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 deftly 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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Finding Ruby is a carefully meditated and introspective biography of the author’s biological grandfather, Rubin ‘Ruby’ Schechter, who volunteered to Fight in Spain against fascism. The story is a complex one spanning Communist Party manuals, government documents, and family interviews. … Rothman excels at parsing through family lore and cross-examining his growing body of evidence, demonstrating excellent storytelling as the narrative arc is pieced into a more cohesive whole.” –Elizabeth Upshur, Reader Views   Read the full review here.

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Reader Reviews

“Finding Ruby” is like the book version of the best NPR story you ever heard. Just about every page contains an “I didn’t know that” morsel about one of the most under-examined periods in modern US history – a moment when thousands of Americans left families behind to fight Hitler’s proxies in a dress rehearsal for World War II, most of them returning either in caskets or bearing physical and mental battle scars that would last a lifetime. If you’ve seen “Oppenheimer,” this book will explain the roots of Communist sympathies among a large swath of otherwise middle-of-the-road Americans. And at the heart of it all is a riveting personal mystery about family secrets and a grandfather’s disappearance, delivered masterfully by his grandson. Breezing through this captivating read deciphered mysteries about the American experience that I hadn’t even realized needed explanation. Go find “Finding Ruby” now – it’s a gem!Jon K.

I loved this book. A fascinating story set against the backdrop of the Spanish civil war. It is both heartbreaking and compelling. The sacrifices made by one family in pursuit of their ideals are astounding. Rothman’s historical research is impeccable. I highly recommend this book. Gary K.

Richard Rothman has painstakingly researched the story of his maternal grandfather and his fateful decision to join the US Communist Party and go to fight in the Spanish Civil War. What is the price of idealism and is it worth it? Weaving the most personal family anecdotes with forensically researched historical descriptions and analysis the book is a beautifully crafted story of political commitment, love and sacrifice set in an extraordinary time in American history. Strongly recommended!Andrew J.

I loved this book. Have you ever wondered what you would have learned about your grandparents if you had simply been wise enough to ask them when you were young?This book will remind everyone that their grandparents were young once, and idealistic. A great story that includes a history of the early civil rights movement, and the lawyers who advocated for justice. A great read, especially by a first time author! – David J.

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