University of Missouri Books

Wow! I could not believe how remarkably crispy this book was. I mean the pages were just crisp with crispness. You know how when sometimes you're reading a book and you think to yourself "Dam! This book is crispy!"? Well, when you read this book, it will make you think that. Are you ready to ascend to new levels of crispiness? Then reading this handsome man's audacious study of the crisp. I found particularly interesting the area where he compares Lacan's mirror stage to Ralph Ellison's novel: "THE CRISP FACTOR". What a tight, irresistable thriller!

Darryl Dickson-Carr's African American Satire is recommended for college-level audiences; this studies the role and purpose of satire as a literary genre in African-American writings. Afro-American literature and the history of satire are concurrently studied in chapters which argue that major works by Hughes, Ellison and other should be viewed as satires in order to fully appreciate their meaning.

This is just wonderful - poetry, fiction, essays, spanning from slavery to the modern day. Early has gathered an important collection of writing, period. Forget ethnicity, forget locality, this stuff is GOOD.

I thought this book was incredibly entertaining. It has local flair and memorable comments from some of the most famous blacks in history. The essays are provocative, fun and entertaining. A must read.

Alexander Doniphan is one of those great characters from history who learned from his mistakes about the role of government. He is one who rebelled against the demogoguery of American politics to become a true independent having experienced first-hand the results of policies he had helped push through at one time. A warrior who came to know the horrors of war and so came to realize its utter futility and underlying causes of greed and self-aggrandizement. He, like Smedly Butler in the century that followed, came to see war as a racket for a few at the expense of the majority. Doniphan's integrity in the Mormon wars shines through in a world gone mad with hate. His life is so full of examples for us it is sad that he, once a household name, has become virtually unknown to us now. He truly was a great American hero and we would do well to honor his life and work. The book is wonderfully well written and complemented with black and white photos and drawings from the Doniphan's life. It is a must have for the serious student of mid-19th century American politics.

Alexander William Doniphan was one of the most significant and popular figures in Missouri from the 1830s through the 1870s. He excelled as an orator above all but was also an extremely successful attorney (he defended 188 clients on murder charges with most being found innocent and none receiving the death penalty), military leader, politician and businessman and an influential educator and farmer. Doniphan's most famous exploit, the conquest of New Mexico and Chihuahua and the creation of a law code to govern the first area, was chronicalled several times in the 19th century but this is the first full biography to be published about this important man. I have studied most of the available primary and secondary sources on Doniphan and find this biography to be both balanced and complete. Anyone who is interested in Mormon, Missouri or Western History should find this book worth reading.

The book will paint vivid images in your mind of heart warming tales that are not just circumstantial; rather inspirational.

"And God Answered," is inspiring and fun reading, spanning most of the 1900's as Jean Bell Mosley shares vignettes of her growing up on a farm and small community in southeast Missouri with a three-generation family who gave love and guidance through example that carried her through into adult life. A great book to enjoy, looking back, knowing that good can triumph. A good book to give to your mother, aunt, friend who will enjoy remembering.

The right to defend one's country isn't something that wasn't always permitted black Americans. In "The Black Citizens Soldiers of Kansas 1864-1901" Roger D. Cunningham tells the story of black Americans during the second half of the nineteenth century and the segregated military units that many of these black soldiers proudly served in. Even for those who fought, bled, and died gallantly in military service to their country, it took a long time for the American Government to make up for its folly of having originally disallowed their service at all. A work of impressively detailed and original scholarship, Cunningham brings his research to bear in describing the lives and efforts of these valiant soldiers who fought for a country that hated them -- only because it was their own. "The Black Citizen Soldiers of Kansas 1864-1901" is a fine read and a recommended addition for academic library Military History, American History, and Civil Rights Studies collections.

