Saving His Life

Chicago: Sherwin Beach Press, 2008. Hardcover. Fine. Hardcover. Number 18 of 50 copies. Signed by the author and the bookmakers. With numerous family photographs provided by Nina Sandlin. Lee Sandlin (1956-2014) was an award winning journalist and essayist. This is his story of the extraordinary life and bewildering illness of Sandlin's father-in-law, Russian immigrant Nick Cherniavsky (1924-2007), who grew up in China. "The defining event of Nick's life happened before he was born. The Russian Revolution was one of those vast historical calamities that most Americans have been spared: it was a time when people who never thought of themselves as political, who never thought they'd have to choose sides about anything, were forced to make political choices that could easily cost them their homes, their families, and their lives. This was how it was for Nick's parents." This beautiful book iwas designed by Martha Chiplis, set in Monotype Ehrhardt by Winifred and Michael Bixler, and printed by Martha Chiplis on handmade Twinrocker Taupe paper. Photoetchings from family photographs are printed on Hosho, inset into the book in debossed panels. A map of Nick's lifetime of travel, drawn by Deborah Reade, serves as the front endpaper. Trisha Hammer has designed and executed a hidden crossed-structure binding in Nigerian goatskin with endpapers of Japanese silk, housed in a silk drawstring bag. An impressive production In fine condition. 9 1/2 x 11 x 2 inches. 100 pages. PRI/072115.