West Virginia Books

More excellent scholarship from all the "usual suspects." The only name I didn't know from the Contents list was Olga Markova, and although her piece was specialized from a Russian perspective, I still found it highly interesting. For the rest, required reading for any serious student of Tolkien. All the articles are well written and mostly free of the liberal arts academic jargon that in my humble opinion cripples so much of university-published literary studies today. I especially enjoyed "Tolkien's Prose Style" by Michael Drout, "Identifying England's Lonnrot," by Anne Petty, and "Do the Atlantis Story," by Verlyn Flieger.

The volume is costly, but when you have it in your hands you will see why. It is beautifully printed and bound, and probably because is a university publication the press run isn't large, thus the expensive per-book price. Still and all, any serious student of Tolkien will want to own this work, and likely the others in the series that come afterwards.

This book is a collection of studies by several different authors on various aspects of Tolkien's work. It covers territory beyond The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. For full appreciation of this collection, a knowledge of The Lost Road and The Notion Club Papers (found in Sauron's Defeat) from the History of Middle-earth series are necessary, at the very least. Familiarity with the terminology of grammar and linguistics is helpful. There are references to King Lear, Sir Orfeo, and the Finnish Kalevala. Non English quotations are well glossed. This book is for the serious student of Tolkien's writing style. In spite of its challenges, I found it fascinating and finished all except the Sir Orfeo chapter on the day that I received the book. The 4 star rating reflects the degree to which this is a specialist's book.

In a collection of this quality, it would be difficult to single out even a few of the "best" essays. Just about all of them would be "best" essays in any collection, and to find them all here in one place makes the debut issue of "Tolkien Studies" indispensable.

A few of my own particlar favorites from this issue are the contributions by Tom Shippey, Verlyn Flieger, Anne Petty, Michael Drout, and Mark Hooker. I also really enjoyed Thomas Honegger's and Dale Nelson's short source studies. And in a class all by itself, we have Carl Hostetter's presentation of Tolkien's own edition of the Middle English "Sir Orfeo", a text almost impossible to get hold of prior to its publication in Tolkien Studies. In my view, the volume is worth its cover price for this alone. But when you consider what else you're getting, the price becomes downright economical.

Under The Shade of the Trees is a refreshing look at the background and ultimate creation of one of America's Heros! Not often does history reveal the circumstances behind the man, however in this case you not only get to know Thomas Jackson but even get a chance to relate to his upbringing. Easy to read and and an obvious understanding for historical facts Norman puts a fine touch to a complicated man! Even if you are not a history buff you'll enjoy this one! Well done!

THIS BOOK CONTAINS SO MUCH NEW INFORMATION THAT I HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT JACKSON AS AN HISTORICAL FIGURE. IT IS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND OFFERS A SMOOTHNESS THAT IS VERY COMFORTING, ESPECIALLY FOR HISTORICAL INFORMATION...WHICH IS NORMALLY DRY AND ROUGH . THIS BOOK ISNT....YOU'LL BE SUPRISED. I CANT WAIT FOR MR NORMAN'S NEXT EFFORT.

During the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee bemoaned the loss of his "right arm," the famous General Thomas Jackson of Virginia/West Virginia. "Stonewall" Jackson had come upon the scene following a meteoric rise in leadership in the Confederate Army. While many books of Stonewall's generalship exist, little has been written about his youth. Now, a native West Virginian from the Jackson's Mill locale explains how young Tom survived despite being orphaned and shy. Drawing upon Jackson's official biography, his early letters, the archives of the West Virginia Cultural Center, and Jackson's Mill sources, Dennis Norman has reconstructed Jackson's juvenile days. Stonewall and his boyhood friends played under the shady sugar maple trees. The book title, however, is in reference to the general's last words to "...cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees." Jackson's Mill was also like that. Young Stonewall fished, raced horses, performed mill site chores, and planned for his future. His unique life style was already showing and his opportunities only around the corner. Norman details Jackson's first political involvement, his trip to the Ohio River,and how a possible second place score in a West Point exam did not count him out for the appointment. Author Norman treats his own admiration for Jackson with the respect of a researcher, and yet presents an easy reading, interesting true story.

This guidebook to wild flowers in North Carolina has about 500 species illustrated, each with a description and a small photograph of the flower and plant. The guide deserves high marks for the number of species included and the scholarship which went into describing each by location, blooming date, and other information. Brief tidbits concerning medicinal uses, edibiity, and folklore of the plant are included in many descriptions. Indexed are both scientific and common names of each plant.

