Jan 19

Written by: Kathleen Klocko
1/19/2012 1:16 PM 

The Memory Chalet by Toni Judt. 

This is a memoir of recent pieces written by the historian, professor (NYU, Oxford), author and political commentator, Toni Judt.  Many of these pieces previously were published in The New York Review of Books.  They were composed in his head, using a mnemonic device associated with a childhood family vacation chalet in Switzerland.  Use of this device came to him as his ability to communicate became compromised by ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), yet his thoughts raced as he spent sleepless nights of immobilized solitude.  Readers familiar with Toni Judt will recognize his wit, irony, and intellect.  New and familiar readers, especially those interested in the history of twentieth century Europe, may be prompted to read one of his well-researched books, e.g., Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 (940.55 Judt.T), and Reappraisals: Reflections on the Forgotten Twentieth Century (909.82 Judt.T).
     --Katherine