Historic Books

Plenty of books cover culinary history and within these usually are scattered references to cooks who have influenced the genre over the decades - but nowhere else will you find a collection devoted entirely to culinary biographies, and nowhere else will the combined scholarship of over eighty culinary scholars achieve this result. Here are all the pro names you'd expect to read about, from Betty Crocker to Fannie Farmer, plus those from other countries lesser known (but no less important) such as Erna Horn or Kenneth Lo. From cookbook authors to farmers, restauranteurs, scientists and food writers, CULINARY BIOGRAPHIES is packed with insights, with each biography including not just a survey of the culinary figure's life, but an overview of contributions and influences, providing a good bit of period history in the process.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

If you get a look at it in person, you can easily see why editor Alice Arndt wanted to self-publish. The book is beautiful: cover, paper, illustrations, typesetting. Of course, you'd also get it for the contents.

Culinary Biographies is an encyclopedia of hundreds of people who had a major influence on the history of food. Mostly chefs and cookbook writers, but also some major patrons, nutritionist and doctors.

Why I was thrilled to get the book -- and why I corresponded with Alice before it was published -- is that it contains the most material I've ever seen on the influential people of Asian cuisine. This is information I've been unable to find elsewhere (see some earlier posts on this board).

So, if you are into food history, you need this book. Better, if you have a friend who's into food and history, it would make a great gift.

this is a wonderful book for anyone who grew up in the saranac lake/adirondack area. it brings home lots of memories of the area and days gone by. i found the photos extremely interesting. for anyone who grew up in the area, as i did, you will find yourself transported back in time to houses of your friends or houses you may have occupied growing up here. i found this all very nostalgic. the text is extremely informative. you need not be interested in tb to enjoy this book, but it does give you a interesting background of tb and the growth of saranac lake.

I first read this book 16 years ago. I have never forgotten it; it is one of my favorite books. Why? It blends architecture with medical necessity, family issues and social needs at the turn of the century. The idea that people could be cured (or not) by the winter weather of Saranac lake, with its extremely low humidity and extreme cold (40 degrees below zero days not uncommon), made tubercular people leave their children and families to go north to this tuberculosis treatment hospital while living in the town of Saranac. They'd bundle up in a cure cottage's glassed in porch, lying on an Adirondack cot made of wood, a cross between an ultra-sturdy deck chair on an ocean liner, and a hospital bed. Robert Louis Stevenson lived in his own home in Saranac lake, and Christy Mathewson was treated there also (He died of TB.) The history of tuberculosis is interesting not just from a medical, but an historical and social point of view. Anyone who enjoys architectural history will find this coffeetable style book of black and white photographs and informative text interesting. This Adirondack area is one of rich history, with the cure cottages of Saranac, the large country "cabins" of the rich New York city moguls, the Olympics in Lake Placid, and the artistry of outdoorsman Frederick Remington. This book is a wonderful addition to your historic architecture collection. It brings a long-forgotten chapter of medical care and historical architecture to life.

I've used the Women's Traveller for years, and it's been a part of some of my best vacation experiences. It lists b&b's, recreation ideas, restaurants, travel agents, etc.

Excellent guide--we've used it for all sorts of trips and vacations and it's always made everything a lot more fun--I definitely recommend having one on hand!

I ordered the book, but your review is not for Oakland California!
Your review is for Oakland County, Michigan!
Please correct.

Thank you authors, James Conway and David Jamroz, for putting together a wonderful book on a jewel in Detroit's history. Historic Fort Wayne was built in the early 1840's and saw troops going off to fight, from the Civil War in the 1860's through VietNam in the 1960's and all the wars in between. This book highlights the very beginnings of the fort's history (even before - a bit on the founding of Detroit starts the book off) and, through hundreds of photographs, moves us right up to the 21st century where this gem is now (very slowly - much too slowly) being restored.
My favorite pictures are from the Civil War - but there are quite a few from all the wars of the 19th and 20th centuries. And there is even a chapter on its restoration.
Detroit has a history of forgetting its history. I cannot tell you how many historic structures were torn down for one inane reason or another. In fact, it's still happening to this very day - plans to tear down the beautiful and classic structure of Tiger Stadium - built in 1912 - are being discussed as I write this.
But, that's the way Detroit is.
Unfortunately, Detroit has all but ignored Historic Fort Wayne (oh, the powers that be will throw a few pennies toward restoration here and there, but hardly enough to justify any acclamations). It's the Detroit Historical Society that is doing the real restoration work by having Civil War reenactors have mock battles and the such in order to raise money. Maybe some of the city fathers can give a little of their own cash (are you listening Mr. Illitch?) and bring this gem to where it should be. Folks, Historic Fort Wayne is a true ORIGINAL historical fort that just happens to be one of the few remaining structures Detroit has from the first half of the 19th century.

