Manfred Roth publishes book about life in the region / Proceeds go to Immanuel hospice service
Once a bitterly poor, inaccessible forest region, today a prosperous home to many innovative and successful family-run industrial companies: In his latest book, Manfred Roth describes how the Hinterland became the Vorderland using numerous historical sources, traditional anecdotes and personal observations.
The 85-year-old is known far beyond the region for his entrepreneurial endeavours and social commitment. In earlier works, he has already documented the history of the family business, which has developed over the decades from a small company with just a few employees into a global group of companies. "I am not only interested in recording my personal memories, but above all the change and development that I have experienced in our home region," says Manfred Roth, who is drawing on numerous historical sources for the first volume in the planned series "From Hinterland to Vorderland".
In 120 pages of text and pictures, he describes how the hinterland has developed from a very poor area into a prosperous region. "How did we come to be in this fortunate position, even though we have neither sustainable natural resources nor productive agricultural land and are still cut off from the main transport arteries?" Manfred Roth poses this initial question in his book, which has brought him together with numerous historians, local historians and traditionalists. Against the backdrop of economic development, he also sheds light on cultural, religious and social changes and the respective interactions.
Declaration of love to the homeland
The book is more than just a retrospective: Manfred Roth also shows how the current challenges create space for new ideas and innovations, for example with the village shop in Herzhausen or the economic potential that lies in the solutions for overcoming climate change. His conclusion: "There is no region with a higher quality of life and better working conditions than the hinterland." The book is therefore also a "declaration of love to the homeland".
Proceeds go to the Immanuel hospice service
The book is available for 16 euros at the Roth company headquarters in Buchenau (Am Seerain 2), at "Nettes Lädchen" in Buchenau and at the bookshops "Stephani" and "Buch & Bild" in Biedenkopf. All proceeds from the book sales will be donated to Hospizdienst Immanuel e.V., Gladenbach. "The valuable voluntary work of the staff of the hospice service is very close to my heart," emphasised Manfred Roth at the official book launch.