Adam YAMEY - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Adam YAMEY
adam-yamey-writes.com
A seal found at Dholavira, a Harappan site in Gujarat, depicts an animal bearing more than one head.
A house in West London was briefly home to a 'father' of Hindu nationalism, VD Savarkar. He lodge... more A house in West London was briefly home to a 'father' of Hindu nationalism, VD Savarkar. He lodged with other Indian freedom fighters including Bipin Chandra Pal, who helped initiate the swadeshi movement.
A new book by Adam YAMEY (publ. 2019) about Indian patriots (freedom fighters) in London between ... more A new book by Adam YAMEY (publ. 2019) about Indian patriots (freedom fighters) in London between 1905 and 1910. Amongst the patriots, there was the young VD Savarkar, who was later to become an important proponent of Hindu nationalism.
A chance discovery of a neglected stone in a park in Bhavnagar (Gujarat, India) provides some in... more A chance discovery of a neglected stone in a park in Bhavnagar (Gujarat, India) provides some information about the administration of a Princely State during the British Colonial era.
Delving is discovering!
The well-known writer of limericks and 'nonsense verse' is less well-known for having visited Ind... more The well-known writer of limericks and 'nonsense verse' is less well-known for having visited India in the 1870s.
A small Jewish cemetery in Bangalore reveals much about the Jews of India...
Fear and anxiety about medical procedures - a personal note. Not academic, but probably of genera... more Fear and anxiety about medical procedures - a personal note. Not academic, but probably of general interest!
An atypical bunker near Pogradec on Lake Ohrid
What began as a biography of a South African politician evolved into a new account of the genesi... more What began as a biography of a South African politician evolved into a new account of the genesis of apartheid during the first 4 decades of the 20th century.
A new book about the genesis (or dawning) of apartheid in South Africa - a brief summary
Dental historian : Lindsay Club newsletter, 2007
French stained-glass in southern India made in German-occupied Alsace in 1908
In 1930, the South African Government passed an act to ensure that ONLY "desirable" immigrants sh... more In 1930, the South African Government passed an act to ensure that ONLY "desirable" immigrants should enter South Africa. This excerpt from a work-in-progress demonstrates that in reality this was anti-Semitic legislation. The essay brings to life debates in the South African Senate at the time.
A debate about censorship in the South African Senate during 1931 provides symprtoms of the drift... more A debate about censorship in the South African Senate during 1931 provides symprtoms of the drift of the Government of South Africa towards apartheid.
A review of a book about Steve Biko by Xolela Mangcu
A small item in a 1911 South African newspaper, discovered by chance whilst researching something... more A small item in a 1911 South African newspaper, discovered by chance whilst researching something quite different, provides a view of somr events that occurred during the Albanian struggle for independence.
This is to 'air' a possible introduction to the new book that I am writing about the South Africa... more This is to 'air' a possible introduction to the new book that I am writing about the South African Senator Franz Ginsberg who tried to balance the interests of the 'white people' with improving the lot of the disadvantaged 'non-whites'.
What is "EXODUS TO AFRICA" (by Adam Yamey) about? This brief excerpt from the beginning of my b... more What is "EXODUS TO AFRICA" (by Adam Yamey) about?
This brief excerpt from the beginning of my book helps to provide the potential reader with some idea of what to expect from "Exodus to Africa", which is available from both www.lulu.com & Amazon (Kindle included)
One should not judge yesterday's world through today's eyes
adam-yamey-writes.com
A seal found at Dholavira, a Harappan site in Gujarat, depicts an animal bearing more than one head.
A house in West London was briefly home to a 'father' of Hindu nationalism, VD Savarkar. He lodge... more A house in West London was briefly home to a 'father' of Hindu nationalism, VD Savarkar. He lodged with other Indian freedom fighters including Bipin Chandra Pal, who helped initiate the swadeshi movement.
A new book by Adam YAMEY (publ. 2019) about Indian patriots (freedom fighters) in London between ... more A new book by Adam YAMEY (publ. 2019) about Indian patriots (freedom fighters) in London between 1905 and 1910. Amongst the patriots, there was the young VD Savarkar, who was later to become an important proponent of Hindu nationalism.
A chance discovery of a neglected stone in a park in Bhavnagar (Gujarat, India) provides some in... more A chance discovery of a neglected stone in a park in Bhavnagar (Gujarat, India) provides some information about the administration of a Princely State during the British Colonial era.
Delving is discovering!
The well-known writer of limericks and 'nonsense verse' is less well-known for having visited Ind... more The well-known writer of limericks and 'nonsense verse' is less well-known for having visited India in the 1870s.
