"Gavriel Shapiro's academic reputation is enhanced by an impressive memoir of his life. It is fascinating to follow Shapiro's account of his life trajectory from the rise of his Jewish identity in the assimilated family, to his struggle with the Soviet authorities for the right to emigrate, to his career as a nationally and internationally recognized literary scholar. Had these events been merely recorded, the book would already be gripping and compelling reading. In actuality, what makes the book even more meaningful is that the events are depicted, together with reflective interludes, allusions to contemporary political affairs, and bits of Jewish folklore, in the context of the history of Russian Jewry." Tatyana Novikov, Professor of Russian, University of Nebraska at Omaha "The story of the struggle of Soviet Jews for self-determination and freedom of emigration is an account of global forces in collision. However, it is also the story of individuals with hopes and dreams and a willingness to risk all they have for the chance for self-fulfillment. Therefore, together with learned analyses of politics and policies, it is important to keep focus on the individual-and there is nothing like an autobiography to do this. Gavriel Shapiro's Thanksgiving All Year Round is precisely such an account.

It is full of fascinating detail, well based self-analysis, and also a fair degree of drama. It is a great read and a valuable introduction to a world that is thankfully gone. The fall of the Soviet Union was far from predictable in the seventies-and this book reminds us of the power of humanity to overcome obstacles that appeared to be insurmountable." Shaul Stampfer, Rabbi Edward Sandrow Professor of Soviet and East European Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem "There's no question in my mind that future historians will find themselves Thanksgiving the author of All Year Round. By meticulously recreating, with scholarly depth and comprehensiveness, his own fight for freedom and his further fate as a scholar and human being that took him to three continents, Professor Shapiro has produced an invaluable document of the epoch. So far, the Soviet Jewry struggle of breaking the bondage and for regaining human dignity hasn't found a better chronicler." Emil Draitser, Professor of Russian, Hunter College, author of Shush! Growing up Jewish under Stalin "Written by one of the most notable representatives of the 'third wave' of Russian emigration, the memoirs cover the destinies of several generations of a remarkable Russian Jewish family. It will become a classic of memoir literature to be studied by all students of this burgeoning genre.

" Henrietta Mondry, Professor and Director of the Russian Program at University of Canterbury, New Zealand.