First of all, a disclaimer. My grandfather, Horace Baker, wrote this book, so its interest to me is probably more than to most. This book was originally printed in 1927 and saw very limited distribution. Contrary to what Amazon says, Dr. Ferrell is not the author. However, what Dr. Ferrell did do for this reprint was to add some pertinent endnotes to link my grandfather's close (and sometimes incorrect) view of what was happening to the bigger picture of the Meuse-Argonne battle. Also, some helpful maps and a few photos have been added as well. About the text itself: Horace Baker's text begins on arrival at the front and ends with the armistice. It is well written with a simple, usually matter-of-fact style. There are a few purple passages but they do not distract too much from the facts and there are even a few bits of humor. It is very readable and flows easily.

The recurring themes are the same that sadly occur thoughout most wartime experiences: exhaustion, hunger, exposure to the elements, fear, and violent death.

I would recommend this book for anyone who has serious interest in The Great War. I also recommend Dr. Ferrell's book "America's Deadliest Battle: Meuse-Argonne, 1918" as a companion to this in order to understand what was happening on a larger scale.

Ms. Grant's book has taken us on a sentimental journey and we feel as though we've found again a long-lost friend, one who has come full circle with the ability to historically collaborate and creatively communicate their journey. At The Elbows Of My Elders is a poignantly sweet and straightforward piece which gives us a vision of earlier life for African-Americans on the horizon of "..a Dream" yet never letting us forget that privilege carries with it a price, one of responsibility and continuing the work of our ancestors who have laid the path before us. We hope to hear more from this author in the future again and again "rubbing" elbows.

At The Elbows of My Elders: One family's Journey toward Civil Rights, reads like a movie. The main characters, David M. Grant and Mildred H. Grant are seen from childhood in the early decades of the 20th century to middle class working people in the later decades of the century.

Because of the strong families they came from, they were catalysts, participants and witnesses to the defeat of Jim Crow in St. Louis, MO and other Black communities all over the US.

I enjoyed the book because my father was a direct contemporary of David Grant and suffered under the very constraints that Mr. Grant fought so long to overcome.

This is a must read for anyone who wishes to understand how things have changed, yet have remained the same over the last almost 108 years.

To put it in context, a bright young man was lucky to get a job as a porter, waiter or some other subserviant position that he could lose at any time. Fast forward to today when an African American has a good chance to be elected President of the United States.

Even though there are problems that still plauge people of color in America, this history gives insight into the preliminary efforts and struggles endured by a community that was rich with people of considerable talent and tenacity and intelligence.

If you are interested in the social forces that have shaped people like Obama, At the Elbows of My Elders will shed light on how it happened.

Russell displays a finely crafted, poetic approach to writing. His complex storyline draws a reader in and evokes emotional responses usually limited to personal experience. The clairity of the various voices, coupled with the darkly passionate rendition of Vermont life, marks Russell as a writer to watch.

I was especially impressed with the cover art, which is very inspiring and indicative of his passionate understanding for the interplay between man and woman.

Brier Country catches the spirit of today's Appalachia. Palencia does not depend on historical nostalgia; rather she depicts the interweaving of traditions and the modern world, showing both their tensions ands their harmony. She has a talent for the exact word and rhythm of words. She can combine humor and horror in a character such as the college president in "Man on Horseback" or a situation as in "Briers". She writes memorable lines and creates scenes I shall never forget. Would that every reader could enjoy these stories.

Memorable stories; memorable characters. "Guard Your Man" is one of the best women's sports stories I've ever read. "The Three Graces" is one of the most moving father/daughter stories I've ever read. This writer seems deeply grounded in the best classical 19th century U.S. short story tradition and at the same time completely modern. Her prose is gorgeous. I love when a writer writes with respect and insight about characters and places often treated satirically by pseudosophistacated urban provincials. This is a really terrific book. If you like short stories, read it; if you are interested in Appalacia, read it; if you like good writing, read it. My congratulations to this author.