A small Jewish cemetery in Bangalore reveals much about the Jews of India...
Fear and anxiety about medical procedures - a personal note. Not academic, but probably of genera... more Fear and anxiety about medical procedures - a personal note. Not academic, but probably of general interest!
An atypical bunker near Pogradec on Lake Ohrid
What began as a biography of a South African politician evolved into a new account of the genesi... more What began as a biography of a South African politician evolved into a new account of the genesis of apartheid during the first 4 decades of the 20th century.
A new book about the genesis (or dawning) of apartheid in South Africa - a brief summary
Dental historian : Lindsay Club newsletter, 2007
French stained-glass in southern India made in German-occupied Alsace in 1908
In 1930, the South African Government passed an act to ensure that ONLY "desirable" immigrants sh... more In 1930, the South African Government passed an act to ensure that ONLY "desirable" immigrants should enter South Africa. This excerpt from a work-in-progress demonstrates that in reality this was anti-Semitic legislation. The essay brings to life debates in the South African Senate at the time.
A debate about censorship in the South African Senate during 1931 provides symprtoms of the drift... more A debate about censorship in the South African Senate during 1931 provides symprtoms of the drift of the Government of South Africa towards apartheid.
A review of a book about Steve Biko by Xolela Mangcu
A small item in a 1911 South African newspaper, discovered by chance whilst researching something... more A small item in a 1911 South African newspaper, discovered by chance whilst researching something quite different, provides a view of somr events that occurred during the Albanian struggle for independence.
This is to 'air' a possible introduction to the new book that I am writing about the South Africa... more This is to 'air' a possible introduction to the new book that I am writing about the South African Senator Franz Ginsberg who tried to balance the interests of the 'white people' with improving the lot of the disadvantaged 'non-whites'.
What is "EXODUS TO AFRICA" (by Adam Yamey) about? This brief excerpt from the beginning of my b... more What is "EXODUS TO AFRICA" (by Adam Yamey) about?
This brief excerpt from the beginning of my book helps to provide the potential reader with some idea of what to expect from "Exodus to Africa", which is available from both www.lulu.com & Amazon (Kindle included)
One should not judge yesterday's world through today's eyes
Adam Yamey writes about Albania in the context of its troubled history and its vibrant present. ... more Adam Yamey writes about Albania in the context of its troubled history and its vibrant present. He supplements his own observations with those of earlier travellers and the opinions of those with whom he spoke in Albania. This informative and entertaining book offers an introduction to one of the world's lesser-known countries.
A new look at the story of the migration of the Jewish people from Europe to South Africa during ... more A new look at the story of the migration of the Jewish people from Europe to South Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries.
A book about the Arbëreshë in Sicily, who have lived there since the 15th century and have preser... more A book about the Arbëreshë in Sicily, who have lived there since the 15th century and have preserved the language and culture of Albania.
"Adam Yamey's accounts of pre-war Yugoslavia will resonate with 'expats' and anyone who has trav... more "Adam Yamey's accounts of pre-war Yugoslavia will resonate with 'expats' and anyone who has travelled through its unspoilt countryside and vibrant towns. Yugoslavia as we knew it is gone forever, but Adam's prose brings it back to life - albeit with tinges of sadness."
" I would like to highly recommend Scrabble with Slivovitz as a page turner and an honest and sympathetic account of the peoples and the times the author spent travelling within former Yugoslavia in the 1970s and 1980s. The book gave me a nostalgic feel for what the country used to be like, and the spirit and hospitality of the people living within the former Republics of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia), and, in particular, the author's lengthy stays in and returns to Belgrade. It also portrays the country's diversity and underlying contradictions embodied in the temperament of its people. "
The people of Albania achieved independence in 1912, having endured several centuries of Ottoman ... more The people of Albania achieved independence in 1912, having endured several centuries of Ottoman domination. After the First World War, they lived under a series of dictatorships beginning with that of King Zog. He was followed by Mussolini, and then by Hitler. They were 'liberated' by the Communist partisans at the end of the Second World War, only to be subjected to yet another dictatorship. This was led by Enver Hoxha. During his 30 year 'reign' Albania became even more impenetrable to outside observers than North Korea is today. In this book about Albania, published to celebrate 100 years of Albania's independence, Adam Yamey describes how his almost obsessive interest in the country developed and what he discovered about life inside the country's closely guarded, tightly sealed borders when he managed to visit it in 1984, the last year of Enver Hoxha's life.
