Rene Cassin and Human Rights

Reviews / Votes

'Winter and Prost have written a marvelous book about the struggle for human rights as seen through the prism of the remarkable life and achievements of Rene Cassin ranging throughout the entire twentieth century. It is thoroughly researched, brilliantly presented, honest and humane in its treatment, and sound in its judgments. This is exactly the way that history and biography should be written.' Paul Gordon Lauren, University of Montana 'At its best, biography provides a humanized window on to great historical developments. Prost and Winter have done just this. Along the way, readers are led through a fascinating narrative of the history of human rights in the twentieth century. This fine biography of Cassin is at least as much about Cassin's causes as Cassin himself and Cassin himself would have been well pleased by it.' Leonard V. Smith, Oberlin College 'Almost killed as a soldier in 1914, Rene Cassin was a lawyer who became a veterans' rights advocate, architect of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and leading member of the French Jewish community after the Holocaust. Two eminent historians combine their strengths to paint a compelling portrait of this unique figure, whose life encompassed the best and the worst of the twentieth century.' John Horne, Trinity College Dublin '... a thorough, engaging, and informative account of the life of Rene Cassin ... Well researched and written this book shows why Cassin's mortal remains now rest in the Pantheon, the ultimate French honor to the country's major figures. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, and research collections.' D. P. Forsythe, Choice