ONCE A REBEL

by Simon Kaplan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 13, 1940

Should one know who Simon Kaplan is? Without that knowledge, other than acquired through reading the book, the reason for publishing it at this time seems vague. It ""dates"" in a way fatal to sales. Here is a personal story of a young Russian rebel, in the revolution of 1905. As a member of an industrious, ambitious, pious Jewish family, he was fully aware of the race problem, without actually experiencing programs himself. He broke with tradition at 15 -- went into forestry service -- met with success and failure -- finally became a teacher, and was drawn into revolutionary activities, fired with zeal to better his country. Revolution as he experienced it, a middle class matter, a quarrel with entrenched power of the Czar and with the secret police, rather than with social conditions as such. He relates his prison experiences, including two brief meetings with Stalin, as fellow prisoner. He describes his escape, somewhat dispassionately. And he pays tribute to America, the land of liberty. Of some historical importance, as a record of revolution -- old-style. Limited market.

Pub Date: Jan. 13, 1940

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Farrar & Rinehart

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1940

Categories: NONFICTION