The Spark and the Light: The Leo Adler Story by Adair Law

As much as I regretbeing negative, Imust remark on the failure of scholarly apparatus. There appears tobe amisunderstanding in this book about what constitutes a primary source, and the listingunder thatheading is misleading (pp. 302-306). The section "Secondary Sources" also leavesmuch to be desired (pp. 306-315). I am particularly concerned that titlesofworks published inRussian are given in translation only.Moreover, thebibliography isoverloaded with titles thathave no relation to the topic of thebook. Specialistswill disregard thisbook, and a novice in thefieldwill bemisled. The general readerwill gain littlehistorical knowledge of Russian exploration of theArctic and North Pacific oceans. With all possible good-will, I cannot recommend thisbook. Vitus Bering still awaits a biographer. The Sparkand the Light: TheLeoAdlerStory ByAdair Law The Leo Adler Trust, Boise, Idaho, 2004. Illustrations, photographs, notes, bibliography, index. 288 pages. $12.95 paper. Reviewed by William Willingham Portland, Oregon Leo Adler, whose life spannedmost of the twentieth century,had amajor impact on the quality of life in the community of Baker City,Oregon, during that time.Adler, of Ger man-Jewish parentswho settled inBaker City in 1887, was born in 1895and died in 1993. At about the age of ten,Adler began selling newspapers and magazines in and around Baker City; and by the timehe graduated fromhigh school, had done sowell at itthathemade ita life's work. Over the next twentyyears, Adler built a wholesale magazine-distribution empire that stretched fromThe Dalles, Oregon, toGrand Island, Nebraska. Although a highly success ful businessman who traveled widely, Adler nevertheless kept his magazine distribution operations located inBaker City and took every opportunity topromote theeconomic and social development of his community.Never marry ing,he engaged in community philanthropy throughout his long lifeand created two trusts worth $20million to carryon such community uplift and generosity afterhis death. As the au thornotes, "hewas aman who loved his home town.That love expressed itselfas a boostering spirit and a willingness to put his shoulder to thewheel, startthings rolling and see that they got done" (p.x). This biography successfully places Adler 's long life within thebroad parameters ofAmeri can history,the magazine-distribution business, and the specificsofBaker City during the twenti eth century.The research isadequate andmakes good use of oral interviewstodescribe thebroad outlines of how Adler built his business and engaged in community development and phil anthropic giving.Although thenarrative is well organized and clearlywritten, itfails to explain fully what made Adler tickas a businessman or a community booster. In given situations, the reader isall too often left wanting toknowmore about theman and his community. Adler was apparently a veryprivate and reti centman. The author, indescribing thegrowth ofAdler's business and the specificsofhis giving over time,never captures the truenature of his business acumen and thedeepermeaning ofhis generosity to his community. Although Adler was clearly successful and well-regarded in the magazine-distribution business, it is unclear Reviews 685 from this biography what exactly his unique contributions to thefieldwere. Also, since the picture of Baker City for themost part isvery broadly sketched, the reader isunable to grasp the full impact of his specific acts of civic gen erosity at any given time. Still, the book does establish that small towns especially are fortu nate when they have strong, committed, and civic-minded leaders tohelp keep a community working together rather than pulling apart. Epic Wanderer: David Thompson and the Mapping of theCanadian West By D'Arcy Jenish University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 2004. Illustrations, maps, bibliography, index. 406 pages. $29.95 cloth. Reviewed byArn Keeling Montana State University,Bozeman Though events to mark the North American David Thompson bicentennial are planned for 2007-2011, they will likelyonly faintlyecho the noisy celebrations of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In typicallyCanadian fashion, the bicentennial (see www.davidthompson2oo. ca) aims to commemorate the explorer and traderas amodel of "inter-culturalcooperation" ratherthan "undaunted courage." But asD'Arcy Jenish's biography shows,many regardThomp son (1770-1857) as theembodiment of a nascent Canadian nationalism. Jenish,a Toronto-based author,portraysThompson as a patriot and hero and as a skilled explorer, trader,and surveyor whose accomplishments inopening theOregon countrywere betrayed byBritish colonial disin terest and American expansionism. Though less well-known than furtrader-ex plorersAlexander Mackenzie and Simon...

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