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

nationally for its great amount of awards and recognitions.
Throughout the novel Laskin narrates the lives of twelve courageous men and their journeys to America, including Meyer Epstein and Andrew Christofferson. Although both men fight for the U.S. in the Great War, their reasons for coming to America are dissimilar. Epstein “decided to go to America and find his father” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 6). Epstein’s father had left his mother and siblings to hopefully make enough money to bring the entire family to America. However, when his father left for the journey, it was the last time Epstein would ever see his father again. On the other hand, Christofferson’s brother helped him acquire land if he “escort his wife and children to Nebraska” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 16). His American dream was to own a piece of land. He was willing to assist his brother in any way for his dream. Similarly, both men had better experiences on the ship to America than most immigrants. Christofferson was fortunate “seasickness wasn’t a problem, since he was accustomed to winter fishing” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 35). Other passengers would vomit all the time even on each other. Christofferson had a break from watching his brother’s wife and daughter since the boat was segregated by gender. Equally, Epstein “was lucky to have ended up on the world’s fastest ship” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 32). For many, the trip lasted up to weeks of torture. However, Epstein experienced many benefits on the Lusitania. Both had great starts on their journey with America in the horizon.
Finally with both of their feet on American soil, it was time to find a job.

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

them.
In the Great War, both Epstein and Christofferson suffered through starvation and dehydration. Christofferson would “sip from the puddles that collected in the horses’ hoofprints” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 294). Similarly, Epstein “was starving from the lack of protein” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 289). These two soldiers suffered beautifully for their new country. The conditions in war were deadly not only in the battles, but also in the camps. However, Christofferson was not entirely convinced in the morals of war, ‘“I had nothing against those German…A lot of them were farm boys just like me” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 311). His Christian views kept him rooted in his beliefs no matter what the orders called him to do. In contrast, Epstein was not able to show his religious beliefs as long as “it would not interfere with military operations” (Laskin, 2011, pg. 234). When a Jewish holiday came around, Epstein was called on the line and had to follow orders instead.
Laskin does an amazing job of illuminating the importance of immigrants in American history.

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

interests.