Dec 09, 2014 jay vivian chambers 1901 1961, known as whittaker chambers, was an american editor who denounced his communist spying and became respected by the american conservative movement during the 1950s. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. David chambers dismissed my book on his grandfather as rightwing reductionism. Whittaker chamberss witness was published fifty years ago during the coldest days of the cold war. Whittaker chambers, william ashley anderson, irene wempe, leone ware, william martin. The quotations from the alger hiss trial are particularly revealing and history as been on the side of. Chambers is a compelling writer and it is difficult to put the book down. The american writers series guests talk about the early period of the cold war and the attraction soviet communism held for americans, like whittaker chambers. Aug 16, 2003 chambers, a former communist, knew the depths of evil of the ideology that, as the black book of communism by courtois et al. Whittaker chambers born jay vivian chambers and also known as david whittaker, was an american writer and editor. In 1948, the house unamerican activities committee, spurred on by a young richard nixon, began hearings with chambers as the main witness that hiss had secretly been a communist. On my copy, regnery brands the book a cold war classic, a true, if limiting, title.
Whittaker chambers autobiography of his life as a communist agent and his break with the communist party. Hilton kramer, the new criterion first published in 1952, witness is the true story of soviet spies in america and the trial that captivated a nation. Whittaker chambers was an american writer and editor. Whittaker chambers is a serious man who lived by choice through serious events. Both hold a special place in the minds and hearts of political and cultural conservatives, and their names are linked in the history of american conservatism. Mar 02, 2020 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Then, random house published the book witness in may 1952.
Washington post chambers was not just the witness against alger hiss, but was also one of th articulators of the modern conservative philosophy, a philosophy that. Whittaker chambers 19011961 was a former communist and witness for the house on unamerican activities committte huac against alger hiss, as well as author of witness, senior editor of time magazine, and recipient of the medal of freedom. As long as humanity speaks of virtue and dreams of freedom, the life and writings of whittaker chambers will ennoble and inspire. Whittaker chambers and ronald reagantwo conservative icons. Communisms barbarity repelled them but, not grasping the source of the evil they sincerely hate, such excommunists in general make ineffectual witnesses against it. Whittaker chambers had just participated in americas trial of the century in which chambers claimed that alger hiss, a fullstanding member of the political establishment, was a spy. Witness book by whittaker chambers 8 available editions. Whittaker chambers, original name jay vivian chambers, born april 1, 1901, philadelphia, pa. Part 2 by whittaker chambers ebook product description read by john macdonald first published in 1952, witness came on the heels of americas trial of the century, in which whittaker chambers accused alger hiss, a fullstanding member of the political establishment, of spying for the soviet union. Witness by whittaker chambers witness by whittaker chambers pdf, epub ebook d0wnl0ad read by john macdonald first published in 1952, witness came on the heels of americas trial of the century, in which whittaker chambers accused alger hiss, a fullstanding member of the political establishment, of spying for the soviet union.
Julian wadleigh in the trade agreements section at state. The long awaited, long delayed, personal testament of whittaker chambers who shared with alger hiss in the most controversial case of our time, not only in the enigmatic features of the case itself, in the violent partisanship of belief or disbelief in the two men involved, but more largely in its ultimate significance, established by the. Dec 09, 2014 witness ebook written by whittaker chambers. Whittaker chambers, the son of jay chambers, an artist, was born in philadelphia on 1st april, 1901. He powerfully wrote about them in 1951 shortly after his part in them concluded. I had heard of the book years ago through the writers of some political and social commentators i used to read. The story of chamberss descent to the communist underground and return to the human world is told with remarkable eloquence, particularly chamberss gripping. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. In it, whittaker chambers tells the story of his boyhood in a small new jersey community, his somewhat odd family and his eventual entry into the communist party. It is both an autobiography and a tellall book of a complicated life, of espionage, of a notorious court case, and, finally, of a complete conversion. Disillusioned by stalins atrocities in the 1930s, he decides to leave the party in 1939.
Witness has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Will witness changed my worldview, my philosophical perceptions, and, without exaggeration, my life. Whittaker chambers harrowing account of his journey to hell and backthrough espionage, treason, and terroris, ultimately, a story of faith. One might wonder why an almost 800page book written 67 years ago 1952 by an author who died in 1961 would still have any relevance today.
