Wisconsin Books

Rufus Dawes writes of his service as an officer of the Iron Brigade's 6th Wisconsin Volunteers from it's formation until his resignation in 1864. Dawes was continuously present in the field almost every day from the day he enlisted, and wrote to his wife even several times a week, yet the book fills a mere 318 pages. His work is based primarily on this large collection of letters his wife had kept throughout the war.

His retrospective reminiscences are interjected only to give us the larger context, and sometimes he quotes the Official Army Reports when helpful. Not only is Dawes a good writer, but because he rose to command the 6th Wisconsin Regiment, he was cognizant of both the big picture and the immediate details of soldier life.

Dawes is an eloquent and sensitive writer. Through Dawes' letters we can feel the stresses and tensions of army life. As a junior officer, Dawes notes his concerns over the seniority among Captains in the Regiment as his primary concern. By 1864, this has shifted to the simple desire to spend time away from the incessant bullets, death and discomforts of war. Dawes' passages on the 1864 Campaign really expresses how different the war became and how really weary the veterans had become. Dawes himself, an exuberant and optimistic spirit always, had become truly weary of war by 1864.

To have tramped with Dawes all over Virginia, to Antietam and Gettysburg and through the Wilderness is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this book for the general reader. Of all the first person accounts I have read by Iron Brigade soldiers, this is the easiest to read and follow, and is richly rewarding.

If you are interested in womens role in art and science then this book is definitely for you. This book is hard to put down as each essay involves you in an articulate vision of how women were involved in dissection, wax modelling etc in the eighteen and nineteeth century.It explains how acts of violence were (and still today) are acted upon womens body to find the truth about science for doctors and scientists knowledge. Also about the unveiling of women and how this involves man and the scientific field.

Leavitt is wonderful historian and although the majority of her early work centered on women's health throughout US history, in "Sickness and Health in America" she once again proves her ability to ferret out wonderful historians who write well and on pertinent issues. Encompassing classic works like the work on the Tuskagee Syphilis experiment and early work on attitudes toward persons living with HIV/AIDS, Leavitt should be applauded once again for her tireless efforts toward public health history.

This book is available in hard cover, contrary to some reports. It was recently (1999) awarded the Gambrinus Prize in history by the Milwaukee County Historical Society for the best book on Milwaukee area history.

This is the tenth volume in the justly celebrated series, 'History of Anthropology'. The series, started by G.W. Stocking, Jr., has been instrumental in setting up a new and thriving sub-discipline of anthropology. By critically examining the past, these writers are helping anthropology in its desperate struggle to survive and reinvent itself, for the future of this (or any other) discipline is not at all asured. Each of the seven articles in this volume deals with the relations between well-known anthropologists and 'significant others', such as a spouse, a son, students or colleagues. All the articles are solidly documented and well written. The articles that I found most moving, were Engelke's, dealing with the relations between Vic and Edie Turner and Schumaker's on Max Gluckman as director of the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute. But all the articles, without exception, are extremely interesting, each presenting a clearcut and refutable argument. They open a discussion that, hopefully, will be continued in years to come.

This is a well written history of Sinn Fein. Unlike other books on this subject , this book was a delight to read. The author did a good job staying on subject , although he does tend to jump back and forth on the time line of events.

This book is a winner! The author has gathered all kinds of old postal card and family photos of the folks who settled Sister Bay, the northern jewel of the Door Peninsula. Then he met with older folks with long memories and assembled a kind of oral history of the Sister Bay our grandparents knew, from the 1890's to more recent history. A lovely book, great photos, a real trip down memory lane and beyond! Even if you don't know Door County or Sister Bay, Wisconsin, I think there are some wonderful commonalities with all small towns, east coast or midwest.

Allen Young writes beautifully and knows his subject. He takes a complex subject and reduces it to an understandable story. Truley unusual ability to make moonlight on a lake fascinating. I think part of the charm and it is a charming book is that some of his thoughts parallel the thoughts everyone has had at certain unique moments when viewing nature. His descriptions are vivid and leave you with the feeling that he has taken you on one tour after another. This is a book form anyone and I found it totally enjoyable and very relaxing.

Molly Brandt is determined to change things for herself and her family. With the support of her only real friend, and the guidance of a counselor, she finds the courage and determination to confront her husband's drinking. Her story is simply told and deeply moving -- I highly recommend it to anyone contemplating an Intervention with a loved one.

The original book was an evolving collection of mimeographs and photocopies in binder format, produced and distributed by the author, who was elected to the National Academy of Sciences for his stature in this field. His students went on to prominence in the U.S. and the world.
The author's final 1985 edition was rekeyed, revised, and reprinted in softcover format in 2005...again in limited distribution from the University of Wisconsin.