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Cover of Finding My Father

Finding My Father

by Deborah Tannen

Book Details

Publisher:Random House Publishing Group
Published:2020
Pages:273
Format:BOOK
Language:en
ISBN:9781101885833

Reading Info

About This Book

In this memoir, Deborah fulfills her promise to her father, embarking on the poignant, yet perilous, quest to piece together the puzzle of her father's life. Beginning with his astonishingly vivid memories of the Hasidic community in Warsaw that he was born into in 1908, she traces his journey: arriving in New York City in 1920, he quit high school at fourteen to become sole support of his mother and sister, yet attended law school at night and eventually established the largest workmen's compen

Our Review

This powerful memoir chronicles a daughter's determined quest to understand her father's complex life, tracing his extraordinary journey from a Hasidic community in early 20th-century Warsaw to his arrival in New York City as a young immigrant. The narrative compellingly details how he left school at fourteen to support his family, only to pursue law school at night and ultimately build a significant career in workers' compensation law, creating a moving portrait of resilience and the American immigrant experience.

What makes this biography particularly compelling is its dual nature as both a historical reconstruction and a deeply personal act of filial devotion. The author doesn't just document facts but pieces together the emotional puzzle of a man shaped by profound sacrifice and quiet ambition. Readers interested in family histories, immigrant narratives, and the complex bonds between fathers and daughters will find this exploration both intellectually rich and emotionally resonant, offering a lasting meditation on how we come to know our parents as complete people.

Themes

Biography & Autobiography

Subjects

Biography & Autobiography