American Priestess tells the true story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem. It is part biography, and part the story of American evangelical Christians who settled in Jerusalem in the late 19th century to await the End of Days. Anna Larsdatter was born in Norway in 1842. As a young child, she emigrated with her family to Chicago. Through a series of misfortunes and happenstance, Anna was reared by a well-to-do family and was well-educated for a girl of her time. She was introduced to Horatio Spafford, a much older attorney who fell in love with her. They married when Anna was 19, shortly after the beginning of the Civil War.
The first section of this books drags a bit, telling of Anna and Horatio’s life in Chicago. It definitely picks up when the Spaffords, along with some of their followers, arrive in Jerusalem in 1881. For a time they live within the walls of the Old City. When their numbers expand, along with their treasury, the group rents a former pasha’s palace in East Jerusalem. They eventually purchase this property and, in the twentieth century, this becomes the famed American Colony Hotel.
The group of “overcomers” spends much time and effort feeding and nursing the poor, be they Jews or Arabs. They are well regarded by the locals, but are constantly at odds with the American consular officer. He is concerned with the group’s financial irregularities and rumors of how they practice their religion. Anna Spafford hears voices from God, and controls every aspect of the lives of her followers. Meanwhile, the Chicago relatives of some of her followers are concerned that Anna has, essentially, stolen their money for her own purposes.
American Priestess contains a tremendous amount of information. Jane Fletcher Geniesse has certainly done her research. I was particularly interested in life in Jerusalem during the fall of the Ottoman Empire and World War I, which was devastating for people in the Middle East. This book is well-written but it is not a quick read for the casual reader.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Nan A. Talese-2008
Softcover edition-Anchor-2009
I thought that this new movie starring Matt Damon and Scott Bakula was a lot of fun. It tells the very serious story of a corporate whistle blower, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Matt Damon is Mark Whitacre, an executive at Archer Daniels Midland, the food processing giant. In 1992, Whitacre contacts the FBI to let them know that ADM, in collusion with its foreign rivals, has been working to fix the prices of its products. Since ADM’s products are found in many different processed foods, this is potentially a huge crime. Whitacre’s involvement with the FBI escalates over time. Soon, he is wearing a wire to record conversations, and helping the FBI set up audio surveillance of corporate meetings.
The FBI agent handling the case, Brian Shepard, is played by Scott Bakula. Shepard is out of his depth dealing with the very intelligent Whitacre. The audience realizes long before Shepard does that there is more to Whitacre than he is letting on. Of course we question why this successful executive has decided to rat on his fellow workers. He is as involved as they are in the price-fixing scheme. Shepard never really questions any of Whitacre’s information or his motivation.
The Informant moves along at a fairly quick pace. It’s important to pay attention, since there are lots of small details that make the movie so much fun. In particular, pay attention to the music, written for the film by Marvin Hamlisch. It reminded me a lot of the music from The Sting, and that was my first clue that something more is going on here than meets the eye. Also fun-the voice over narration of Whitacre’s inner monologue. Great to know what people are really thinking when they are talking to you!
While on a family beach vacation, 40 year old Baltimore resident Dee Grinstead strolls down the beach and disappears. She is wearing nothing but a bathing suit and carrying a tote bag containing her husband’s robe and $500, the family’s vacation money. It is hours before her family realizes that she is missing. Anne Tyler’s bestseller (albeit of 14 years ago), follows Dee as she walks to the family’s vacation rental cottage. Dee then begs a ride from a handyman, and gets out in the town of Bay Borough, Maryland.
In short order, Dee acquires a place to live, a job, and a small wardrobe. By the time her family finds her, Dee is well ensconced in her new life, and has no wish to return to her husband, her three children and her sisters. They are, of course, hurt and uncomprehending, but this is not their story. It is Dee’s. She feels unloved by her husband, and unappreciated by everyone else.
When Dee had been gone over a year, she receives a wedding invitation from her daughter. When she returns to the family home, we begin to first learn about matters from the family’s perspective.
For me, the most telling part of the book is in the beginning. Dee’s family is unable to describe her accurately to the police. No wonder Dee just up and left them! This book is sad and perplexing. Who hasn’t wanted to escape their life, but who actually does?
It’s hard to imagine that this book could have been written by anyone but such a talented writer as the Pulitzer Prize winning Anne Tyler. And what does Ladder of Years mean? You’ll have to read this for a very touching explanation.My only complaint is that, written 15 years ago, it does seem dated, and I keep wondering why the police don’t just ping Dee’s cell phone! Oh yeah-nobody in this story has one.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Random House-1996
Softcover edition-Ballantine Books-1995
