Vilnius: City of Strangers |  | Author: Laimonas Briedis
Publisher: Central European University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $45.00
Buy New: $35.95
as of 7/31/2010 04:50 CDT details
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Seller: aphrohead_books_uk
Rating:  5 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 296
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 9639776440
Dewey Decimal Number: 947.93
EAN: 9789639776449
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Product Description
Presents the history of the capital city of Lithuania from its 14th century legendary beginnings up to 2009, when Vilnius bears the distinction of European Capital of Culture. Besides applying the traditional apparatus of historical investigation and referring to a large amount of sources, the special feature of this book is the ample quotes from travelers who passed through the city during their own life journeys. This list ranges from known artistic giants (such as writers Dostoyevsky, Ostrovsky, Tolstoy, Döblin, and Brodsky) through political and cultural icons (such as German general Ludendorff and the Emperors Napoleon and Alexander), to equally compelling forgotten European personas who mark entire generations back to the 14th century.The subtitle refers to the fact that until quite recently, ethnic Lithuanians rarely formed the majority of the inhabitants of Vilnius. Contents; Prologue Chapter 1: The Brink of Europe Chapter 2: Mapping Sarmatia Chapter 3: Enlightenment Shadows Chapter 4: Napoleon s Curse Chapter 5: Russian Intrigue Chapter 6: German Intrusion Chapter 7: The Absent Nation Chapter 8: Maelstrom Europe Notes Illustrations Cited Works Index
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| Customer Reviews:
 Lovely Vilnius May 10, 2009
C. Taylor (Vilnius, Lithuania)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful review of historical events that have left marks on the built environment in Vilnius. I am so much more appreciative of this lovely city knowing more about its past. Vilnius: City of Strangers is a great read, and I recommend it to anyone interested in Eastern European history or Vilnius!
A biased review November 27, 2009
Narimantas V. Udrys
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
While I am familiar with the history of Vilnius, having visited the city a number of times, this book provides a different take on that history, which I found to be very interesting.
N.V.Udrys
Vilnius Strangers July 13, 2009
Herb Trace (Evanston, IL United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Vilnius, City of Strangers. 250 pp
This is an ideal book that ties the people of Vilnius together. The big change is the Grande Armee of Napoleon in 1812. Then comes the Polish-Lithuanian revolt from Russia in 188?. The Jews are heavily into this Jerusalem of Lithuanis. The outstanding rabbi (goan) was there in 1779.
It has numerous references and ties strangers together. The author lives in Vancouver and Vilnius.
Strangers in a strange land December 1, 2009
James Ferguson (Vilnius, Lithuania)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Laimonas Briedis tells his narrative of Vilnius through the eyes of visitors to the city over its long and tumultuous history. The story begins with visits by Papal representatives noting their difficulties in reaching Lithuania and their attempts at converting Lithuania to Christianity, and grows to include observations left by other visitors who stayed in the chartered city for various lengths of time. It isn't so much a history of the city as it is a set of impressions left by strangers through their writings, providing a sense of how the city has grown and developed into a cosmopolitan capital over the centuries.
His chapters on Napoleon's Grand Army, which encamped in Vilnius before and after its ill-fated invasion of Russia, and on the Jewish experience over the centuries stand out. He also provides a number of other anecdotes including Dostoevsky's brief stay in Vilnius on his way to European spas, as told through his wife's journal. As such, it becomes a memoir of the city for good and for bad, as experienced by these strangers.
One of Briedis' more interesting references is Israel Cohen, who wrote a wonderful history of the city, Vilna (Jewish Communities Series), prior to WWII. In it Cohen not only describes the Jewish experience but also the levels of tolerance of the various governments during that time.
I felt the flowing narrative broke down in the closing chapters as Briedis bemoans the city's loss of identity with the major changes that occurred during and after WWII, not least of all the Holocaust. The demographics were dramatically altered and the city was transformed greatly under Soviet rule, but since independence in 1991, Vilnius has undergone a profound change, which I didn't feel Briedis had a firm grip of. Nevertheless, I felt this was a very good study of the city and adds to the growing compendium of the city available in English.
 So much misrepresenting praise left me disappointed November 25, 2009
R. Stasaityte (NYC)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I heard so much praise for this book that I had to have it. It left me completely disappointed because all the reviews misrepresented the content of the book.
It is NOT a history of the city. It is a collection of travel impressions from various "strangers" -- foreigners who happened to visit the city at some point during its history.
Much of the content is spent on introducing these "strangers" and then retelling their impressions. Because there is no attempt to weave a coherent history from these accounts, there are significant periods or topics with no coverage. As these accounts were taken from foreigners who spend just a brief time in the city, the insights -- while at times refreshing -- are often shallow & spotty.
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