Lincoln Books

Fourth Generation Evaluation should be read by anyone interested in evaluation!!! Their thought-provoking arguments initiate a dialogue between the reader and the text. By the final chapter, you will (without question) have a more sophisticated understanding of constructivist inquiry and its necessity in the field of evaluation. You will be challenged, provoked, and educated...a great accomplishment for all authors.

Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The French and Indian War: 1660-1763" obviously covers much more than the few years during which the English and French fought over the division of the North American continent. In this four volume in "The Drama of American History" series authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier trace how England's other rivals for control of America were eliminated over this period until the only source of conflict left would be between the British and their own colonials. The authors point out, and I concur, that this period between the establishment of the first colonies (i.e., Plymouth and Jamestown) and the fight for independence, is the most neglected period of American history. This series offers a fairly unique approach to American history by focusing on "core content" rather than a blizzard of names and dates. From this book students will get a good sense of not only what happened but why as England eliminated its competition.

Consequently, this volume offers up six chapters focusing on key issues. The first three chapters of the volume are devoted to the first central theme regarding the struggle between the European powers for control of the North American continent: (1) The European Colonies in the Late Seventeenth Century establishes which parts of North American were controlled (or at least claimed) by European powers and which of these early colonies were actually starting to prosper in the New World; (2) The Dutch and the English in America focuses on how the English eliminated the Dutch and Swedes from the equation; and (3) The Spanish Retreat traces how geographical considerations and contentment with their enormous holdings in elsewhere in the New World stopped the Spanish from expanding their holdings in North America beyond Florida. The Colliers underscore the importance of this by postulating a Latin America that might have begun at the southern border of Virginia.

The chapters in the second half of the volume look a the second central theme, the maturing of the colonies as they turned from outposts of Europe into lands with their own society and culture: (4) Pennsylvania on the Delaware River looks at the colony founded by William Penn as an exemplar colony that gives young readers an idea of how colonies began to grow and prosper; (5) The French and the English in North America studies how by the start of the 18th century only two European nations were contesting for control of North America east of the Mississippi River. But while the English were interested in settling the continent (and the colonies continued to grow and prosper), the French saw it more as a source of products such as timber and fur; and (6) The French and Indian War begins with George Washington's pivotal role in starting this war between European powers in America. Although he participated in two defeats at Fort Necessity and Fort Duquesne, Washington became a military hero to the Colonials. The Colliers detail the course of the war, including the key battle on the Plains of Abraham, and conclude the volume with the short-term effects of the war regarding the new division of the continent between the British and French.

Ultimately the French and Indian War is the key stepping stone to the American Revolution because it was the efforts of the British Parliament to tax the colonials to help pay for both that war and future military efforts in the New World that outraged the sensibilities of Americans. That outraged eventually translated into first the movement and then the war for American independence. As with the other volumes in this excellent series, "The French and Indian War: 1660-1763" keeps the focus on the key chain of events that define the history of this period. The result is that young readers (as well as their teachers) will have a clear sense of the logic, if not the inevitability, of what happened during this time period. The book is illustrated with historical etchings and paintings, as well as contemporary color photographs of historical rennactors and historic buildings. These illustrations help to underscore one of the main threads of this volume, which is the way in which the colonies were becoming more prosperous, which affected their self-image as being the equal of those living in England. As we shall see in the next volume, "The American Revolution: 1763-1783," this belief will run rather contrary to how the English viewed the colonists.

If you are looking for a beautiful book full of ideas for perennial garden design, this is it. The book is full of great color pictures of absolutely gorgeous famous gardens. Although few of us have the space, time or money to have our own gardens of the size and caliber we see in this book, many of the ideas can be applied to the home garden. Not just a juicy coffee table book, both the text and photos offer much for those looking for inspiration about perspective, backdrop, texture, and all the elements of garden design.

Leafing the pages of this beautifully wrought gardener's diary is very much like drawing open curtains on a summer morning and finding your room filled with sunlight. The photographs by Derry Moore are incredibly beautiful from Jeff Koons' Puppy to the protective shadows and dappled greens of a terrace border on a cloudless afternoon. There are some 150 color photos in the 224 pages, and each is a feast for the eyes.

Lady Salisbury, we learn, has always been drawn to gardens. As a youngster she tended to small areas in her parents' gardens. From this initial interest grew an abiding love and enormous responsibility as she later became chatelaine of England's Cranborne Manor and Hatfield House, where she brought these great groundss to renewed life.

In a description of her childhood gardens she writes, "From my earliest consciousness, I have noticed plants..." She was, she says, awakened by her mother's roses and the instructions she received as to how to cut a rose for a vase and how to prune roses to encourage reflowering. Little did she dream then that she would become a professional garden designer with commissions from throughout the world and count among her clients the Prince of Wales and the New York Botanical Garden.

Lady Salisbury has spent her life doing what she loved, and to this writing actively continues although she is in her 80s. She is the woman the New York Times called "The Green Goddess of English Gardens," while others refer to her as the "greatest gardener of the twentieth century."

In photographs and words A Gardener's Life is her biography, and a joyous one it is. This volume serves not only as a chronicle of her work but as a guide for us, sure to be relished by those who love gardens, nature, and all things beautiful.

- Gail Cooke

The Gardens at Levens are among the most beautiful and unique gardens in the world. For this visitor, they were a vast sea of magnificent towering topiary, dramatic, otherworldly. Awed, one strolls through a massive green tunnel or beneath a sheltering roof of yews only to catch a glimpse of another wonderful scene that must be explored.

In this gloriously illustrated volume one is introduced to the Gardens with the best guide available - Chris Crowder who has been the head gardener at Levens since 1986. He enthusiastically relates how in 1694 in "one of the sweetest spots fancy can imagine, Guillaume Beaumont designed the parterre and gave the garden its quartered layout." It is seen today very much as it was 300 years ago.

Fortunately, the accounts of former owners, stewards, and gardeners have been preserved. Thus, Crowder can draw upon them to detail how the Gardens have been kept, true to their original design.

While the Topiary Garden is probably the most visually arresting, there is so much more beauty to be discovered - the Rose Garden, the Fountain Garden. Not to be overlooked are the wall borders alive with color or the orchard borders decked out in tulips and wild flowers.

Vivian Russell's photographs are, as always, a joy to behold. She is a premier garden photographers and treats readers to some 100 color photos.

For garden enthusiasts, armchair travelers, lovers of the out-of-doors, The Gardens at Levens is not to be missed.

- Gail Cooke

This book is an important resource in the arsenal of sleeping aids for people with an interest in colonialism and its long-term effects in Kenya. I highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to fall asleep within 5 minutes any time of day.

Esteemed historian Frank Klement reviews little-known
aspects of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and the ceremony
in which it played a part. This book, thoroughly and
professionally researched and written, is a must for anyone
interested in Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln, or the Gettysburg
Address itself.

It was 34 years ago I first picked up this book and have been a fan of John Niven ever since. This book is the best in the distinguished list of Dr. Niven;s writings. Gideon Welles moves from editor to politician to powerful figure in the Lincoln administration and we follow him as fellow travelers on this voyage. This is one book well worth the price for your library.

It is my belief that this book was published in 1990 with the title "The Art of Planting." I have The Art of Planting and it is an old favorite. I especially like that the botanical names of the predominant plants in the photographs are given.

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