Virginia Books

Return to a time when life was simpler. Discover classic river towns, mountain retreats and coastal fishing villages, small towns where you can still shop on Main Street, where the hardware store and the bookstore are not part of a national chain, old buildings are restored and historic places are preserved. The Burnhams, also co-authors of The Virginia Handbook, have discovered and explored scores of these delightful towns. Destinations include Onancock, on Virginia's Eastern Shore; Irvington, a hip town built around The Tides resort; Strasburg and Front Royal, towns rich in Shenandoah Valley history; as well as coastal towns such as St. Michael's, Crisfield and St. Mary's. The places featured in this book have charming inns and B&Bs, in addition to good, locally owned restaurants. There are enough attractions to satisfy any traveler, but there is also space and time to tarry, to sit in a park or on a shaded bench and watch life pass by.

Return to a time when life was simpler. Discover classic river towns, mountain retreats and coastal fishing villages, small towns where you can still shop on Main Street, where the hardware store and the bookstore are not part of a national chain, old buildings are restored and historic places are preserved. The Burnhams, also co-authors of The Virginia Handbook, have discovered and explored scores of these delightful towns. Destinations include Onancock, on Virginia's Eastern Shore; Irvington, a hip town built around The Tides resort; Strasburg and Front Royal, towns rich in Shenandoah Valley history; as well as coastal towns such as St. Michael's, Crisfield and St. Mary's. The places featured in this book have charming inns and B&Bs, in addition to good, locally owned restaurants. There are enough attractions to satisfy any traveler, but there is also space and time to tarry, to sit in a park or on a shaded bench and watch life pass by.

I wish I would have read this book before I became a single mother of three. This is a wonderful book. After reading, I can finally hear my Father saying trust in me and everything is going to be okay. I've learned how to build a better relationship with my Father. I'm not alone and I still have a chance to make it right. I love my Father and I know the author who wrote this book loves Him too.

J.S.

This book really puts it all in perspective. I could hardly put it down. I just wanted to keep reading it and soaking in the information. Well written!

Combines thorough analysis with a stylistic flair and self-deprecating humour

Reshaping the World for the 21st Century evaluates post-World War II economic development efforts in the United States, in Canada, and, in Brazil, and in Mexico. It argues that the proposal that the more fortunate countries should bring prosperity to the less developed ones failed: it did not stop the growth of poverty, did not protect the environment sufficiently, and did not promote human rights energetically.

Smith begins with a presentation of the two chief development theories pursued after World War II, that is, the growth oriented, market driven model, and the communist ideology. She then chronicles the rise of dependency theory, a newer, 1960s based development perspective that was focused on the needs of less developed third world countries. Based on personal accounts of daily life in the megacities Sao Paulo and Mexico City, and on a review of other development analysts' conclusions, Smith evaluates the failures in Brazil and Mexico--the transportation fiascos spawned, the housing situation--and wonders how it could be that the most advanced industrial powers just didn't see that the poverty suffered by most people in Latin American countries was worsening even during the 1960s and 1970s, an era of relative prosperity.

lots of old pictures of Monument Ave. If you have ever visiting this area, you need this book.

An incredible documentation of the only street in America to have its own National Landmark status. The authors did their research on this fascinating piece of Americana, and the street comes alive in beautiful photographs and fascinating description.

A MUST for anyone's coffee table!!

I had the honor of meeting Mrs. Calcutt at the Museum of the Confederacy a couple of years ago. She is a fine author , and a nice lady, as well. Like her, I have a professional background in both Medicine and History. Further, one of my great grandfathers was a Confederate Surgeon, though he served to the west of Richmond.

This is a superbly researched, and presented, volume. The whole country was unprepared for the Civil War, and had to adapt in a BIG HURRY. Richmond was the center of the Confederate government, and was forced to become a center for providing medical care, as well. This is one area where the South actually had advantages; there was greater administrative stability [provided by Surgeon General Samuel Moore], and the Confederacy was willing to make societal innovations, such as placing women and Blacks in positions of high responsibility. The Hospitals were run by both the government and by private individuals, and ranged in size from tiny to gigantic.

Reading this book, you will get to meet two of the South's greatest heroines. Mrs. Phoebe Pember was a Matron at Chimborazo, the largest Civil War hospital, and Captain Sally Tompkins ran Robertson's Hospital as a project of the ladies at St. James Episcopal Church. Capt. Sally refused to play the "state's rights" game, and probably had the best hospital in town. [Her memorial window at St. James is sublimely beautiful].

Mrs. Calcutt takes us on a thoroughly inspiring, and educational, tour. Those familiar with Richmond will appreciate the updates, describing the current uses of the buildings and sites. Some of the buildings are still in use. [at least one restaurant in Shockhoe Bottom is well and truly haunted, with a Confederate Officer making daily inspections] Robertson's, at Third and Main, was torn down in 1875; the site holds an all night diner. Chimborazo, on East Broad Street, is long gone, but the site holds a fine Confederate Medical Museum.

