Last Days in Babylon: The History of a Family, the Story of a Nation

by Marina Benjamin

Book Overview

Nothing Left to Burn is a remarkable memoir that looks into the life of a family that has spent years harboring secrets, both dark and volatile. It eloquently tells the story of a son s relationship with his father, the fire chief and a local hero, and his grandfather, a serial arsonist. When Jay Varner, fresh out of college, returns home to work for the local newspaper, he knows that he will have to deal with the memories of a childhood haunted by...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743258436
• ISBN13: 9780743258432
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Last day in Babylon

This book is very acurret of what went on in Bagdad in the Early half of the century, the author's great grand mother Salha is the sister of my grand mother georgia, so this book and author is very close to me. I enjoy reading it.and I thank the author Marina For all the effort she put in bringing thi book. Sincerely. Haskel Amit (Sehayek)

recent history of Iraqi Jews

I was looking for a book which told of Operation Ali Baba, the informal name for the flight of Iraqi Jews to Israel (and elsewhere) in the early 1950s. This book was informative about that time, since the author's mother, uncle, aunt and grandmother were among those who left, and ended up in London. The author tried to strike a balance between biographical, family stories and historical, geographical, political, economic details. It is a worthwhile book to help understand the background of the situation in Iraq today. She writes in an interesting and professional manner.

Tells of the author's London upbringing and distance from her Iraqi past

LAST DAYS IN BABYLON: THE EXILE OF IRAQ'S JEWS, THE STORY OF MY FAMILY tells of the author's London upbringing and distance from her Iraqi past. She rejected Iraqi-Jewish culture and her family's heritage - until she had her own child and in 2004 visited Iraq seeking her family history. LAST DAYS IN BABYLON charts her extraordinary journey and discoveries and is a fine choice for any general-interest lending library. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Enjoyed this book

I really enjoyed this book. I was not only drawn in by her skill as a writer, but the fascinating history of the Jewish people in Iraq. After reading Benjamin's book I also have a greater understanding for what is going on in Iraq today.

Last Days in Babylon

The book was extremely authentic in detail and provided an extensive and touching history of the babylonian jews who had lived in Iraq for hundreds of years and had proposered and reached a population of 125,000 prior to their dispora that began in the 1940s'. Not only did the author provide historic detail and events by taking us through the well known street and shopping areas, and discussed many of the customs and practices of that era. She also touched on the remaining Jews in Bagdhad that lived under the constraints of Sadam Husseeinn's regime and refused to leave their homeland. This is a must read book for all descendants who are living all over trhe worlds and want to reach back anf learn of their heritage