"I found this short book on Albania touchingly written and some parts of it beautifully observed. I enjoyed it very much. The book recounts the author's youthful fascination with a then little-known and mysterious country, viewed initially from the vantage point of pre WW2 maps and outdated books. As the narrative progresses the author/narrator discovers the Balkans,then and now,an exotic corner of Europe. Finally, in the mid-1980s, he managed to join a rare guided tour of a country as isolated then as North Korea is today. The result is a fascinating glimpse at a far-away period, not so far away. Albania on my Mind brings to life the author's enthusiasm for history, for travel and exploration, for quirky bookshops and off-beat attractions, for food and wine,for weird national dishes, for architecture, odd museums, and even odder displays of public art. Throughout, we grow accustomed (and then look forward) to the author's ironic observations. His touch is light, but penetrating. Some fine character sketches and bits of humour."
SOUTHERN AFRICA IN THE 1870s Jakob Klein, a liberal-minded Jew from Bavaria, has been living i... more SOUTHERN AFRICA IN THE 1870s
Jakob Klein, a liberal-minded Jew from Bavaria, has been living in the small town of Rouxville in the Orange Free State for well over a decade.
He will try anything to support his wife and family. His questionable business ethics often cause him to sail close to the wind. Now, he has sailed far too close, and his life has capsized. His dubious dealings have lost him his home and livelihood. His young family have had to leave him to seek refuge with relatives in the Cape Colony.
Now, he is in jail, awaiting transfer to Bloemfontein, where the serious case against him is to be heard by the highest court in the land. With only his guards for company, he has plenty of time to wonder what sort of future fate holds for him and whether he will ever see his family again.
Read Jakob's story in "Rogue of Rouxville", a tale of debt and deception.
"Reading Adam Yamey's novel is reminiscent of reading some of the great classic literature of our time. His writing style is timeless, very descriptive and his characters exude deepness, which is not readily accessible. Indeed, his main character Jakob Klein is built up in layers so that you get to know him slowly and are continually left wanting to know more about him. A very clever writing technique.
I rarely have rarely read such evocative descriptions. For instance, he describes two workmen thus; `As they moved the tool back and forth rhythmically, the beads of perspiration on their dark skins glistened in a beam of light that was shining through the dusty air from a glass window high above them.' I don't know about you, but I'm standing in that shed with them.
Adam's use of dialogue is superlative, and the South African accent is captured brilliantly. As are snippets of American and, even Irish.
The plot could be described as lacking pace, but to do so would be a mistake. It ambles along comfortably and I enjoyed every moment of it. It is not an easy book to put down.
The story encapsulates a snapshot of southern Africa in the mid 1800s as effectively as a time capsule.
Jacob Klein is a complex character with many flaws, and there are numerous sides to him. He clearly has ideas above his station and is not content to scratch around in poverty, in what is an incredibly hard and cruel place for anyone without means. He relies upon a natural charm and copious amounts of guile to hoist him above his station. But several factors within his complex personality conspire to impede him. He has a drink problem, his business ethics are highly questionable and he does not cover his tracks well enough."
Henry Bergmann (c1830-1866) was the earliest of my blood relatives to reach what is now South Afr... more Henry Bergmann (c1830-1866) was the earliest of my blood relatives to reach what is now South Africa, and one of the first Jews to settle there. He arrived in Cape Town in 1849, having set out from his birthplace in revolution-torn Bavaria several months earlier. Despite becoming very successful as a merchant in the frontier town of Aliwal North and his happy marriage to Jenny, the daughter of a Frankfurt banker, his life ended in tragedy. Fact and fiction are woven together in my historical adventure "ALIWAL": the story of the life of a pioneer in Africa.
Legislation, inspired by the Minister of the Interior DF Malan (an architect of apartheid), was b... more Legislation, inspired by the Minister of the Interior DF Malan (an architect of apartheid), was being formulated (in March 1930) that would severely restrict the entry of Eastern European Jews into South Africa.
This paper gives something of the flavour of a new biography of a politician, a German Jewish imm... more This paper gives something of the flavour of a new biography of a politician, a German Jewish immigrant, who lived in, and served, South Africa during the last few decades before the establishment of apartheid in 1948.
Book review. Lillian Burke was a pioneering practioner of occupational therapy and an enthusiasti... more Book review. Lillian Burke was a pioneering practioner of occupational therapy and an enthusiastic supporter of rug making in rural Nova Scotia.
This is a review of a book that follows the life of a South African politician in the context of ... more This is a review of a book that follows the life of a South African politician in the context of political developments that paved the way for apartheid.