If you love autumn and fall colors, and if you especially love rural East Tennessee, this book is a must read!! HUNDREDS of little known facts about the small towns. A book that has history and geology in it doesn't usually hold my interest for long, but this book is so well-written and filled with humorous and interesting tidbits of information about all sorts of things, I couldn't put it down. And you will find lots of backroads to explore for autumn foliage viewing. It maps them out in day trip type format, with a starting point, and descriptions of sights along the route...Great if you like auto touring or motorcycle touring. I highly recommend it.

Harry Moore and Fred Brown form a wonderful team as they combine their diverse talents to offer both the "over" and "under" story of Eastern Tennessee's spectacular fall colors. Brown, a reporter for the Knoxville News-Sentinel, provides the sonorous phrases which perfectly frame Tennessee's reddish, golden autumn foliage. Moore, a Tennessee state geologist, offers a unique geological perspective on the ancient geological features that define the lands that stretch from the Cumberland Plateau all the way to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

With Discovering October Roads in hand, those who wander Tennessee's fiery hills will have the opportunity to view them through a lens of wonder and knowing normally reserved for just a few geology and biology majors. Moore and Brown's book is a delightful, easy read that offers days of pleasure to novice and professional alike.

This is a fun and interesting book! It's stuffed with pictures and tells the story of Everett from the first canon fire to the riots to the mills... An informative read, easy to get into and very entertaining. Perfect for someone looking back on the history of Everett, or for schools and homeschoolers, or even just to get to know a place you didn't know before.

Not large, but chock full of great historic photos of Everett Washington. The writer has a witty, occasionally snarky, and always entertaining way of telling the story of town's rise from muddy lumber town to thriving port with all the oddities, foibles and horrors that came along the way. Remarkably fun and informative. Keep your eyes peeled for the "Delicate Underlovlies!" A terrific volume for the photos alone.

This was a GREAT book. It tells us why Esther Short Park was named so (got some interesting stuff about Esther!), as well as the naming of some of our better known streets (Fourth Plain and Mill Plain... I always wondered about those). Also contains a lot of history on Officers' Row and the fort, and its inhabitants. I knew nothing about Mother Joseph before reading this book, and now I know how she influenced the building of Vancouver. Of particular interest to me, the book gives a lot of the little reasons why Portland ended up growing so much bigger than Vancouver, even though Vancouver is older.

This book has a few tidbits about people in Vancouver that remind me how very much that they weren't just names in a history book. When the law declared that the St. James Church belonged to the Army and not to the Catholic Church (the book didn't give the year, but with searching online, found out this was in the 1890s), a young Army officer went to the church to help the priest move out, and I laughed out loud when I read how the angry priest reacted to the officer's offer of help. I also liked the bit about the practical joke a pilot made at the dedication festival for Pearson Field in 1925.

My husband and I only noticed one thing that could have been a glaring typo. It was in reference to a photo (on page 25) telling us where Pearson Field would later be.... however, the book said the photo was taken in the 1970s. We're guessing it had been actually taken in the 1870s, as Pearson Field was dedicated in 1925 and it has never changed locations. If it had been taken in the 1970s, we would have seen Pearson Field in the photo.

Like the other reviewer said, I wish there were more in this book. However, what is there is nicely laid out. Each section begins with a page of history in text, followed by pages of photos with descriptive captions.

The Fort Vancouver library system has this book, by the way. ^_^

As almost a life long resident of Vancouver, having moved here in 1965 this is "Home". I remember when this town was so much smaller and still see a lot of the remnants of its history. Only complaint is I wish it were twice as large in volume/content and just double the price. I've ordered the volumes on Camas and Washougal, and wait eagerly as I'm currently living in Camas in a home built in 1908 by owners of the paper mill of that period. I only hope the rest of the series is half the quality of this book.

