Historic Books

MR. OLSEN - YOU ARE THE MAN. GREAT BOOK. KEEP IT UP. HIGGINS!

A poignant collection of actual letters written by soldiers from very different backgrounds on both sides of the Civil War. I've read many historical & tactical accounts of Civil War battles, but these real-life letters brought the human aspect of the war to life for me. You can't help but get involved in their everyday drama . . . the endless marching, the waiting, the daily sacrifices, the mud and the blood. This book takes the war from the abstract to the real. It will make quite an impact on you.

I broke my own heart by moving away from the old grandmotherish mountains. But David Yates' Valle Crucis brought it back to me in the Northwest by portraying that mountain community so gorgeously. This is a photographic love story written to Western North Carolina, and also to East Tennesseans (I was one all my life). This book works as a coffee table book, and should be more vastly promoted so that the rest of the world can see what I have always known: Appalachia is the most beautiful region on earth.

We have visited the places written and photographed for this book. The photos are so vivid and realistic. We came across this book in a general store and sat in the rockers enjoying every page.

This book is exceptional treatment of VanDerZee's photography and the role he played in the development of twentieth century photography. His use of the discipline to represent African American role in 20th century American history and photography. Most cities had at least one serious African American photographer who helped document black life in that city. His use of photography as survival tool and the expression of life in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance.

VanDerZee's work survived the most incredible changes in the field of photography i.e. from flash powder to the electronic flash. In VanDerZee's work you can find portraits of great historical African Americans such as Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Dubois, Romare Bearden, Muhammed Ali, Bill Cosby and many hard working African Americans.VanDerZee photographed for eighty plus years. This book should be read and study by all beginning photographers so that the must understand what one must do to survive in the discipline.

When watching Ken Burn's "Jazz" on television, look for Vanderzee's contribution; when viewing Ken Burns' "Baseball" on video, look for Vanderzee's contribution; when you see images of African-Americans sitting in parlors, going to church in their Sunday finest, or heading off to war, their hearts full of patriotism even in the midst of racial separatism, look for Vanderzee's contribution - he was there. Our history is so much more than what we have seen on television and read in the newspapers; we are so much more than the victimized remains of a harsh and unjustice past; we have survived and found dignity in the most bizarre places, and Vanderzee and other photographers like him went to these places and perserved a dignity that is only now being revealed. Thank you Ms. Willis.

I have several books on this supremely talented Spanish painter, and I have to say that this work is still the best on the subject. First, the text is very informative as to the life and times of Velazquez. Furthermore, the information on each painting is well written, and does not feel repetitive. However, the most important aspect of the book is the reproductions, which are (with one or two exceptions) the best you will find anywhere even today, seventeen years after the book was published!

This is a beautiful, well-made book, unbeatable for the price. Through the lengthy introductory essays and the extended commentaries on the individual paintings that appeared in the exhibition, I have learned much not only about Velazquez but also his times: most instructive in learning how he belongs to that world and, as importantly, how his art transcends the other art produced by that world.

I know comments like the following are a dime a dozen, but this is indeed the case, especially for people who don't have much money: I cannot imagine a better, higher-quality text in any size for twice or even three times the price. If you are any sort of admirer of Velazquez's art, you will not be disappointed in this book.

In November, 1996, we moved into a very lovely Victorian Queen Anne home that has "tremendous possiblilties." That means that this house needs a lot of work.

I have searched and searched to find a book that would tell me how people lived in this house. Why is there a dumbwaiter from the basement to the kitchen? Why do the front parlor and living room have oak woodwork and the other rooms have pine? What did the bathrooms look like? What did the kitchen look like?

My friend borrowed this book from the local library to read to her children since they like the architecture of this house. She showed me this book and it is exactly what I had been looking for.

This book is easy to read and would be enjoyed by children of all ages. Restorers of these beautiful old homes would be interested in this book, too, since it gives us an idea of how people lived in these wonderful old homes and what their maners and customs were.

I would rate this book as a "must read" for all historians, costumers, restorers of old homes and Victorian fans everywhere.

