Marton, Kati. The great escape; nine Jews who fled Hitler and changed the world.MARTON, Kati. The great escape; nine Jews who fled Hitler and changed the world. Read by Anna Fields. 8 cds. 9.5 hrs. Tantor Media. 2006. 1-4001-0309-6. $34.99. Vinyl; content, author, reader notes. SA From the late 1860s until the rise of Adolph Hitler, Budapest was a bustling center of culture and intellectual ferment ferment /fer·ment/ (fer-ment´) to undergo fermentation; used for the decomposition of carbohydrates. fer·ment n. 1. . A fortunate few got out after Hitler's rise and were able to build lives elsewhere. This fascinating book describes prewar life in Budapest and the incredible achievements of nine of the extraordinary men it produced: Leo Szilard Noun 1. Leo Szilard - United States physicist and molecular biologist who helped develop the first atom bomb and later opposed the use of all nuclear weapons (1898-1964) Szilard , Edward Teller and Eugene Wigner, scientists who were instrumental in producing the atomic bomb atomic bomb or A-bomb, weapon deriving its explosive force from the release of atomic energy through the fission (splitting) of heavy nuclei (see nuclear energy). The first atomic bomb was produced at the Los Alamos, N.Mex. for the US; John von Neuman, whose work led to the computer; Arthur Koestler, author of Darkness at Noon Darkness at Noon Communists accused of having betrayed party principles are imprisoned, tortured, and executed. [Br. Lit.: Weiss, 117] See : Totalitarianism ; photographers Robert Capa and Andre Kertesz; and filmmakers Alexander Korda (The Third Man) and Michael Curtiz (Casablanca). Marton describes their monumental achievements and their personal characters and insecurities. Leo Szilard spent his entire life warning the world of the terrible dangers of the atomic bomb and pleading that it not be used, while Edward Teller cheered on and politically maneuvered the development of the hydrogen bomb and, under Ronald Reagan, the Star Wars program. An epilogue describes two younger alumni of the Budapest cafes: Andrew Grove, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Intel, and financier and philanthropist George Soros George Soros Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1930, George Soros is considered by many to be one of the world's greatest investors. A famous hedge fund manager, Soros managed the Quantum Fund, a fund that achieved an average annual return of 30% from 1970-2000. . Fields's reading is outstanding. Her voice is rich and almost lyrical. Susan Offner, Teacher, Lexington HS, Lexington, MA S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. |
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