One of the best books on Jefferson as an architect, plus a well-crafted account of America's other early architects. Reads like a detective story, which architectural history done well usually is.

I originally decided to read this book because of my deep interest in Jefferson. I expected another recounting of Jefferson's building and rebuilding of Monticello. I was pleasantly surprised that this wonderful book is so very much more. The text intersperses with its discussion of American architecture the fascinating life and career of Dr. Fiske Kimball, who practically invented the discipline of American architectual history. And what a career he had--Michigan, NYU, UVA, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and most prominently as long-time director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He also wrote a number of important pathbreaking books, and worked on the Monticello restoration and the Jefferson Memorial. I had never heard of him; I am glad that deficiency has been remedied. But the author, himself a leading architectual historian with books on Jefferson and the "Colonial Houses" of Williamsburg, also includes discussion of such important early figures as William Buckland, L'Enfant, Charles Bulfinch, James Hoban, and Samuel McIntire. Some 20th architects are included, such as John Russell Pope and Ferdinand C. Latrobe II. But a central theme remains the remarkable contributions that Jefferson made to early American architecture in such endeavors as the Virginia State House, the University of Virginia (see also Gary Wills' fine book on this), and of course Monticello. Ironically, Jefferson submitted an anonymous entry in the competition to design what became the White House--and lost! A very fine and extremely well-written book, with outstanding illustrations, and highly useful bibliographical notes.

As a student of Art History I utilise very many volumes and this one rates highly in my opinon. It is not only easy to use, but it also has the great advantage of explaining art historical details concisely and clearly so that anyone, however unused to art they are, can enjoy and understand what is being said. This book surveys paintings, highlighting those in the National Gallery, London England, between the time of Durer and Veronese. It discusses their function, patrons and the way they were painted as well as having an excellent section devoted to their conservation and restoration.

Apart from being informative, this volume is also very well illustrated and its layout means it can be dipped into and read in sections without the reader loosing the plot. Though it is large, it is not imposing and is the type of book that will definitely become a must have classic for all levels of scholar. If you want a book that covers the 16th century in art in a detailed, concise yet informative way, there is no better on the market at the moment and this one will take some beating. It has the right mix of everything, and is a very necessary volume.

"Durer to Veronese" is a gorgeous piece of art history that transcends the ordinary. This work is a departure from the usual dry discussion of art history interspersed with small black-and-white photos. At the same time however, it offers so much more than the typical narrow view of the exhibit catalog.

Using the National Gallery's (London) collection of sixteenth century paintings, this book offers a thematic arrangement as it explores the various themes (eg "Private Devotion") and methods (eg "Preparing the Panel"). Each theme is lavishly illustrated with the Gallery's collection and several are accompanied by artists' sketches and closeups of important sections of the paintings.

The text is well-written and easily digested by the neophyte art historian. A series of maps showing the sixteenth century European art world and an in-depth timeline for the century are presented at the beginning of the book and serve the reader well throughout the reading of the text. The physical properties of the book are impressive as well. It is an oversized book, but not to a point of being unwieldy and the binding is quite sturdy as well.

A beautiful work. I highly recommend it.

I have found 5 sources in this book of my relatives that were founders of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Bought the book at a Borders in Providence, Rhode Island yesterday.

I visted the sites in the book of the original homes of my ancestor Clement Weaver, Silas Weaver. I talked with one of the owners of the first home built in East Greenwich, and she was really nice.

Then went to Main street and found not just one but two homes of Silas Weaver 30 Main Street is listed in the book, but also further down the road is Silas second home.

Then we went to the original jail on King near the water and found the plaque that was made to honor the original settlers of East Greenwich which had my ancestors on it.

So excited to be finding all this about my family. I then went back the other Clement Weaver home (the second Clement) and talked with the owner and asked him if he happened to know where the Weaver cemetary is and he told me to come around the back and he would show us. It was on his property. Oh my - I struck it rich in family history. We found the graves and all in all I think there is about 39 graves there, but they are covered up and the owner is over time planning on uncovering the area and unearth the headstones. Many are not marked well, and just have initals.

Very pleased with this book. Bought six copies for Christmas. Big hit with everyone.