However, the guide is nearly worthless for the field identification of flowers. There needs to be some sort of key or pattern to help with identification. There seems no rhyme nor reason I can discern with the order in which the flowers are described. It would be a lot better if the flowers were grouped by blooming date and color, e.g. yellow flowers that appear in May should be together as should purple flowers blooming in September.

So, if you want to go into your backyard and identify what is blooming there you will need a field guide, not this book.

Smallchief

Excellent reference book for use in describing flowers growing in North Carolina at certain times of year.

This is a good book to bring along on day hikes. Clear photos and identifying information. It is not about gardening wildflowers.

History students are urged to seek primary sources to discover the excitement of digging for clues to the past. Editor Karen Zeinert's skillful weaving together of the journals and letters of members of the Donner party tells their chilling story from their festive departure from Illinois in April, 1846 through the decisions that led to their tragic 6 month winter in the Sierra Nevadas. Students reading to discover if the tales of cannibalism are true will be equally fascinated by descriptions of a buffal

Although this book contributes little or no previously-unknown information regarding the westward journey and arduous winter in the mountains endured by the members of the Donner Party, it does present the facts in a straightforward and easily-read manner and provides a basic chronology of events. Young readers with a desire to learn about one of American history's most incredible stories of courage and strength will find this a quick read--and, hopefully, will be encouraged to read more about the Donner Party and American historical events. The language found in the source documents, regrettably, has been edited severely--to the point of grammatical accuracy! (I enjoy seeing for myself the horrendous spelling and grammatical mistakes which lend an air of authenticity to many of the other studies of the Donner Party.) The reader should understand that James Reed is shown in a more favorable light than he is in many other Donner books, no doubt, due to the fact that his daughter was the author. Several interesting photographs and illustrations are included, which enhance the appeal of the book. I would certainly recommend "Across the Plains..." to middle school students. I hope it would motivate them to pursue the topic further; the story of the Donner Party is one of the most fascinating in our country's history.

A wonderful guide to places to see & things to do when you want to hop to a nearby area but aren't familiar with it. Takes you off the beaten path to discover interesting-curious-historical places not mentioned on the chamber websites. Offers succinct descriptions to evaluate the fit such a visit is for you and your family.

Incredibly handy for those times when you decide on Saturday that you want to do "something different" this weekend, but have not a clue what are your options. Divided into activities appropriate for each season, the book suggests a wide range of trips around the area, from historic exploring to art appreciation to communing with nature. I had an old version of this book that I lent out and lost, and I loved it so much I'm buying another copy!

I had such a good time reading this book! I even tried to find the author on the web, but with no luck. I'd love to meet her. The recipes look good, the lessons about finding food in natural environments are invaluable, and the stories are entertaining. Anna Lee Robe-Terry takes us into the woods of West Virginia through the seasons to find and prepare truly local foods. Anyone who is interested in local food really must read this. And anyone who isn't sure if we're losing anything of value with mountain-top removal processes to get coal should read this too -- to understand what a precious environment is being destroyed. Thank you, Anna Lee!

Author Anna Lee Robe-Terry is a distant cousin of mine, who has written not just a book of recipes, but an evocation of the atmosphere of our northern West Virginia roots. Disabled by a chronic disease, she lost home, job and possessions until she moved onto the old Robe homestead in Marion County determined to survive. "If life gives you wild grapes, then make jelly" is her philosophy. She began investigating the wild plants that she had grown up with and educating herself in botany and the ways of the old settlers. Her recipes are wonderful just to read. I have tried the Snapping Turtle soup recipe myself and can recommend it as a definite change of pace from clam chowder. She also has a recipe for skunk (!) that resulted from a hilarious end to a hunting trip. I would recommend this book not only to people in the area, but those interested in its pioneer culture and folklore.

Reviewer Craig Matteson has written a fantastic review of this thick old book that will make it shine as it should. I wasn't quite as entranced as Matteson, but it's plain that he's a history buff and I just picked up the book trying to learn a bit more about John Smith after watching the movie about him, THE NEW WORLD. which came out last year. The Library of America always picks up on trends wherever they can find them, small signs that the public is still interested in literature. Thus they have the complete Elizabeth Bishop coming out, and even a book of ecological material that Al Gore wrote a preface for! Here the editor, James Horne, works overtime trying to bring cohesion into a group of Smith's writings that sometimes contradict each other. We get a sense of 17th century writing as being highly contingent, its practictioners unmotivated by Greek notions of truth, just trying to get their own out and to make themselves look admirable. Horne hit on the idea of adding material by many, many other men of the period, people commenting on Smith's vanity and delusions, and sometimes this approach works, giving us an extra dimension by broadcasting opposite points of view, the way a democracy is supposed to work.

