I AM SAXON
About the Book
I Am Saxon chronicles the history of the little-known Transylvanian Saxons. From their humble beginnings in the 12th century as immigrants to a remote and sparsely populated area in the southern basin of the Carpathian Mountains, the Saxons became renowned for their fine trade guilds and seven beautiful, fortified towns. During the many invasions of central Europe during the medieval era, the Transylvanian Saxons were called the wall and shield of Christendom. But after eight hundred years, the Saxons were forced to evacuate their homeland in Siebenbürgen (the land of the seven towns).
Karl Gagesch also tells the stories his family shared with him about his ancestral home of Draas, and about life in a rural Saxon village. In addition, he explores the tenacity and cohesiveness Saxon communities required to form a distinct nation within an ethnically diverse region and maintain their cultural independence despite the many challenges they faced.
I Am Saxon pays homage to the legacy of the Transylvanian Saxon culture, which has all but disappeared from Siebenbürgen.
Gallery
About the Author
Karl Gagesch
Karl Gagesch is a history enthusiast who grew up listening to the stories of the last generation of Transylvanian Saxons firsthand. He is passionate about sharing this lesser-known aspect of European history, in particular as the Transylvanian Saxons are a distinct ethnic group who have all but vanished from their homeland. He is one of a handful of history enthusiasts who specialize in Transylvanian history.
Karl Gagesch lives in Niagara Falls, Canada, with his wife, Gloria, and their two dogs, Jaxon and Ziggy.
REVIEWS
Karl Gagesch's book "I am Saxon" pleasantly surprised me, as it delves deeply into the history of the Saxons. The well-described history was unfamiliar to me, which made reading it very interesting. My father didn't talk much about his old homeland and his escape. I was able to experience the close neighbourly and kinship bonds, as described in the book, very clearly with my paternal relatives. A thoroughly successful and interesting book, well worth reading, even for our children. Ruth & Lothar