Golda Meir’s autobiographical book My Life. London, 1975 – first edition, Dedicated and signed: “To Mr. Philip Herman, with regards. Golda Meir.”
The personal and moving life story of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, from her childhood in Russia to her rise as one of the political giants of her era. Her role as Prime Minister of Israel, as a woman and a mother, and how her personal story is, in many ways, the story of Israel itself. Golda writes candidly not only about the prominent Israeli diplomats with whom she worked so closely, such as Ben-Gurion and Dayan, but also about her relationships with world leaders including Kennedy, Nixon, and Henry Kissinger, de Gaulle, and Harold Wilson. She openly discusses Israel’s right to exist, the saga of the British Mandate, the Arab question, and all that this critical issue entails, including the matter of the Arab refugees.
Golda initially published My Life in English, following requests from foreign diplomats who wished to hear her life story from her own perspective. The book was originally written for an international audience, though she was uneasy with the idea of revealing personal details. The reason she ultimately agreed to the request was that she saw it as an opportunity to present to readers a chapter in the history of the Zionist movement and the State of Israel. This came toward the end of her tenure as Prime Minister, in October 1973, at a time when she had already decided to step down and anticipated having time to devote to writing. In the preface to the Hebrew edition, she writes candidly: “Had I written this book from the outset for readers in Israel, it would have been written differently. Certain subjects would not have received such detailed treatment, while others, numerous events not mentioned at all in this book or only touched upon briefly, would have been included.” Due to high demand, the book was translated into Hebrew shortly after the English edition was published.
One of the most fascinating chapters in the book is the one dealing with the historic events that preceded the declaration of the independence of the State of Israel. Under the title “we have our state”, Golda recounts the rescue of orphaned children from DP camps and their immigration to Eretz Israel in defiance of British opposition. She describes the severe and brutal measures used by the British against Jewish immigrants deported aboard the Exodus 1947: “If I live a hundred years, I will never erase from my eyes the terrible image of hundreds of British soldiers in full gear wielding and using clubs, pistols, and grenades against the miserable refugees aboard the Exodus—including 400 pregnant women who were determined to give birth in Eretz Israel…”. On the mounting Arab threat following the UN Special Committee (UNSCOP) report, she writes: “We were not at all prepared for war.” She describes a series of secret meetings she held with Ben-Gurion, in which they discussed how to secure a majority at the UN in favor of establishing a Jewish state. She shares gripping details of the tense hours on the day of the declaration of independence, revealing little-known insights about preparations for the ceremony: the windows of the hall at the Tel Aviv Museum, where the ceremony was held, were covered out of fear of an attack; Theodor Herzl’s portrait was hung especially for the occasion that same day; the orchestra, which had been prepared in advance, struggled to play “Hatikvah” properly; and the overwhelming emotion felt by all present: “My eyes filled with tears and my hands trembled—we had done it, we brought the Jewish state into the world, and I, Golda Mabovitch Meirson, was privileged to witness this day.” She recounts how it was the first time she ever heard Ben-Gurion choke up while reading the Declaration of Independence, and how she was certain that the moment he finished reading, the newly born state would immediately have to repel the Arab assault already at its doorstep, and more.
X, 396 pages. Hardcover. Original dust jacket (the portrait photograph of Golda featured on the cover was taken by photographer David Rubinger). Very good condition.
