Memories from the Sleeve

A brilliant, rediscovered gem about the essence of history and its narrative course Josefina Hermina von Justina shares a historical document with us: her diary. Josefina is a wise and learned little mouse, charming but also a bit arrogant, who lives on an estate in Russia. After taking leave of her beloved mother, she travels as a stowaway with Baron Platon, who is outstanding at keeping a secret. Platon is going to the Land of Israel to settle in a community of the Templars, a Christian German sect. While hiding in the Baron’s sleeve,
Josefina tells us a little about herself and a lot about Platon and his adventures. She describes her voyage to the Holy Land, and tells us what life is like in the new country. From her diminuative point of view, she gives an account of massive historical processes such as migration, acclimatization and politics, as well as both significant and petty events affecting the fates of individuals who play a role in history—loves, partings, treacheries, gossip, and more.

A wise, amusing tale, filled with sharp insights into cultural differences and trenchant psychological and historiographical observations, all recounted clearly in everyday language. A book that was ahead of its time and that retains its vitality and freshness decades later.