Witness, by whittaker chambers, is the story of communist penetration of the united states government by an underground cell, run by whittaker chambers. This book was written just after chambers confessed to his earlier affiliation with the communist party and testified against his former friend and comrade, alger hiss, in perhaps the most celebrated espionage trial of the century. Witness by whittaker chambers about alexandra desanctis follow alexandra desanctis on twitter hosted by john j. Discussion guide witness discussion guide questions for discussing witness by karen hesse and an interview with the author. Part of the appeal of witness is undoubtedly historical. Having read the kindle version, i dont mean physically, though the physical book would be that as well. Even those who dont resonate to whittaker chambers viewpoint of 1940s50s anticommunism as a kind of. In this penetrating philosophical memoir, chambers recounts the. Why the witness of whittaker chambers is still relevant. On the morning of wednesday, january 25, 1950, united. The book was a combination of whittaker chambers born jay vivian chambers and also known as david whittaker, was an american writer and editor. Linda byler grew up amish and is an active member of the amish church today. Chambers is a witness not just in a trial but he says he is a witness to the latter world view. A communist party member and soviet spy, he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent.
Witness, as one would expect, details chambers testimony against alger hiss in front of the house unamerican activities committee, well as his testimony in. This poetic autobiography recounts the famous case, but also reveals much more. After early years as a communist party member and soviet spy, he defected from communism underground and open party and worked at time magazine. First published in 1952, witness came on the heels of americas trial of the century, in which whittaker chambers accused alger hiss, a fullstanding member of the political establishment, of spying for the soviet union. In 1951 during huac hearings, william spiegel of baltimore identified a photo of carl schroeder as whittaker chambers while he was describing his involvement with david zimmerman, a spy in chambers network. First published in 1952, witness was at once a literary effort, a philosophical treatise, and a bestseller. Witness by whittaker chambers pdf free download ebook. Standing apart from liberal anticommunists, chambers forcefully argued that communism must be rejected in the name of something other than 20thcentury modern liberalism. Part literary effort, part philosophical treatise, this intriguing autobiography recounts the famous alger hiss case and reveals much more. Reagan owes a huge debt to chamberss reflections on communism and freedom, with his autobiography, witness, serving almost as the midwife for reagans political rebirth. There is the high level of selfabsorption that is so often found in people who, paradoxically, are attached to an impersonal but apparently philanthropic cause.
Julian wadleigh in the trade agreements section at. Whittaker chambers, born jay vivian chambers april 1, 1901 july 9, 1961, was an american writereditor and former communist spy who, in 1948, testified about communist espionage, thereafter earning respect from the american conservative movement. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. When he was a child the family moved to long island. The book gets to the heart of the matter by what chambers calls the tragedy of history. It tells the story of a brilliant man driven by despair over the crisis of our time into the arms of the communist party. He testified at alger hisss perjury and espionage trial. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read witness.
There are two competing points of view in the twentieth century. Without such great writing, the books impact would certainly have been blunted. Books on the hiss chambers case or hiss case have appeared since the second trial finished in 1950, averaging one per years every year since then. This book is a well written autobiography of an interesting man who followed his political beliefs no matter the cost. But the highlight of the book is the preface written by chambers as a letter to his children. After becoming disillusioned with stalin following the moscow purges, chambers revealed everything and claimed there was a. He is best known for his testimony about the perjury and espionage of alger hiss. There are many things that i have published in the past which, in the light of further reflection and. After early years as a communist party member 1925 and soviet spy 19321938, he defected from the soviet underground 1938 and joined. She is the author of five bestselling fiction series, all set in the amish world. The book im reading is titled witness, and it is written by a man named whittaker chambers. Witness by whittaker chambers and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. However, i argued that chambers witness stands because he experienced the brokenness of. Hester takes charge, lancaster burning, sadies montana, lizzie searches for love, and the dakota series.
Chambers in 1939 told a highranking state department official what he knew, but nothing was done. Those differences were principled and in no way prevented a mutual respect as detailed in the book odyssey of a friend. Witness, by whittaker chambers i am writing while standing on my back deck in the middle of an electrical storm. Whittaker chambers had just participated in americas trial of the century in which chambers claimed that alger hiss, a fullstanding member of the political establishment, was a spy for the soviet union. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Buy witness cold war classics reprint by whittaker chambers isbn. The book is far too long over 700 pages, and has too much personal angst, especially about the quakerism chambers adopted after he abandoned communism. Im cozy and dry under this roof and i hear the rain tattering on the slates above and the lawn below. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition.
