Days of Lead - Defying Death During Israel’s War of Independence

"Exquisitely written with a poetically beautiful touch, Days of Lead is the page-turning true story of a young soldier's brave escapades during Israel's War of Independence in 1948. This incredible account is a story of determination and heroism, but also a stinging portrait of life on the battlefield--of looking an enemy soldier, also wide-eyed and only eighteen, in the eyes and knowing that it's his life or yours, either you take a life or you lose yours. Far from a regular coming-of-age story, this is a firsthand account of a young man trying desperately to save the lives of his fellow soldiers, but watching them taken down one-by-one until he's the last man alive on his platoon. It's heartrending, but enthralling. This new edition of Days of Lead, published in English, provides an up-close view of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv long before they became the bustling cities they are today. It also presents fascinating context on the making of the book and its enduring relevancy, as Israeli soldiers continue to fight for Israel's right to exist. In a personal letter to the author, Israel's founder and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, one of many well-known celebrators of the book, writes, 'I started reviewing your book without the intention of reading to its end, but from the first pages I was captivated and I read it to the end through excitement and astonishment. From where all of a sudden pops up such mighty expression, truth telling, and wonderful description? It seems to me that until now I have not read such a precise and true story of combat from the War of Independence. . . . You have contributed a valuable asset . . . to our literature at large.'"--Provided by publisher.

List of contents

Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1: The Hill
Chapter 2: The Camp
Chapter 3: The Convoy
Chapter 4: The Trap
Chapter 5: The Road to Jerusalem
Chapter 6: Sight
Chapter 7: Night
Chapter 8: The Stains
Chapter 9: The Few
Chapter 10: Nightmare
Chapter 11: The Order
Chapter 12: A Fading Twilight

About the author

Moshe Rashkes was a platoon leader in Israel's War of Independence and received a Citation of Valor when he was discharged in 1948 after a serious injury. In 1950, he was named chairman of Israel's Disabled War Veterans Organization, where he was responsible, through 1958, for the rehabilitation of more than six thousand disabled veterans. In 1965, he was named chairman of Israel's Ilan Center for the Physically Disabled, a world-class rehabilitative sports center. Under his leadership, the center became one of the largest and most successful rehab sports facilities in the world. In addition to being a best-selling author of Days of Lead, Rashkes wrote three other highly acclaimed books and was a journalist who covered the Six-Day War. He lived in Herzeliya, Israel, until his passing in 2018.

Summary

Hailed by Israel’s founder David Ben-Gurion, Days of Lead is a gripping best seller recounting the author’s life on the front line during Israel’s War of Independence.

Exquisitely written with a poetically beautiful touch, Days of Lead is the page-turning true story of a young soldier’s brave escapades during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. This incredible account is a story of determination and heroism, but also a stinging portrait of life on the battlefield—of looking an enemy soldier, also wide-eyed and only eighteen, in the eyes and knowing that it’s his life or yours, either you take a life or you lose yours. Far from a regular coming-of-age story, this is a firsthand account of a young man trying desperately to save the lives of his fellow soldiers, but watching them taken down one-by-one until he’s the last man alive on his platoon. It’s heartrending, but enthralling.

This new edition of Days of Lead, published in English, provides an up-close view of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv long before they became the bustling cities they are today. It also presents fascinating context on the making of the book and its enduring relevancy, as Israeli soldiers continue to fight for Israel’s right to exist.

In a personal letter to the author, Israel’s founder and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, one of many well-known celebrators of the book, writes, “I started reviewing your book without the intention of reading to its end, but from the first pages I was captivated and I read it to the end through excitement and astonishment. From where all of a sudden pops up such mighty expression, truth telling, and wonderful description? It seems to me that until now I have not read such a precise and true story of combat from the War of Independence. . . . You have contributed a valuable asset . . . to our literature at large.”

Foreword

Jewish holidays media interest: Media pitches will include hooks to the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah (9/7/21) and Yom Kippur (9/16/21), which the book is releasing in advance of.
Mainstream and endemic media: The gripping text of the book is perfect for excerpting and the preface and foreword writers, the author’s son and former GA senator Max Cleland, will be available for media. Targets will include the likes of the “New in Paperback” column in Entertainment Weekly, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, The Forward, the Jewish Week, Foreign Affairs, the New York Times Book Review (Alida Becker), the Washington Times, Jewish weeklies across the country, and local NJ, NY, and GA hometown media.
Targeted digital advertising with SEO keywords through Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram. SEO keywords related to Israel, Judaism, war, the military, and more.
Promotion with cultural centers and museums such as Jewish museums nationwide.
Book clubs pitch through libraries, blogs, YouTube book clubs, and more.

Additional text

"A powerful portrait of what it feels like to go to war."
—Publishers Weekly
“I was captivated by this book and I read it to the end, through excitement and astonishment… Until now I have not read such a precise and true story of combat from the War of Independence. I was glad that such a thing finally appeared.”
—David Ben-Gurion, Founder and First Prime Minister of Israel

“I read your book with excitement. It was nice to meet a true author who was revealed in such a humane light in a time of battle.”
—Shimon Peres, President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense of Israel

“The greatness of this book is to be found in its atmosphere, which enables the readers to identify deeply with the author, as if they themselves were on the battlefield.”
—Max Cleland, Senator from Georgia

“This is a memoir on a very personal level.”
—American Israelite

“Days of Lead tells the story of the hardships suffered by Israeli soldiers. But in a larger sense, it chronicles the suffering of all soldiers in battle everywhere…If you want to understand the sacrifices Israeli soldiers made in 1948 and the horror of war in general, read Days of Lead.”
—Washington Jewish Week

“An example of a convincing personal story of war and battle.”
—Ha’aretz

“This is a story of the lonely combat soldier, facing one of humankind’s defining experiences: battlefield and the danger of death.”
—Davar

“A war book that if you start reading, you won’t be able to put down.”
—Yedioth Ahronoth

Product details

• Authors: Moshe Rashkes
• Assisted by: Max Cleland (Foreword), Arik Rashkes (Foreword)
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.08.2021
• EAN: 9781948062916
• ISBN: 978-1-948062-91-6
• No. of pages: 208
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political administration; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military, Biography: historical, political & military, HISTORY / Military / Wars & Conflicts (Other), POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Middle Eastern, Modern warfare