Pennsylvania Books

This book, divided in two sections, was compiled during the course of the 1993 exhibition of the same name. It collectively portrays the fruits of knowledge of it. In the first part, the author introduces this fascinating civilization, by explaining its politics, religious beliefs, society, culture and history from the Bronze Age to the Napatan Meroitic Period. The second part contains more than 300 black and white pictures presented at the exhibition. This is a valuable work for those needing to learn more about Nubia.

Again, the pictures in the book are easy enough to use for my 3 year old. The information contained in the book is useful. We enjoy using this book and look forward to the spring and summer when we can travel further than our backyard.

This is a lovely story into the life of a 12 year old Brethren girl growing up in Pennsylvania in the 1740's. A girl that has learned about cooking, baking, cleaning and caring for her younger brothers and sisters but longs to read and have a book of her own. An interesting view into a different lifestyle, times and the longings of a 12 year old heart.

I used this book as an example of the type of reports the US Santiary Commission submitted. It shows the multitude of ways that women helped the war effort. Students, teachers and other adults enjoyed learning about the USSC.

This study of the coal miners labor struggle in the Anthracite regions, primarily in Schuykill County, PA is well researched and most importantly well written. It also elucidates on the discrimination of the Irish during this period of "Nativism" and the "No Nothings" in the US. Extremely well documented, it will be an excellent resource for additional study of this critical period in labor history and it's impact on the Civil War.

This is a terrific reference for anyone interested in getting more out of the poetry of Thomas Gray. Richard Bentley's wonderful illustrations come to life in the elegant and moving writing of Loftus Jestin. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This book was a wonderful and interesting mix of subjects and material. The author wove together family history, mining industry history and anthracite mining techniques onto a wonderfully personal scene which kept the pages turning.

Appalachian Summer is the third of Marcia Bonta's season chronicles of the natural life that populates the mountain in central Pennsylvania that she and her family call home. As with all her books, Appalachian Summer is a bounty of historical and scientific facts about nature. The first in her seasonal series, Appalachian Spring, duly reports the natural life unfolding from winter. In the second, Appalachian Fall, her daily journal also picks up a sinister subplot as an unethical lumberer threatens the mountain and local wildlife. In this new volume, the Bontas have taken back the land ravaged from timbering and the natural observations haromonize with more personal notes about family events. An appreciation of the fragility of life shadows the family's happiness though when the search for a missing child and her abductor moves onto their land. Bonta never forgets, however, that her mission in sharing her journal is to bring the reader up close to the wonders of nature and this she does in clear prose that tinkles with the exotic names of the plant and animal life that share our planet but are infrequently observed or respected. I regret there is only one season left for her to profile. When I read Bonta's books, I not only learn more about nature, I learn more about humankind.

Menocal's now classic (and still controversial) book is well worth the trouble of finding a copy (I waited 6 weeks for mine). She uncovers a hidden thread of influence on Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch (and thus our Western Heritage) that most scholars would have preferred lay forgotten.

Yes, Virginia, there really wasn't a "Renaissance." Instead, European authors tapped into the great watershed of Islamic culture and borrowed the best of it, recasting it for a Christian audience.

Michael Kucher
University of Washington, Tacoma

Once I was an undergrad in archaeology at University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and of course, this book was at the top of the must-read book list handed by Dr Kevin Greene himself. As a lecturer, he was always extremely approacheable and helpful, and so was his book! If you are an undergraduate student in archaeology at university, or simply interested in the subject, this book is a must read; it will get you started with the subject, and get you going a loooong way!