Maryland Books

I first saw the A. Aubrey Bodine book at the headquarters of the National Press Photographers Association in Durham, NC. Ken Cooke, director of photography for the Fayetteville Observer, and I were visiting with Charlie Cooper, the NPPA director. We decided to visit Charlie on our way back from Washington where we were coordinating a photo exhibit on Desert Storm at the Smithsonian. During our talk, Charlie picked up on a comment I made about timing, feeling, and heart coinciding with release of the shutter--classic Cartier Bresson "decisive moment" I guess. Anyway, Charlie then took me into the NPPA library where he showed me a book of someone's work he knew defined our discussion. It was the book "A. Aubrey Bodine : Baltimore Pictorialist, 1906-1970."

As NPPA director, Charlie has known and worked with many great photographers and Bodine was one of them. Ken also became very excited having known Bodine from years of working in photojourn! alism and having a sincere appreciation for Bodine's work. I, as the younger man, had never heard of Bodine until that day, but I will always be grateful to Charlie Cooper for introducing me to this book. To me, Bodine defines seeing the day-to-day world with heart and moment as I believe very few photographers today achieve. He is not well known, but his work is something to cherish. I feel very fortunate to have a copy (Charlie was kind enough to send me one). It is a book that every student of photography and community photojournalism should see, feel, and own.

One Saturday afternoon about five years ago in Washington, DC, I wandered into the gallery of Kathleen Ewing and spent hours looking at the pictures of the photographers she represents. Prominent among them was A. Aubrey Bodine and his magnificent images of the people of the Chesapeake Bay. I'd never heard of Bodine but was completely captured by his pictures of the water and the people who live and work on it. Many of his pictures intrigued me because they look so much like stage settings with actors posed for the pleasure of the camera. But Bodine was also a portrait photographer, and one of great skill. This book, with beautifully reproduced photographs, an appreciation & biography by Ewing and a remembrance by Harold A. Williams who worked with Bodine on the "Baltimore Sun," will surely bring a new and appreciative audience for Bodine. One cannot help but be impressed with the fog rolling in on a Baltimore dock over two sleeping dogs in 1947, naked boys diving into the Patapsco River in a 1933 photograph which pays obvious homage to Thomas Eakins, or with the 1955 portrait of H.L. Mencken, among many, many others. Highly Recommended.

Amos Bandertscher's new book, Baltimore Portraits, is a visual documentary of a city's forgotten faces. The photographer uses images as a visual diary of his impressions of the streets, bars, and back alleys of 'Charm City', where the beautiful, the marginalized, outsiders, freaks and clowns converge into a colorful and yet often melancholy documentation of lives lived on the edge and lives lost. The book is an impressive body of work which ranks among the likes of Nan Goldin and Diane Arbus.

Just a quick note....This wonderful visual tool captures many of Baltimore's notorious charachters (including commentary) in a way NO other Baltimore home grown artist could ever come close to. He see's beauty in the obscure and respects those models who respect him. Many photographers take advantage of those who choose to follow the beat of their own drum but not Amos. In my opinion no one in this book is classified as "forgotten." Some models are dead and gone but other models, such as performance artist JeffRey Clagett, persevere and are very grateful to this excellant photographer for including them in his TRIBUTE to the differences that make the locals here "heros" ,in a twisted way, instead of clowns and freaks. To try to lable any of his diverse models is simply missing the whole point. This book is a masterpiece! Buy the book and judge for yourself. You won't be disappointed. For me it is a trip down memory lane and I have yet to see another local photographer pull off such a TRIBUTE!

This is one of the finest and most complete Baltimore history books you well ever encounter in your life. However, it does inadvertently omit one significant fact in the creation of Baltimore. My great-grandfather was a German immigrant named Boston Fear. He was the original creator of Walbrook: Baltimore's very first suburb. Walbrook was originally named Fearville in honor of Boston Fear.
I highly recommend that individuals with an interest in the constructive formation of Baltimore purchase a copy of this exquisitely detailed book for your own personal collection.

The best and most comprehensive history of Baltimore ever written. Olson is to be commended for her years of research and dedication, and the result is incredible.

The Biddle Street Bridge was an outstanding read. I couldn't put it down. It was definatley a feel good book, that brought a smile to my face & a warm feeling to my heart. THIS IS A MUST READ!!

The Biddle Street Bridge was an outstanding read. I couldn't put it down. It was definatley a feel good book, that brought a smile to my face & a warm feeling to my heart. THIS IS A MUST READ!!

I grew up in the 600 block of Grantly St. We moved in 1964. Everything Dr. Orser says is true - but I continue to resent the implication that we were racists. After assaults on our persons and property it would have been imprudent NOT to move.

However, the book was great to provoke nostalgia and good memories of Edmondson Village and St. Bernardine's.

