The Long Way Home Summary

In The Long Way Home: An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War, by David Laskin, twelve men leave their deep-rooted lives and their mother country to seek opportunities. The author emphasizes on the importance of immigrants who traveled long ways to America. He believes that millions of these immigrants pushed the U.S. forward to a world of prosperity. Laskin accentuates twelve brave men being assimilated into the war and training procedures of the U.S. Army without even knowing English. Their service in the Great War was a major advantage for the U.S. Military, due to it’s plentiful of soldiers fighting for them. Laskin is an author who attended Harvard College and graduated with a history and literature degree. His work is known

A plumbing contractor noticed Epstein for his strength. He told Epstein however much he was earning in his current job, “I’ll double it” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 5). Epstein was fought over for his strength. Unlikely, Christofferson arrived “twenty years too late for anything free and arable” to farm on (Laskin, 2011, pg. 55). Not only were his dreams crushed, but also his success in America was starting to fade. On the other hand, both Epstein and Christofferson were influenced by America in their own way. Christofferson had an epiphany with religion and “was a changed man” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 55). The religious revival in the west had changed him into a whole new person only brining him closer to the American society. Similarly, Epstein “learned how to dress and shave and shake hands like an American” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 93). America had influenced both of these men by mentally and physically changing

The author believes the Great War was won due to the amount of immigrants that fought. In addition, America’s prosperity was a result of new people from all over the world contributing to the advancement of America. The immigrants were able to assimilate plentiful of jobs and orders in war, which resulted in as success. This monograph highlights the immigrant’s contribution to American history, which is still relevant in today’s time. This monograph could potentially open and change the minds of many to believe that immigrants in America are here to help the U.S. grow in all ways. If one is interested in the lives of immigrants and their stories, this monograph is a perfect match for his or her