This is a great book for anyone interested in the Victorian Era. Ot has many photographs and drawings, which are all beautiful. Many basic facts and detailed facts are layed out in this book. Like the previous reviewer, this book answered many questions, and provided me with some very interesting facts.

This book covers each of the following in 1-2 pages and with pictures and captions: the era, the exterior designs of houses, the parlor, the kitchen, the servants, the dining room, the bedroom, bathrooms, playrooms and nurserys, heat and electricity, various items, mansions, and the lifestyle of the Victorians. It also includes a helpful glossary.

Illustration quality is very high. The photos and captions bring back a lot of good memories for me about growing up in Vincennes. If your hometown is Vincennes Indiana then this book is a must. You'll find you can't put it down. Each page with great old photos wiil have you thinking and talking about those simpler times. Remember when.............

Well done. Excellent coverage. What a host of memories this book evoked!! I grew up in Vincennes during these years. When I told my son about the book, he immediately ordered one for him and one for his sister. I have gone through the book and written notes for them regarding each photo that had special meaning for me.

I was disappointed that Smith Hardware (now Beard's) was not mentioned or pictured--even though it was across the street from Clean Towel Service, page 12. I worked in Smith's office summers during my high school years.

Vincent Van Gogh: Painter & Portrait accompanies the international loan exhibition and explores the artist's changing view of how the portrait was produced. From his first experiments with character studies around 1880 to his transition to new media and representations, this includes pieces from the artist's letters to provide a fine portrait of Van Gogh's perspective.

The eight by seven and a half format makes it easy to carry around and digest, but tasty enough to encourage the reader to look up more of Van Gogh's letters than those quoted, and references to other paintings. The overview of his Van Gogh's life emphasizes his intellect and relationship with other art lovers rather than illness and matters of the heart. What I love about this book are the close-up reproductions that clearly show details, like how Van Gogh painted the eye, sometimes very photographically, other times as a single stroke. A series of portraits like those of Postman Roulin illuminate the intensity of van Gogh's passion to conquer composition and color. Both words and pictures offer surprises for even those familiar with van Gogh's life and work.

I enjoed the scenery as if I was onboard. For a more fictional train ride try Playtrain.

I liked Wagon Train by Sydelle Kramer because it is about people travelling. I liked when they went through the water and I liked the storms they had in the book. I liked the pictures expecially the one with the family in the wagon with the dog in it. I like reading about them dancing until their feet were sore. That is what I liked about the book.

I stumbled upon this book in New York a few years back and was immediately stunned by its beauty and quality. The Gilman Paper Company apparently started their collection well before the current photography craze and amassed one of the most outstanding collections that you can imagine. Most of these photos are from the very earliest days of the medium and many are in the sepia tone that I personally love. The quality of reproduction is so good that you can actually frame some of the photos! It's astounding...well worth obtaining for any art book collector.

I purchased this book in conjunction with The Metropolitan Museum exhibit of the same name. I spent hours in the exhibit, and I spent hours pouring over the lush, and beautifully reproduced images in this book. I've always been fascinated with the photographic process, and this book explores it down to the roots. I've walked away amazed that someone figured out how to look at something, and through a chemical process tranfer ones vision onto paper. (Not to mention concocting the chemical formula) A stunning book, well worth the price.

I loved the artwork and descriptions of the animation process. (The display of the art is organized to also help explain the process.) Also "behind the scenes" recollections of how the movie was made as well as a discussion on how to conserve, and prepare for sale, animation artwork. This can be equally appreciated by those with serious or casual interest in animation art.

This book offers a clear and concise introduction to the development of Walt Disney's first full-length animated feature. The book's use of stills, roughs, and concept art vividly illustrate much of the "magic" that goes into making an animated film. Not only that, but the book's incorporation of technical details provides enough "insider information" to appeal to those wanting to know more about the how of animation. In fact, I used the book's section on the multiplane camera to introduce the invention's importance to an introductory class in animation. It worked wonders!

Also nicely developed in the book is how Snow White set the production and narrative standards for the Disney's subsequent films. It's nice to see a coffee table book with substance!