Marshall Books

Anderson's journal, diary and narrative are an insightful look into his personal experiences, observations and thoughts during the fur trade year of 1834. Describing the multitude of people, places and events along the soon to be Oregon Trail , I can see why many historians reference his book for this time period. In typical Dale Morgan fashion, the editing is extremely well done, meticulously picking his way mile by mile with Anderson. Also included is the "Galaxy of Mountain Men" which are short but pertinent biographies of forty five men who influenced and helped shape the fur trade and western expansion movement.

It's kind of ironic, but of all the things offered to the reader in this magnificent book, Anderson's Journal of a trip he took west for his health in 1834 might be the least important. In fact, the Journal takes up less than 50 pages of this 430-page work. But it's all the rest that editors Dale Morgan and Eleanor Harris present that makes the book truly outstanding.

Anderson kept a diary of his trip which he used later to compile the Journal. We get the diary as well, presented in juxtaposition on facing pages with the Journal for comparison's sake. We also get a 40-page introduction on Anderson and his times and a 20-page biography of the man. In addition, we get in full the articles he wrote for the American Turf Register based on his trip and the ethnological notes he kept on various Indian tribes he encountered. Best of all, I think, is the 140-page appendix entitled "Galaxy of Mountain Men," which contains incredibly detailed biographical accounts of over 40 major mountain men, from Kit Carson and Joseph Walker to Black Harris and Rottenbelly (a Nez Perce chief).

William Marshall Anderson was born in Kentucky in 1807. His mother was first cousin of Chief Justice John Marshall, and his father, a Revolutionary War hero, was surveyor general of lands in Ohio and Kentucky. College educated and licensed to practice law, Anderson first organized a cattle import company in Ohio. But he contracted cholera in 1833, and then yellow fever, and decided to take a trip to the Far West to regain his health. In 1834 he made the trip that occupies his diary/journal at the core of this book in the company of William Sublette and a party of fur trappers.

The genteel Anderson stuck out like a sore thumb in this rough company, and he really didn't get along well with anyone except Sublette. A man used to forests and rich farm land, he was unimpressed with the treeless Plains. He was fascinated by the Indians they came across, however, which probably sparked a life-long interest in archeology. He attended the Ham's Fork rendezvous where he met Carson and Bridger and many other legendary figures. Shortly after the rendezvous broke up, Anderson returned to St. Louis with Lucien Fontenelle's party.

A full 50 pounds heavier than when he left, and with his health restored, Anderson married and converted to Catholicism upon his return. He settled near Chillicothe, Ohio, ran for Congress unsuccessfully, and then bought a farm near Circleville. After the Civil War he went to Mexico on an archeological expedition (although actually he was there to help set up a Confederate colony), contracted yellow fever again, and returned home to Ohio. He recovered and went on to study Indian mounds in Mississippi. In failing health, he died in Circleville in 1881.

This book is truly a feast of riches for anyone interested in the mountain man period of the West, and not just during the six months of Anderson's sojourn to the Rockies. Morgan's annotations of the diary/journal are minutely detailed (Morgan is the best at this kind of thing), and the added features make the book almost encyclopedic. Even the bibliography is among the most comprehensive you'll find in a book of this nature. It's a magnificent piece of scholarship. Highly recommended.

Read this to any kid who will sit still for it. The story is fun, and the pictures are bright, vivid and funny!

I bought it for my three girls (1, 3, and 11) and they love it!

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet The Amazing Brain. He will perform amazing feats of hypnotism right here live on our stage!! Oh, yes, let me also introduce to you his dog, Rollo Bones, the canine hypnotist...

In this funny, brightly illustrated story, The Amazing Brain (T.A.B., for short) and his brown dog, Rollo Bones, tour the country doing amazing feats of hypnotism. When a woman with tall, bright red hair stares deep into Rollo's eyes, TAB tells her to act like a chicken!! She does, scratching around the stage, clucking to herself and even pecking at bits of thrown popcorn. What a feat!! They perform even for the crowned heads of Europe.

While success seems to be going to Brain's head (no pun intended), Rollo is getting tired of the ceaseless traveling, the constant barrage to do this, don't do that, and he misses the good old days when the Brain and he would just go outside and play, or relax. One day, deciding he'd had enough, Rollo runs away.

It doesn't take readers long to grasp that Rollo is the real star of the show, and without him, The Amazing Brain isn't so amazing anymore. After a time, Rollo gets tired of being alone and creeping about in disguise, because Brain has put out an alert for him. The ending has a wonderful reunion, of course, but also a subtle, mischievous little surprise.

I love "Rollo Bones" and press it on friends and family with young children whenever I can, especially if they have dogs! The illustrations are bright, bold and oversized and look to be drawn with either oil pastels or crayon. This gives the illustrations a child-like quality that is fun for young readers. The text of the story is easy to read and uncomplicated. It flows easily from beginning to end and fits the illustrations perfectly. This is a great choice for young children or beginning readers, say, age 5 and up (any younger and they might not be able to grasp the meaning of "hypnotism").

