Ferdinand Blumentritt:
An Austrian Life for the Philippines
by
Harry Sichrovsky (1983/87)
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Preface B
This is an engaging work on the best friend not only of Dr. José
Rizal but also of the Filipino people, an Austrian scholar in whom
many of the strands that made the history and development of the
Philippines in the last decade of the Spanish colonial period and early
American regime were knotted. What is principally examined and
more correctly surveyed is how the close friendship between Dr.
Ferdinand Blumentritt and Dr. José Rizal was forged to the point of
true brotherhood and also the indefatigable role of Dr. Blumentritt in
defending through his prolific writings and correspondences the
cause of the Filipino struggle for justice, freedom and independence.
Students and admirers of our national hero can only be grateful to the
author, Professor Harry Sichrovsky for providing us a wealth of
information in portraying Dr. Blumentritt's life and achievements and
for the happy facility in combining the long-known sources with
newer additions to the work to produce a useful contribution that the
readers must take into account.
SERAFIN D. QUIASON
Chairman
National Historical Institute
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