Sometimes it doesn't and it just makes a tedious book even dryer and more confusing. I found plenty of meat in Smith's description of the last days of Lady Rebecca, the girl he had once known as Powhatan's daughter Pocahontas. In the movie it seems that she was told Smith had died, and then that gave her the space she needed emotionally to go and marry Christian Bale. Here you don't get all that melodrama. Basically Pocahontas becomes more cryptic than ever before. Could she really have abandoned her people so casually, all for the chance of wearing English finery and getting to meet "vertuous Queen Anne"?

But one bit of authentic description did seem like it was coming from the heart in the fourth book of the "Generall Historie" when Smith recalls a meeting with the now married Lady Rebecca. "After a modest salutation, eithout any word, she turned about, obscured her face, as not seeming well contented, and in that humour her husband , with divers others, we all left her two or three houres, repenting my selfe to have write she could speake English. Nut not long after, she began to talke, and remembered mee well what courtesies shee hhad done, saying, You did promise Powhatan what was yours should be his, and he the like to you; you called him father being in his land a stranger, and by the same reason so must I doe you; which though I would have excused, I durst not allow of that title, because she was a Kings daughter; with a well set countenance she said, Were you not afraid to come into my fathers Countrie, and caused feare in him and all his people (but mee) and feare you here I should call you father; I tell you then I will, and you shall call mee childe, and so I will bee for ever and ever your Countrieman." They didn't have many apostrophes back than, and they had more of the letter "e" attached to words than we do, but I hope you get the idea (page 442).

Captain John Smith did an amazing amount of living in the fifty-one years he lived on Earth. His life's journey began in 1580 at Willoughy, England. He left home at 16 after his father's death to become a soldier fighting in France for Dutch Independence from Spain. In other words, he was a mercenary. He went to work in the Mediterranean Sea on a merchant ship in 1598. In 1600 he went to the Austrians to fight in Hungary against the Turks and fought so valiantly that he was promoted to Captain. Fighting in Transylvania in 1602, he was wounded, captured, and sold as a slave to a Turk. He was then given to a girl who sent him to her brother to get training for Imperial service. Being very ill treated by this Pasha, Smith killed him and escaped. He fled through Russia and then Poland, was released from service, received a large reward and spent time traveling throughout Europe. During the winter of 1604-05 he returned to England. All this before the events we know him for began in Virginia and New England!

His restless nature somehow got him involved with the plans to colonize the Virginia territory for profit. King James I granted the charter and the expedition set sail on December 20, 1606. While this is more than a century after Columbus, it was still a huge and costly undertaking to what was almost unknown territory. The three tiny ships were the Discovery (20 tons), Susan Constant (120 tons), and Godspeed (40 tons). They did not land in Virginia until April 1607 after a voyage of more than four months. Smith was on the list of seven council members that was designated to govern the colony. The winter was harsh, fresh water was hard to come by, sickness ravaged the colonists, and the local Indians, ruled by Powhatan (Wahunsonacock), were antagonistic to the newcomers. Smith became the leader and led the fight against the Indian raids and negotiating with them for food enough to supplement their meager stores.

In December of 1607, the famous incident of Smith being taken to Powhatan and being saved by Pocahontas occurred. Like much in Smith's writings, it is hard to separate the braggadocio from the fact. Apparently there was some kind of ceremony that involved a ritual death and renewal of life whereby Smith became some kind of subordinate chief member of the tribe. Smith may not have understood the ceremony well and indeed may well have believed that the 11 year old princess saved his life.

Life was very hard at Jamestown and dissent grew. Smith was elected President in September 1608 and has the fort reinforced and emphasizes military training among the colonists. During the winter, Powhatan refused to provide food because he believes that the colonists are not there to trade but to take Indian lands. After difficult negotiations they trade swords and guns for food. Things continue to be difficult and now the resentment focuses on Smith. He is badly burned when his powder keg caught fire. A group leading colonists deposes Smith and he sails back to England part in resentment and part for treatment of his injuries in October.

He is active in promoting colonization of the new territories and heads back in 1614, but he cannot go to Virginia. He focuses on the area north that he called New England. Smith traveled to many areas there and in 1615 founded a colony in Maine. He is captured by a French privateer and is unable to return to England until December. In 1622, Indians kill more than 300 colonists. Smith's offer to lead the military fight against the natives is rejected.

