Review by Choice Review
Anthropologist Richardson (Wilfrid Laurier Univ.) endeavors to depict how the diverse population of Odessa imagines and experiences the city's uniqueness; the only common denominator seems to be a conviction that this fabled port city is unique. Richardson correctly assesses the relevance of her work: the conflicted identities she describes undermine the stability of the Ukrainian state, an entity whose very legitimacy is still questioned by many of its citizens. Unfortunately, she erects rather flimsy straw men to make her points: Does anyone really think that high school students absorb history lessons uncritically? Is it a surprise that Odessa's Russians, Ukrainians, and Jews interpret the city's past and present in fundamentally different ways? The distinctions she draws between these groups will appear rather superficial to anyone familiar with the history of the region. The author's analysis would have been better served with a more thorough historical grounding, particularly histories of other cities with contested legacies (cf. Mark Mazower's magisterial Salonica, CH, Feb'06, 43-3545) and milder doses of anthropological jargon (e.g., "performativity"). Ultimately, the reader is frustrated that Odessa's colorful history, which Richardson alludes to repeatedly, never comes to life. Summing Up: Not recommended. P. E. Heineman University of Maryland University College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
