Created by Tanisha R
Last edited March 28, 2026

Template:Infobox book Letters to Auntie Fori (2002) is a collection of letters collated in a book by Sir Martin Gilbert to Fori Nehru, explaining the history of Jewish people over the course of 5,000 years. It was published by Orion Publishing Group in 2002.[1]

Background

Fori Nehru met Martin Gilbert in 1958.[2] He was a friend of her son Ashok, from university days, and later historian and official biographer of Winston Churchill.[2] When Gilbert arrived at the Nehru home that year he was unwell, and he later recounted that she successfully nursed him to recovery with rice and yoghurt.[2] They continued to keep in touch but did not see each other again until 40 years later in 1998.[2] He referred to the Nehru's as Auntie Fori and uncle Birju, and until 1998 had no idea she was from Budapest's Jewish community.[2][3] She asked him to recommend a book about the history of Jews.[2][4] In response, he wrote her one letter every week for 140 weeks, each addressed "Dear Auntie Fori", tracing the course of Jewish history over 5,000 years.[2][5] The letters were collectively published in the book titled Letters to Auntie Fori: The 5,000-Year History of the Jewish People and Their Faith.[2][5]

Layout

The book is divided into four parts, preceded by acknowledgments and an introduction, and followed by an epilogue, appendix, bibliography, maps, and an index.

References

  1. Shobha Nehru, A Quiet Witness To History, Dies At 108, Benjamin, Ivry. The Forward(2 May 2017). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 The Story of the Jewish People: Letters to Auntie Fori{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Phoenix(2002). ISBN 0-75381-693-8
  3. Shobha Nehru Dies at 108; Escaped Holocaust and Married Into Indian Politics. The New York Times(29 April 2017). Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  4. Diaspora tales. The Guardian(26 April 2002). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Sir Martin's Letters to Auntie Fori. Sir Martin Gilbert(1 July 2020). Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  • Letters to Auntie Fori : the 5000-year history of the Jewish people and their faith{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. New York : Schocken Books(2002). ISBN 978-0-8052-4188-4


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