During these years in England, Smith published some works to provide him some much needed income. He finds the right stories to tell and several of his writings sold quite well. He died in 1631 at 51 years old and was buried at St. Sepulchres in the City of London.

This summary of his life is there merest outline of events. There is much much more covered in this treasure trove of a book.

The wonderful Library of America provides us with Smith's "A True Relation", "The Proceedings of the English Colony in Virginia" (parts written by a variety of folks), "A Description of New England", "New Englands Trials" [sic], "The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles", "The True Travels", and his "Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New-England". The words in these titles such as "trials" and "advertisements" had a much different meaning four hundred years ago. The point was that by 1620 thousands of people were risking their lives to try to settle in Virginia and New England and they wanted information. Smith gave them good information about what they were going to face. Oh, he certainly boasted and gave himself credit for things that others did, but his descriptions of what it takes to survive there are quite good.

This volume does not contain Smith's two books on sea travel. However, it does contain an additional four hundred pages of writings by others about the settling of Virginia. One covers the settlement of Roanoke before the Jamestown voyage. Others are written independently of Smith, at least one was written in response to his "Generall Historie" that upset some who felt he took to himself their deeds. They are all fascinating.

There are also pages of black and white plates showing aspects of Smith's life and other aspects of the early settlement including etchings of Smith and even of Pocahontas (Lady Rebecca) in her English finery during her one, fatal, year in England. There is another set of plates that are in color and show Indian life at the time of the events of this book. We get many useful maps, and index, notes on the text, notes on the plates, and a chronology of Smith's life.

This is a rich text that provides important history of early American settlement that everyone interested in the founding and history of our nation will want to read and know. The early events with the Indians are fascinating as are the descriptions of the trade and battles. Even the variety of spellings are fascinating. Yes, orthography was not standardized, but it is interesting how the same words are spelled differently even within the same writing let alone between authors.

A must have for all who appreciate American history.

Good and comprehensive. I have no problem with the substantive value, however, the finish of the pages was raged and not trimmed properly. One part was extended way beyond the cover. Is this because Amazon gives a discount? Not something I appreciate in a book I will keep in my library for life. The prior issue was a better-quality product.

This book was my primary source when I was preparing for the CLA exam. Coherent, organized and thoughtful, it is a "must buy" for CLA candidates. Until my book was borrowed (and not returned) by another legal assistant, the manual served as a handy reference manual in my practice.

So what sets this book up to be any different than any other collectible book? "The Laughlin story" We came real close to calling this Shakespeare pottery. Just the history and the changing technology is worth reading about.

After that is my favorite. "That Radioactive Red"

As the title implies there are sections with stories on Harlequin, Riviera, and Kitchen Kraft

In the back there are suggested values and a list of Collector Books for further reading.

One major item, the pictures are in color.

Whether you have 2 pieces or 200 pieces of Fiestaware, this is the best handbook around. The Huxfords explain Fiestaware's history thoroughly. The collector will also be grateful for the many beautiful pix and credible pricing guidelines. As my dog-eared copy can attest, the guidebook will become your best friend when Fiesta shopping!
I give this book a 10, but I hope the next edition - which is rumored to be out in 1998 - will address the new Fiesta line as some colors are now very collectible.

This book is totally unique, I have never seen another guide like it. The author does not just focus on the big cities she covers smaller cities as well and in depth. The book covers well known historic neighborhoods in the Western states, with highly informative text. I found the book hard to put down. Being from the Houston area I was impressed with how well the author had researched Houston's best neighborhoods and I also appreciated the photographs of homes from each neighborhood, it gave the reader a visual and a feel for the houses in the neighborhood, I really cannot say enough good things about this book, it even maps the neighborhoods and shows the reader where they can find the museum homes. It truly is a field guide in the best sence and I highly recommend it, I have been waiting for the Eastern states for several years now, I hope that it gets done, because if it is half as good as this book I will be the first to buy it.

A beautifully done baedeker of historic information on settlement patterns and architecture of the American West. As in their other books, Lee and McAlester weave local historiography with the creation of venacular architecture into entertaining narrative.

There are two apparent shortcomings: a relative dearth of good photos--for a quasi-reference work, there is simply not enough visual stimulation, and a highly cryptic reference system wherein the photo captions are not cross referenced properly with the notes. Otherwise, this is a book to be valued by those with an interest in housing and architecture.