Description
Book SynopsisAs a conscientious objector prior to World War II, author Howard Wriggins joined the American Friends Service Committee, a non-governmental organization that, with its British counterpart, would receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 for their many years of refugee relief work. A young idealist who left his graduate studies in political science to assist refugees fleeing Hitler''s madness, Wriggins batted out daily letters on an ancient Underwood portable to describe the cruel events he witnessed. He shares his experiences as he came to know numberless refugees and prisoners in Portugal, internees in Algiers, Yugoslavs fleeing in transport ships, refugees and Vatican officials in Italy, anguished French colleagues after years of Occupation, and Palestinians jammed into Gaza camps. Wriggins reviewed these letters five decades later after he retired from Columbia University as the Bryce Professor of the History of International Relations. In them he discovered a world far from the market-driven prosperity and political peace Europe enjoys today. Professor Wriggins has used his letters to tell a riveting personal story about the horrors of governmental persecution and a war to end it, in the midst of which idealism nevertheless persisted.
Trade ReviewHoward Wriggins' journey from pacifism to relief service and humanitarian activism provides a close-up view of the barbarism of world war and one man's struggle to respond with compassion. This book should be required reading for all young, energetic idealists contemplating NGO relief work. They will find that in the face of the arbitrary brutalities of war, redemption is possible when the pieces are picked up by people and institutions of good will like those with whom Wriggins worked in the AFSC. -- Joel H. Rosenthal, president, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
'Picking up the Pieces from Portugal to Palestine' is an engrossing story, but it also provides lessons to all those working to provide international relief and refugee assistance, whether with the United Nations, in NGOs, church missions or governmenthumanitarian organizations. -- Peter J. Davies, President and CEO, INTERACTION (ret'd), New York
More than a half-century has passed since the times of which Wriggins writes. We can expect few, if any, more eyewitness accounts. We should take full advantage of this excellent one. -- Jim Spain, Former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania,Turkey, and Sri Lanka
It is a wonderful book. -- George Rupp, International Rescue Committee
Howard Wriggins has done a splendid job. -- Margaret Bacon * Friends Journal *
It is a wonderful book. -- George Rupp, International Rescue Committee
Howard Wriggins has done a splendid job. -- Margaret Bacon * Friends Journal *
I know of no other book than 'Picking Up the Pieces' that describes and appraises so carefully and thoughtfully the activities of a major U.S. voluntary agency involved in human distress of southern Europe, North Africa and Gaza during and after World War II. . .It is a unique account of the need and role for the non-government agencies, and for the Quaker service in particular. -- Gilbert F. White, former President of Haverford College, Gustavson Distinguished Professor of Geography, University of Colorado, Boulder
Howard Wriggins' journey from pacifism to relief service and humanitarian activism provides a close-up view of the barbarism of world war and one man's struggle to respond with compassion. This book should be required reading for all young, energetic idealists contemplating NGO relief work. They will find that in the face of the arbitrary brutalities of war, redemption is possible when the pieces are picked up by people and institutions of good will like those with whom Wriggins worked in the AFSC. -- Joel H. Rosenthal, president, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
'Picking up the Pieces from Portugal to Palestine' is an engrossing story, but it also provides lessons to all those working to provide international relief and refugee assistance, whether with the United Nations, in NGOs, church missions or government humanitarian organizations. -- Peter J. Davies, President and CEO, INTERACTION (ret'd), New York
More than a half-century has passed since the times of which Wriggins writes. We can expect few, if any, more eyewitness accounts. We should take full advantage of this excellent one. -- Jim Spain, Former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania,Turkey, and Sri Lanka
Table of ContentsChapter 1 PORTUGAL, 1942, 1943: Refugee Casework and Migration: Preparation; Lisbon: Refugee Assistance; Servicing Quaker Activities in France and Spain; Allied Landings and Lisbon Life; Refugee Responses to Adversity Chapter 2 ALGERIA AND EGYPT, 1943-1944: Refugees and Internees: Spanish Refugees, Vichy Internees and Libyans; Egypt: Yugoslav Refugees Chapter 3 ITALY, 1944-1945: Stateless Refugee Services and Rebuilding Abruzzi Villages: IGCR/AFSC Joint Program for Stateless Refugees; Village Reconstruction in the Abruzzi Mountains Chapter 4 FRANCE, 1945-1946: Spanish and Stateless Refugees and Normandy Reconstruction: The Paris Headquarters and Program; Visits to French Quaker Delegations; Life in Paris: The Day-to-Day Perspective; Changing Priorities Chapter 5 GENEVA AND GAZA, 1948-1949: Palestine Refugees: Palestine Refugees in Gaza; Return to Gaza Chapter 6 Afterword Chapter 7 Appendix 1: Historical Background to Chapter 14 Chapter 8 Appendix 2: Organizations and Acronyms Chapter 9 Appendix 3: Historical Context: Brief Chronology Chapter 10 Endnotes Chapter 11 Bibliography Chapter 12 About the Author Chapter 13 Index