Civil War medicine was a lot better than most people realize; the mortality rate was around 11% on both sides, and the "bite the bullet" story is pure myth. The disease:wound death rate rate ratio was much smaller than in some of our other wars. Jeff Davis once commented that the Medical Department was the only part of the Confederacy not demoralized by the end; this wonderful book goes a long way to explain why.

This book is very well researched and developed. For the reader interested in Civil War Hospitals, particularly in Richmond, VA., the book provides an impressive summary of the details of the hospitals in the 1860's and in many cases there current use. The detail is fascinating and reveals how giant strides were made in medical care in a difficult environment.

First check out the editorial reviews here to understand what this book is about. This is a fascinating and beautiful collection of material reflective of Mexican art through the ages. There are ancient manuscripts, drawings rendered from old books, photgraphs of pre-Columbian pottery and art, ancient petroglyphs from the southwest, maps and recent art pieces by Chicano/a artists all recreated tastefully and rendered in an eye appealing manner. The concept of the exhibition and art book created from the exhibition is spectacular and unique. The idea is to tie the evolutionary art process from pre-Columbian times to the contemporary art produced in the southwest. The concept suggests that art is migratory, influenced by culture both past and present, linked to both but unique in it's modern evolutionary vision by contemporary artists. The lands from which this art has evolved is based in Aztlan, a mythical land dating back to pre-Columbian cultures by remains in the hearts and minds of people on both sides of the border. The link between Mexico and the United States and it's people is explored and highlighted by the art of the southwest. This migration, in search of a new land, that continues today, began with the Mexica(Aztecs)pilgrimage and establshment of Tenochitlan in what is now modern Mexico City; this is where the Mexica were said to seen the eagle on the nopal cactus and then build their city of Tenochitlan. The mythical land of Aztlan lives on and is reflective in the art of the southwest. This book explores the relationship, in both essay and photograph, between the citizens of Mexico and the United States and even those who live in the neither land in the fields and dark shadows of Aztlan. This is an oversized book with a wealth of information to help you develop your own understanding of the relationships between past and present in the art of the southwest. Recommended for high schools , community libraries and the southwest art book lovers homes.

After seeing the exhibit at LACMA, this book was a great compliment to the art that was shown. It ranged from pre columbian to modern and was very intersting and informative. The photgraphs in the book are complimented by the narration and anaylsis by the author.

This is a great book and I relied on it heavily when I lived in Virginia Beach. It is written in a friendly and inviting way, almost as if you are talking over the fence to your neighbor.

Its month by month "to do" lists were especially helpful in keeping me on track and reminding me that the garden works on its time, not mine.

We moved to Northeastern North Carolina four years ago from southern New York where we had successfully grown vegetables, roses and flowering shrubs and perennials for many years. Relocating to a new climate and different growing season was nearly an unsurmountable challenge until we purchased Stiffler's book. His month by month "to do" list plus gardening tips and procedures have helped us establish a most satisfactory year round garden. Stiffler categorizes shrubs and trees by level of maintenance required, soil conditions conducive to growth and also includes interesting historical and background information about individual varieties such as the history of the crape myrtle in the South. We have recommended this book to fellow gardeners as well and we all have found it an indispensable guide to gardening.

Chatty, easy to read book about hiliarous escapades with members of The American Winds Concert Band through the heart of Europe. Recipes, gathered from family kitchens in small pensions, assure inovative ways to provide adequate amounts of lycopines - one of the most important anitcarcinogens. The book is endorsed by one of Florida's leading gastroentrologists, Dr. Joseph S. Spano, of Naples, Florida, where the author also lives. After photographing the author at a book signing, and hearing comments from fans, I felt compelled to revise my review.

Very chatty and easy to read. She is a warm writer/cook. Talks about her family with love and includes easy receipes that do not cost an arm and a leg. It is like having dinner with her and her family The author lives in Naples, Florida.

This is a delightful story for reading aloud or for a beginning reader. My daughter has read it countless times, and loves the fact that it is such a small book that she can put it in her pocket and take it wherever she goes. She delights in examining the pictures for every little detail. We love Martin Waddell and enjoy all his books.

This book is a true masterpiece,delightful in every respect as are all of Virginia Austins childrens books.Not only are the illustrations exceptional but the story is complete and the lessons are easily understood and digested by young minds.

All Scot-Americans and, in fact, all Americans who are interested in the founding of this great nation will thoroughly enjoy this entertaining and instructive story of the early settlement of the people, who not only gave this nation its basic principles, but who also provided the majority of the patriots who fought and died to establish the first democracy
in world history.
Today when our nation is threated with terrorism and American patriotism is being greatly challenged, it is interesting to review the beginning of our revolutionary concepts of freedom and democracy which are now under attack throughout many parts of the world. What a great and timely review this is of the spirit and the meaning of American patriotism!

The author begins with the history of Scotland and the Scottish people, their heavy settlement in Northern Ireland and the Great Migration of about 300,000 Ulster Scots to America. As mainly frontiersmen they helped win the French-Indian war then from their Presbyterian churches they not only were the first to call for freedom from Great Britain but they also constituted the majority of the patriots who fought and won the Revolutionary War.
Truly, the Scots of Virginia were America's greatest patriots!