’s that too.
Yes and I perceive only the first century of world wars.
I think thats what Nietzsche thought too?
Mad or not he saw far.