Kentucky Books

This is simply a marvelous book. I picked up an earlier edition a few years ago and still refer to it quite often for my own research into Lincoln. As Mr. Davenport stated in that edition, the book is a travel guide, not a biography. However, because of the fact that it is so well-researched and full of detail, it could almost pass for a biographical overview, especially of Lincoln's life in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, prior to his presidency.

I highly recommend this book for any Lincoln admirer, those who have a mild interest in the subject and especially for those who want to learn more. With Lincoln, there's always more to learn!

Inflections of the Pen, although a scholarly work, makes fascinating reading even for those of us not particularly schooled in the mystical work of Emily Dickinson. Crumbley combines masterfully poetic detective work with his own elegance of language to create a piece of work that both honors its subject and offers a first-ever look inside the mind of an ever-elusive writer. Even those untrained in the academics of poetry will find entrancement here. Additionally, I found it inspired me to look at other poets' work with a refreshed and inquiring eye. Thank you,Dr. Crumbley, for this remarkable tome.

Written by the commander, this book contains interesting insights into one of the "hot" conflicts of the Cold War, which very few people in the U.S. even remember today. It makes an excellent companion to the Leavenworth Paper on the same subject.

este pequeno libro, ofrece una ligera introduccion a la literatura norteamericana,vista desde la perspectiva de borges. es el unico libro que he leido de el en ingles y me parecio algo liviano, como para estudiantes. en el no brilla borges el erudito, sino el critico y este muy poco. el final del libro hay cortas biografias de los mas importantes autores norteamericanos.

LUIS MENDEZ

The Irish Play on the New York Stage has been awarded the Michael J. Durkan Prize of the American Conference for Irish Studies, given annually to the best book in Literary Criticism/ Arts Criticism/Cultural Studies. Lucy McDiarmid, President, American Conference for Irish Studies

The purpose for my search for Isaac Johnson was interesting because like artwork it is controversial in nature and ignites various responses. The review of Isaac Johnson of Kentucky is very similar to most Black Americans. Therefore, I'm very interested to know more information about him. His siblings names, Also, who his wife was. Your review in my opinion is not funny, as some reviews have said. By his father being a slave owner and his mother a slave shows that she was not in love with him; in fact most likely taken to him. His father selling them into slavery and his mother back into slavery tells the bitter truth of why so many black people are angry and bitter. Yet, through the belief in a higher power is why so many are strong, love all and continue to endure. To know your history is to know yourself. This story is interesting and should be told as well as others like this. Hopefully Isaac Johnson of Kentucky found his siblings and his wife in Canada. Thank God he escaped without death or else that would have been another generation lost. "God, forgive them for they know not what they have done." Black America has always accepted interracial children as there own people, because the government and the people of our country didnot. This is nothing new. (interracial children)It appears that the government and religious leaders are now more accepting because of the benefits it may bring.

This book was an important part of my history. Isaac is my great great grandfather. He was such an important part of history. I appreciate that Mrs. Borries took the time to write this book and share his life with the world.

Sandi K Shelby

Anyone who enjoys REAL country music will love this book, and the the unique place it is about. "It All Happened In Renfro Valley" tells the story of the late John Lair, and the country music entertainment center he created in the foothills of Kentucky's Cumberland Mountains, Renfro Valley. You'll read of how over the past 60 years Renfro Valley has grown to become one of the best and most unique homes for country music in the world, and how it has been the launching pad for the careers of now-legendary entertainers including the late Red Foley, and one of country music's first sucessful all-female acts, the late Lily May Ledford & The Coon Creek Girls. Perhaps most fascinating of all is the story of how through 60 years of ups and downs, and many changes, the unique spirit of the "Valley Where Time Stands Still" can still be found in this special place today. You'll learn of how the Valley is now in its second heyday so to speak, having underwent a much-needed revitalization and expansion about ten years ago, and how it is, as a result, once again drawing the kind of large crowds it did many years ago. In the book, Pete also tells about himself and many of the other great current and former entertainers who perform on the "regular" Renfro Valley shows like the Barn Dance and Jamboree, as well as how some of country music's biggest names now also come for concerts in the Valley. You'll also read of the Renfro Valley Gatherin', which is now the third oldest continuous radio broadcast in the nation. All in all, this is a great look back at the history of a one-of-a-kind true country place that is near and dear to the hearts of true country music fans and radio listeners all over the country and around the world. Pete also includes a few stories of his own amazing career as a country comedian and entertainer, songwriter, and disc jockey. In addition to having been a regular Renfro Valley performer since 1952, Pete was also a regular on country music's first televison show, Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee, during the mid 1950's, and was also Dolly Parton's road manager for a time in the 1970's. (She does still remember Pete, and was kind enough to write the forward to his book!) All of these experiences combine to allow Pete to tell the amazing story of a very special place in a way that only he could. "It All Happened In Renfro Valley," and you'll sure be glad if you read this book and let Mr. Pete Stamper tell you all about it!

WOW! This is a great book for those who love the Singing cowboy group "Riders in the Sky". If you have never heard of them, try their music! You won't be disappointed!

This book covers nearly EVERYTHING a first time Riders fan could need to know (although there are a few areas of interest missing from this book! Guess you can't include everything in just one volume). A great book with fantastic stories, info and pictures (althought they deleted a few pics from the pre-publication copy....I have an editor's edition and they should have left in ALL the pictures in the final run of this book).

Riders in the Sky are reminescent of Roy Rogers & Gene Autry....but with a bit of "tongue-in-cheek" humor and a bit of their own twists added in. Regulars at the Opry and with a regular tour schedule sure to be hitting a state near you! Check out www.ridersinthesky.com for more info!

This book sheds devastating new life on Joyce's life and art, and is a must read.

The infection he contracted in his teens cause Joyce's iritis and near blindness, his funny walk, sexual impotence, his wife's miscarriage and hysterectomy, his daughter's madness, his early death and much else besides.

Ulysses and Finnegans Wake are crawling with allusions to syphilis and its symptoms, as is "The Sisters" of which the first version was composed in 1904, the year in which Joyce was first treated for the disease.

Victim of a nasty joke, Joyce responded to his miseries by clowning. His masterpieces are also confessional. Ferris asks us to "suspend Ellmann's construct of Joyce as a secular humanist" and see him "as a guilt-ridden, diseased, deracinated Catholic who repented his sins" and remained a frequent church-goer.