In The Cattle Towns, Robert Dykstra demonstrates how five Kansas towns--Dodge City, Ellsworth, Caldwell, Abilene, and Wichita--developed through a complex set of conflicts that bred progress. Instead of adding to the frontier myth of wild and violent cattle towns, Dykstra builds upon studies of urban history and applies them to the developing frontier to create a local, social history that has national relevance.

Success or failure of a town depended on a number of variables including location, promotion, and people. Location as related to the county center, railroad lines, and especially for this study, cattle trails, played major roles in determining town futures. Advertisements in newspapers located between the Kansas cattle towns and the source of the cattle herds in Texas lured the trail drivers north. The most important element in the future of the cattle towns, however, was the local population.

Although the town newspapers often gave the impression that residents of the town and surrounding areas spoke in a unified voice, that was usually not the case. Disagreements between businessmen and rural folk, ranchers and farmers, natives and foreign-born, and reformers and vice practitioners were frequent. Dykstra contradicts earlier studies that claimed successful town development on mutual cooperation and shows how progress was made through such differences.

The differences over town policy provided a forum for area residents to discuss the future vision of their town. Whether the discussion was over alcohol, gambling, prostitution, or the movement of the splenic flu deadline, the result was an exchange of ideas focused on improving the town. Town businessmen, for example, sympathized with the reformers who sought to improve the moral values of the town by eliminating vices, but not at the financial cost of losing the trail drivers who were attracted by such vices and spent their funds liberally throughout town.

Due to the advancement of technology and the progression of settlers into the once open Kansas frontier, the cattle towns shifted their focus from cattle to the more consistent industry of agriculture. The westward movement of settlers altered the routes of cattle drives away from towns like Abilene and Dodge City and railroads continued to expand their coverage, removing these towns from the cattle industry. Despite the moral vices that accompanied it, the cattle industry between 1867 and 1885 helped provide an immediate economic base that developed towns and laid the groundwork for future success.

Utilizing information from period newspapers, letters, maps, government documents, and previous studies, Dykstra creates a well-written study that explores urban aspirations and rivalry in a frontier setting. By examining the motivations of individuals and groups in the cattle towns, Dykstra has made a valuable contribution to town building on the changing frontier.

"One of the most intelligent, interesting, and worthwhile contributions to the field of Western history in some time. [The author] has managed to say something rather basic about American culture in general." -- William H. Goetzmann. "Excellent . . . readable and persuasive. . . . One of the most refreshing and rewarding approaches to be applied to western history topics in many years, for [the author] is asking basic questions about social process and the nature of urban society." -- Howard Roberts Lamar.

If you are looking for an authentic rendering of Confederate Army Colonels who served in the American Civil War, 1861-1865, this publication is the last word. From Robert Haden Abercrombie to Leon Toll von Zinken, the1583 officers who ended their careers as colonels each have a paragraph which includes birth information, education, service, post war activities and date and place of death.

Listed as appendices are 429 regularly appointed Confederate generals who had served as colonels in the Confederate army or who had been colonels in a "state" army, a full list of those who served a colonel in state armies, and at last, a list of those officers who were called "colonels."

"Confederate Colonels" will stand tall in the book shelves containing Ezra Warner's "Generals in Blue" and "Generals in Gray" and Bruce S. Allardice own "More Generals in Gray." The research is astounding!

Bruce S. Allardice is Adjunct Professor at South Suburban College and Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois. He is a resident of Des Plaines, Illinois.

Richard N. Larsen
Reviewer

This book is a must for anyone interested in the subject of Confederate colonels. It is similar to the books "Generals in Gray" and "More Generals in Gray", and makes a nice companion to these two volumes.

The biographies, arranged in alphabetical order, include the basic information about the individual: dates of birth and death; marriages; occupations; and trivia. Most of the data pertains to the colonel's service in the Confederate Army. Surprisingly, some of these colonels have never had any biographical sketches written about them until now. As with any book of this type, a few errors can be found, but the research is otherwise solid.

"Confederate Colonels" represents a tremendous amount of work, and the author deserves a lot of credit.