Having grown up on Hilton Street -- just East of Edmondson Village -- as a child during the 50s and very early 60s, I actually experienced so much of the story Dr. Orser has brilliantly told in his book. I was there. I saw it happen. I experienced it. I saw racial hatred and/or racial fear -- directed at me, at my family, my neighbors -- all Caucasian - orchestrated by those that Dr. Orser so clearly documents. This book is a "must have" for anyone who grew up in those neighborhoods and experienced what I did during those incredible times.

anyone who likes watching equestrian events, from the 'high life' of polo to the down and dirty racing action of a steeplechase in the country, should own a copy of capitol horse country. it's a guide of events around the capitol area, washington, maryland and virginia. you'll find out what to wear, what to bring, and most importantly, what to expect when you spend an enjoyable afternoon watching a top notch equestrian event. it's a must have book if you live in the capitol area....or if you love horses. the history is also fascinating. if you like this title, the author also wrote 'equal to the challenge' about the pioneering women in horse sports. give it to a young girl or woman and inspire them to reach new heights. great author and fascinating subjects.

anyone who likes watching equestrian events, from the 'high life' of polo to the down and dirty racing action of a steeplechase in the country, should own a copy of capitol horse country. it's a guide of events around the capitol area, washington, maryland and virginia. you'll find out what to wear, what to bring, and most importantly, what to expect when you spend an enjoyable afternoon watching a top notch equestrian event. it's a must have book if you live in the capitol area....or if you love horses. the history is also fascinating. if you like this title, the author also wrote 'equal to the challenge' about the pioneering women in horse sports. give it to a young girl or woman and inspire them to reach new heights. great author and fascinating subjects.

This book is a compilation and expansion of two smaller works - one on log canoes and the other on the history of the bugeye. It is extremely well researched and includes detailed drawings / plans. Since the original pamphlet drafts date to the 1940s, the author had access to the actual builders and designers as well as to those that captained the boats either tonging or dredging for oysters. I read it from the perspective of someone interested in the history and culture of the Bay and thought the bugeye section was great. Since a stated purpose of the book is to capture specifications and how to build type information, the casual reader will probably find some of it somewhat dry.

As a Chesapeake Bay native and avid log canoe sailor I found this book well-researched and amply illustrated. It is a bit dated, but no other work is as comprehensive. Model builders will find some line drawings, but HAMMS and Chapelle's "Small Sailing Craft" are probably better sources for that specific aspect of the working Bay craft. I would recommend this book for canoe/skipjack afficianados, modelers looking for an interesting alternative to square riggers, and marine history buffs who are not familiar with the genre. Brewington's narrative includes information that would be of interest to just about anyone interested in the Bay and its colorful history.

Very clearly presents the organization of the Confederate armies and sorts out a lot of the confusion regarding regimental consolidations and duplicate naming. A great tool for genealogists and Civil War researchers

Mr. Sifakis has done an excellent job chronicling the Arkansas and Florida Confederate Armies, citing dates of organization, battles, commanders, mergers, and dispositions. I would highly recommend this book to any serious researcher.

This is a most worthy men-at-arms series; like the book's description says, it shows the much more colorful side to the uniforms of the Confederate Army. One man depicted in the color plates for Volume One that I found particularly interesting was a soldier in the Union Light Infantry, a SC unit based on the British Black Watch (42nd Royal Highlanders).
The plates are pretty much the highlight of this series, and show realistic looking soldiers surrounded by beautiful women and scenery, and baring all their various weapons. The text, nonetheless, reveals numerous interesting details. This is an excellent source on the uniforms and appearances of the soldiers of the Confederacy.

Osprey Publishing has issued Volume 5 of their popular book, The Confederate Army 1861-65. A part of their sprawling Men-at-Arms series (this is book #441 in that series), this one covers the uniforms and arms of troops from Tennessee and North Carolina. Written by Ron Field and lavishly illustrated with Richard Hook's watercolors, this book is a worthy addition to the Osprey family. Retailing for $15.95 here in the USA ($21 in Canada), the book has 48 pages, nearly all of them with period photographs or full color drawings.

The new book focuses on each state's antebellum militia and the hastily organized volunteer regiments that were pressed into Confederate service in the initial stages of the war. Using contemporary newspaper accounts, letters, state and local records, and early photographs, Ron Field presents an extensive array of early war military units, their uniforms and accoutrements, drawing heavily upon primary descriptions. He also takes a cursory, but interesting look at how the transition occurred from locally supplied clothing and equipment (which often varied widely from company to company) to state-issued regulation Confederate uniforms, particularly in North Carolina, where, by the end of the war, the term "ragged Rebel" would be made obsolete from the vast stores of supplies held by the state.



Field starts with Tennessee, looking at the outfitting of the militia and early volunteers in 1861, and examines the role various ladies aid societies played in clothing the soldiers of the Volunteer State. He then discusses the role of the state's Military and Financial Board in taking over the administration and logistics of supplying the troops. Field then shifts his focus to North Carolina, again discussing and characterizing the antebellum militia and contrasting them to how the state later took charge and made its forces appear more uniform in appearance. He also briefly compares winter clothing to summer issue for troops from both states.



The book includes a select bibliography for readers wanting to dive a little deeper into the outfitting of Confederate troops from Tennessee and North Carolina. The index is comprehensive, as is the discussion that accompanies the Richard Hook's illustrations. All in all, The Confederate Army 1861-85 (5) Tennessee and North Carolina (ISBN: 9781846031878) maintains the tradition of excellence we have come to expect from Osprey, and is well worth the modest investment.

This book was an easy read and an enjoyable, real to life story. It was especially interesting because our children have all gone through the struggles of long division. It was helpful to see how the character in the book worked her way through.

I loved this book! It not only is an entertaining story but also gives great lessons to kids on how to self-sufficiently solve problems at school as well as at home. A great addition to any school, classroom, or family library!