Oct 21, 2008 whittaker chambers harrowing account of his journey to hell and backthrough espionage, treason, and terroris, ultimately, a story of faith. The book was a combination of autobiography, an account of his role in the hiss case and a warning about the dangers of communism and liberalism. This 1950 autobiography has become a conservative classic. Whittaker chambers 19011961 was a former communist and witness for the house on unamerican activities committte huac against alger hiss, as well as author of witness, senior editor of time magazine, and recipient of the medal of freedom from. The great service which chambers provided in this book, in his journalism for time like the imaginative ghosts on the roof 1945, and in the hiss case, wasalong with winston churchill in his fulton, mo speech of 1946, declaring that an iron curtain has descended across the continentto force home the realization that the war against. Chambers, a former communist, knew the depths of evil of the ideology that, as the black book of communism by courtois et al. Books on the hisschambers case or hiss case have appeared since the second trial finished in 1950, averaging one per years every year since then. The wave of publicity about robert hanssen, a veteran fbi agent who became a master spy for the russians, brings to mind a far different man whittaker chambers, a veteran soviet spy who became. The quotations from the alger hiss trial are particularly revealing and history as been on the side of whittaker chambers. Whittaker chambers, in his monumental book witness, has completed the print version of a great american story. It is by any measure a masterpiece and there is a good argument to be made that it is the seminal book of the american twentieth century. It is heartwarming, heartrending, magnanimous and poignant. Jay vivian chambers 1901 1961, known as whittaker chambers, was an american editor who denounced his communist spying and became respected by the american conservative movement during the 1950s. The wave of publicity about robert hanssen, a veteran fbi agent who became a master spy for the russians, brings to mind a far different man.
Harry dexter white, an assistant to the secretary of the treasury. The saturday evening post ran long excerpts from the memoirs of whittaker chambers as i was the witness weekly for 10 weeks from february 9 through april 12, 1952. He went to work for time magazine, becoming a star editor. First published in 1952, witness was at once a literary effort, a philosop. Witness by whittaker chambers 1952 first edition book. Sam tanenhaus, author of whittaker chambers one of the few indispensable autobiographies ever written by an american and one of the best written, too. Selected journalism of whittaker chambers, 19311959, gateway books. He described both events in his book witness, published in 1952. The second thing i found impressive, and indeed the pivot on which the book turned, was the account of his metamorphisis from ardent communist true. Witness by whittaker chambers, first edition abebooks. Oct 14, 2015 whittaker chambers 19011961 was an american writer, editor, communist party member and spy for the soviet union who defected and became an outspoken opponent of communism. Regnery publishing, incorporated, an eagle publishing company. Chambers had a gift for languageto call chambers an activist or witness a political event is to say dostoevsky was a criminologist or crime and punishment a morality tract. The long awaited, long delayed, personal testament of whittaker chambers who shared with alger hiss in the most controversial case of our time, not only in the enigmatic features of the case itself, in the violent partisanship of belief or disbelief in the two men involved, but more largely in its ultimate significance, established by the verdict, of the existence of communist infiltration.
I grudgingly picked it up on the recommendation of a friend but soon found myself intrigued by it, then liking it, then finishing it quite impressed. Witness by whittaker chambers overdrive rakuten overdrive. The book flows well, is hard to put down, and chambers led a fairly interesting life. Alger hiss, biography, chambers, whittaker, communism, hiss, alger, spies, whittaker chambers, etatsunis. Review of witness by whittaker chambers chicago unbound. President ronald reagan one of the dozen or so indispensable books of the century.
The news camera and the newsphoto began to replace the staff artist on the newspapers. The most famous part of the book is chamberss gripping account of the two perjury trials of alger hiss in 1949 and 1950, which pitted the. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed by chambers. In 1952, chamberss book witness was published to widespread acclaim. Witness is a long book with denselypacked type in the way of older nonfiction paperbacks. In celebration, nro will be digging into the nr archives throughout the year. Regnery publishing, incorporated, an eagle publishing company, 1987. He is best known for his testimony about the perjury and es of a classic russian novel and has gained chambers recognition by critics on both sides of the spectrum as a. Buckley 1925 time 19531961, 20th century, 1917, 19451953. Without such great writing, the book s impact would certainly have been blunted. Besides putting chambers life story in a more neutral footing, with warts and all, tanenhauss book also gave a much more detailed version of the proceedings of the hiss trials, as well as some interesting facets of chamberss life after the hiss conviction, in particular the writing and publication of witness, his friendship with william. From 1939 until the early 50s, chambers struggles against. His underground espionage apparatus includes alger hiss, an assistant to the assistant secretary of state.
Probably the least interesting was his time as a spy, and the second least interesting was the case itself. Whittaker chambers 19011961 was an american writer, editor, communist party member and spy for the soviet union who defected and became an outspoken opponent of communism. However, before the generation that lived through the soviet threat leaves this world entirely, the story of alger hiss, whittaker chambers and the penetration of soviet espionage to the highest. Chambers, a journalist for time magazine, tells of his role as a member of the american communist party and as an active soviet agent who passed secrets to the reds. A member of the communist party usa and soviet spy, he renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent of it. The magazine had serialized the memoirs of walter krivitsky in 1939.