Maryland Books

This book, with its wonderful array of photographs, provides a nostalgic trip down memory lane for anyone who lives (or has lived) in beautiful, historic Southern Maryland, which has been called "the Land of Pleasant Living."
-- Joe Carvajal

We wore out the first copy within 3 months, bought a second for the car. Comprehensive -- every road, trace, damp ravine (well, maybe that's going a bit too far) -- and accurate. Printed at a very readable scale. For someone used to NSEW-oriented streets in the SW US, a little time curled up with this map provided an absolutely essential re-orientation to the delightful aimlessness of southern MD roads.

If you live on, near or visit and love Chesapeake Bay you should read this engaging and informative book. A collection of John Page William Jr.'s columns from "Chesapeake Bay Magazine," the book walks you through a year on the Bay and it's surrounding country. Once you've read it, you'll be amazed at how it sharpens your view of what is going on around you on or along the water. This is a book for anyone who enjoys the Bay in any way -- boating, camping, cottaging, or just sitting by the waterside on a quiet afternoon with a line in the water. Highly recommended!

Long considered "the classic" volume on the Chesapeake Bay country. Now the famous figures live again: Captain John Smith, known to every school child as the man rescued by Pocahontas, who said of the Eastern Shore of Virginia: "Heaven and earth seemed never to have agreed better to have framed a place for man's habitation," and whose explorations were such an integral part of the history of the region; Francis Scott Key, who was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" aboard a British ship which was bombarding Fort McHenry; signers of the Declaration of Independence.

But if the reader is given new insights into familiar personalities and their exploits, he is also made privy to tales concerning lesser known persons and places which are no less interesting. Many of these, described in brief, could well be the nuclei of whole novels.

There is, for example, the tale of Col. George Talbot of St. Mary's County, a member of the Council, who had an altercation with the King's Collector-General and fatally stabbed him. Fearful that he could not receive a fair trial in Maryland, he had a change of venue made to Virginia, then subsequently received permission to go to England. But by that time he had already fled the environs. Legend has it that he found a haven in a distant manor in Cecil County, took refuge in a cave, and was fed by two trained hawks who brought him wild fowl from the river to serve as sustenance.

Or there is the story of Tulip Hill in Anne Arundel County, an outstanding example of colonial architecture at its best. Sometimes known as the "Old Galloway Place,". When it was being built Mrs. Galloway was an invalid, and the staircase was therefore constructed with exceptionally easy rises. It is reported that one of the Galloway sons returned from the capital one night in such high spirits after an evening of revelry that he rode his horse straight up to his room. Which may explain the print of a rough-shod horse's hooves on the stairs, which one can discern if one looks closely.

What material for a romantic historical novel in the section on the "Taney Place", the birthplace of Chief Justice Roger Taney and the site of a duel between Miles Taney and John Magruder, both of whom were smitten by the same beautiful Baltimore belle. During the course of a festive dinner Taney made a remark about the lady which angered Magruder to such a point that the latter, undoubtedly encouraged by a generous comsumption of wine, slapped his rival's face. Whereupon Taney drew his pocket knife and stabbed Margruder through the heart. Then, aided by his slaves and the darkness of the night, he escaped through a secret passage and made his way out of the state.

How Hope House was sold for a case of spirits, how Bowie Racetrack got its name, why early colonists burned down plantation houses to secure the nails used in building them - these are but a few of the nuggets to be found in this historical treasure chest.

And the copious photographs of boats, landscapes, the exteriors and interiors of houses, persons and college campuses add visual enchantment to the text while reminding Americans of richness of their artistic and historical heritage.

Experience the history of the Chesapeake Bay through this recently published museum guide. Full of beautiful photos and in-formative narratives. This would surely entice the new Eastern Shore visitor and prompt old friends to return.

A delightful pistache with Chappell's usual witty touc

Whether you live in the nation's capital, Chevy Chase self or have an interest in architecture and history, this book is sure to please you. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is ***** reading. Sure to feature prominently on my coffee table for a long time too!

For anyone who has ever vacationed at Ocean City, MD this book adds a whole new dimension to memories of the seaside town. The ultimate beach book--I thorougly enjoyed sitting on the beach and imaganing the town the way it was decades ago.

Our family loves to dine at the shore and this book brings back all those memories. I love the illustrations and have tried 6 or 7 great recipes from it.

An essential referance for any Civil War Library. The amount of facts and photos will not be found in any other work. Hopefully Mr. Hunt will come out with the other volumes in the series on a regular and shorter time frame. Kudos and thankyou Mr. Hunt.