Introducing a work of non-fiction by Richard Rothman
Finding Ruby - The Bright and Dark Side of a Family's Fervent Idealism
“A thoroughly engrossing, sweeping detective story. Rothman definitely takes the reader on a page-turning journey of discovery, through the Spanish Civil War, the Communist Party, obscene poetry, the trial of the Scottsboro Boys, with cameos from Jimi Hendrix and Joe Cocker. At once an exploration of one family’s unique history, and a reflection on what moves any of us to pursue of our passions, for better or for worse.” – David Cole, Legal Director, ACLU, author of “Engines of Liberty”
About the Book
Finding Ruby is a blend of personal and political history, illuminating the struggle between idealism and truth. It is about the disjointed trail I followed to discover what force was so powerful as to impel my grandfather, Rubin (Ruby) Schechter and my other maternal grandfather, Harry Nobel, to risk their lives fighting in a foreign civil war in a country to which they had no connection. Ruby, who left a wife and five-year old daughter behind, was wounded and died in Spain in August 1937; Harry, who I understood had been Ruby’s best friend, survived three of the war’s bloodiest battles and came back and married Ruby’s widow, Rose – my grandmother.
The trail I followed in researching and writing this book took many twists and turns, as it coursed through not only the Spanish Civil war and the West’s nearsighted appeasement of an aggressive dictator there, but the history of the U.S. Communist Party, as well as the legendary Scottsboro case and the roots of the Civil Rights movement. Much of the story is based on a trove of extraordinary letters that Ruby wrote from the trenches in Spain, some while being strafed by Hitler’s bombers, others after he was shot. The letters were contained in a briefcase that had gone missing for fifty years and was fortuitously discovered in 2021.
The book then delves into the darker side of my idealistic family members. For those who lived on after Ruby’s death – including Harry and Rose – the book chronicles my search to discover and understand the force that was so powerful as to lead them to sacrifice their lives to the U.S. Communist Party, controlled by a fraudulent autocrat – Joseph Stalin – and render them blind to reality and impervious to facts.
The book reflects on how fervent idealism can inspire both heroic sacrifice and devastating delusion. As we witness today’s world grappling with autocratic leaders and foreign aggression, I believe, and fear, that this account of the Spanish Civil War and America’s Communist movement has chilling relevance.
Editorial Reviews
Exceptionally well-crafted, reader engaging, inherently interesting, … author and biographer Richard Rothman’s skill at storytelling raises “Finding Ruby: The Bright and Dark Sides of a Family’s Fervent Idealism” to an impressive level of literary excellence and a very special, unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library American Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental 20th Century American History curriculum studies lists. – Midwest Book Review Read the full review here. (Scroll to Biography Section)
Rothman’s journey to uncover his family’s hidden stories is compelling. It is a reminder of the impact of idealism,
the costs of personal sacrifices, and the long shadows they cast over future generations. The narrative blends
historical investigation and personal introspection, making Finding Ruby an appealing and Pulitzer-worthy
memoir. I highly recommend it. – Carol Thompson, Readers’ Favorites Read the full review here.
Readers unfamiliar with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade or the complex details of the Spanish Civil War will find
Rothman’s primary subject fascinating…[R]eaders seeking a fresh perspective on 20th-century history will be drawn
into Ruby’s world, just as the author was. – Kirkus Reviews Read the full review here
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Reader Reviews
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Snapshots from the Journey
Images from 'Finding Rudy'