Perfect for the dog lover as well, "Rollo Bones" is a wonderful book with a zippy story and fun ending. Highly recommended!!

i was impressed by the author's depth of knowledge and the fact he didn't purport to be a pompous know it all. he cites other mariner's experiences to make his point, and to make it a more lively read. I keep my copy nearby as a reference. think seamanship.

This is easily the most comprehensive book on the subject in print. The author is incredible thorough and presents the subject from every angle. It's the one book or first book to have on surviving storms at sea. Well illustrated, too.

I love this book. I read and re-read it not only for the great ideas, but because it jump starts creative thinking.. The "shortcuts" are just resourceful savvy ways to get more out of each day.

You get 18 chapters covering topics like:
"Going Places Without Going Crazy"
"Shop Smart, Shop Fast"
"Great Garden Shortcuts"
"Bathrooms and Laundry Room,"
"Hassle-Free Holidays All Year Round"
Each tip is short, so keep this around to dip into when you have a few minutes now and then. Some of the ideas may be familiar (put baking soda/vinegar in drains to keep them clear of clogs, or save unwanted gifts to give to others). Others will surprise you (you can ask funeral homes for left over flower arrangements).

A fun book! To battle a squirrel who eats all his birdseed, my 6-year old daughter thought the Professor's inventions were "cool". The repetitive text is great for beginning readers, and the pictures are bright and funny.

Best of all, I think this book can be a fun gift for anyone who has ever had a battle with squirrels, regardless of age!

Our kids were absolutely enthralled with this book. The storyline and artwork were such that they coudn't wait to turn the page. The author and illustrator worked together to lead them on this "Adventure". WELL DONE!

Readers know. We like to find new authors before everyone else. W.R. Marshall is just such an author. Funny, sarcastic, then striking straight for your heart with a sentence or phrase that just freezes you with its beauty, simplicity, and perfect explaination of a childhood moment. I'd like to be able to say The Sideways Dance of Blue Crabs is like this book or that. To its credit, I can't. (Of course, the same goes for Catch-22, Franny & Zoey, Slaughterhouse 5, etc., so not exactly bad company.) No, you can't predict where the book is going. No, you can't figure it out. No, Marshall won't spoon feed you. Yipes, you might have to think. And, isn't it about time!
Readers know. So you can start with his first book, and when others jump on the Marshall bandwagon in years to come, you can smile and say, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, been reading him for years."

If J. D. Salinger and Tom Robbins had a love child, he would write a book like this. W. R. Marshall has brought whimsy back to fiction. Like "Catcher in the Rye", the tone in "The Sideways Dance" is lighthearted and fun. But there is an undercurrent that reflects the often serious nature of childhood.

This is a great book, very clear explanations, helpful tips and illustrations.

This book is a pretty good one for beginners. The pictures are excellent and very helpful in trying to do the poses. The instructions for doing each pose are rather clear. Most of the poses include variations and modifications for doing the exercise. Some of the poses suggest using props (blanket, wood blocks, chair) to help you in achieving the pose which is especially good for those of us who are a little less flexible or new to the yoga practice. There are several practice sequences detailed at the end of the book, and the sequences vary in difficulty. One of the best features of this book is that it is spiral bound and has tabbed dividers which make it easy to quickly refer back to a pose or grouping of poses. Any yoga book is no substitute for a good teacher, but this book is a blessing when you want to refresh your memory on a pose or poses you may have learned in class.

I found this book by accident and read it in one sitting... I have read many times since then. I recommend it.

I would like to commend this book to all readers, whether you like poetry or not. The author, Billy Marshall-Stoneking, is one of Australia's greatest living poets, and here, in his book, Singing the Snake, he has offered poems of genuine feeling and insight. There is real knowledge here, and humour, and voices... one can almost smell the smoke of campfires... and the aroma is entrancing. In these wonderful poems (illustrated by the Pintupi elder, Tutama Tjapangarti) Marshall-Stoneking recounts his time among the Aborigines of Central Australia. This book is destined to be one of the great classics of Australian literature and I have no doubt of the world. It certainly deserves international recognition. His poem, The Seasons of Fire, which is included in this collection was awarded the Bill Harney Poetry Prize. I am pleased to recommend this book.

Les Murray, Poet

An adorable story of love and patience about two slugs who leave messages everywhere in the garden until fate finally unites them.

Ages 4-8 will find this a fun story of love despite slime: slug Marylou loves everything about Herbie - but she's a shy slug and can't get him to notice her. Her poetic attempts simply wash away: is their romance doomed? Kevin O'Malley's lovely drawings accent the simple tale of affection and miscommunication.

maurice salad, pot pie, chinese salad. the best recipes and some i had forgotten. Popovers. Goodness. I have spent the last month reminding me how much I miss the food. What a great book and a great price. Beats the newest with the same old recipies at 30 dollars. I saved quite a bit.

This is a great book. It has all the favorites from Dayton's, Marshall Fields, and Hudsons.