Virginia Books

Good flow, really holds your interest. No extraneous information to read, right to the guts of the story. Very enjoyable....

Grand View presents a literary buffet in Wayman Redden's tale. Readers with eclectic tastes will enjoy the intermingling of mystery, romance, history, and intrigue. Perhaps as importantly, those who may not care for all of these genres will not feel bogged down in brushes with any of them. Who knows, Hancock may even convert them to the wonders of beyond their normal scope of reading.

This is my favorite book of the author's because he takes you across the landscape of the great Lee and Grant campaign of 1864 right up to the Petersburg siege. Here you see the less famous pictures of the long and ferocious campaign that decided the war. The author/photographer shows you pictures of river crossings, earth works, battlefields, albatis, historically significant homes and he often finds the exact locations in present time where he gives you a present day photo on the scene where the initial picture was originally shot. These reflective pictures give the historian the knowledge and ability to stand where that point of history was made. Excellent for those that follows the Civil War trails and who like to stand in those historic places. Also includes many pictures of Officers and staff that are famous and in some cases obscure. The healthy size book has a sprightly narrative that ties the pictures and events together to give the reader a quick reference to all the pictures as the campaign unfolds. Frassanito's work on Gettysburg is famous because he finds the exact location of historical pictures taken just days after the battle and corrects their location on the field through photographic research. This book steps into a less famous campaign compared to Gettysburg but it is a jewel as it covers the many months of campaigning creating a great visual appreciation of it making it a great guide to the decisive Lee and Grant campaign.

There are several photographs that are frequently used in documentaries describing the last year of the American Civil War in the Eastern Theater. One is a full length of Lee standing in his best uniform hat in his right hand staring at the camera. If you know the story behind the photograph, you can see the fatigue in his eyes but also his fiery eyes that his contemporaries often mentioned. The one of Grant shows him leaning against a tree with his right hand, a tent behind him and his left hand on his hip. This photo is often used in documentaries when Grant's doggedness (bordering on stubbornness) is mentioned.

This book describes these and many other photographs of this period of the war, some frequently used, many others less so. The history of each photograph is described in careful detail. For example, you can read here that the Lee photograph was taken on his back porch, within a week of his having surrendered his army to Grant, probably on April 16. Frassanito also indicates that this photograph is part of a series taken in one session including photographs with Lee's staff officer (and biographer) Walter Taylor and Lee's eldest son Custis Lee. The photograph of Grant was taken near Cold Harbor and is part of a series of photographs taken of several generals and their staffs.

Other frequently used photographs are of a wagon train leaving Petersburg (often erroneously associated with Lee's withdrawal from that city, the dead southern soldiers in Petersburg's trenches and Grant's headquarters at City Point, Virginia. Particularly interesting is the description of a series taken at Massaponax Baptist Church near the intersection of present-day route 1 and the road to the Spotsylvania battlefield. The pews had been taken out of the church to the yard and three photographs were taken of Grant, Meade and their staff officers while supply wagons rolled by in the background. Frassanito explains that Grant and Meade discuss a message brought by a cavalry officer in one photo, Grant writes a dispatch in the second and all relax in the third. Frassanito even identifies the message that Grant probably wrote while the photograph was taken.

As in his other books, Frassanito explains how many of the photographs were misidentified over the years. Further, Frassanito always indicates when he's making an educated guess and why he made that guess. However, these errors are not as dramatic as the instances covered in his "Gettysburg: A Journey in Time". But they do give you further insight to this period of the war.

Frassanito was an intelligence analyst during the Vietnam War and won the Bronze Star. I feel that only from a lot of practice analyzing photographs during the war could he have developed the skill needed to make the many insightful observations in his books.

I would recommend all of Frassanito's books to Civil War buffs, but this one in particular to those interested in the last year of the war, the period where Grant and Lee faced off against each other in Virginia.

Since I spent my early years in that geographic region of the country, I can understand the local lore and people descriptions. The author is right on target with both. I liked the development of the characters and local activities. The plot was well laid out and there was enough mystery and suspense to keep me turning the pages. I am ready for the sequel!

Grave Creek Connections is completely captivating and I'm only on page 102. Mr. Morris' intimate knowledge of the area and it's people put me right in the hills among his characters.

As Continental forces and Virginia militia units were engaged in winning independence, American quartermasters and provisioners struggled to provide these units with all the necessities of life, from meals and guns to meat, fodder for horses, the horses themselves, firewood, and every other type of material. Much of this was requisitioned from the civilian population and certificates were issued payable in either continental or state funds, depending on the units supplied, upon presentation to court authorities. Thousands of these certificates issued to Virginians were duly entered by the courts, and they provide a fascinating insight into the period of the Revolution. These "Publick" Claims booklets contain interesting and useful information about the contributions of ordinary people to the Revolutionary War. They provide some details of people's service in the militia or as guards for prisoners of war; they indicate where some bodies of troops were at particular times; and they identify providers of horses, wagons, cattle, grain, or other supplies. Much of the information in these booklets cannot be found anywhere else, which makes the surviving records particularly valuable. Also remarkable is the fact that records survived from virtually every county in the state at that time with the exception of the newly formed Kentucky counties. This makes the collection even more valuable in covering areas which heretofore in this time period have suffered from a lack of personal data. The "Virginia Publick Claims" are published by counties. In addition to a faithful transcription by Janice Luck Abercrombie and the late Richard Slatten, a complete index is provided for each county booklet. This series is an extremely important genealogical tool for searchers in Revolutionary-era materials.

Not only because they were good friends but because they shared an astonishing good life in the Còte d'azur in the best of moments for Picasso's creative activity. And he contacted all of his best friends. For he was a surrealistic painter as well and he knew about all the art intrigues at the time. You can get every detail on Picasso's life and his way of living, all of his tips, even the cars he had, his life with his relatives who came to visit him. A very personal and human aspect of a great genius is what this book gives you...

This is the most vivid, interesting account of a family caught up in the throes of the Civil War that I have ever read. It provides an exciting look at what it was truly like for a family to face crisis, challenge, and tragedy. None better!

This is the most vivid, interesting account of a family caught up in the throes of the Civil War that I have ever read. It provides an exciting look at what it was truly like for a family to face crisis, challenge, and tragedy. None better!

A very enlightening description of the grief process when experiencing a mental illness for the first/second/third time. A great support and acknowlegement of the grief that family members/caregivers experience too.

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, Grieving Mental Illness: A Guide For Patients And Their Caregivers by mental health practitioner Virginia Lafond is an informed and informative guide to coping with the onset of mental illness in a friend, loved one, or family member. From dealing with the overpowering emotions of grief, anger, and fear; to answering frequently asked questions; Grieving Mental Illness is a "reader friendly" and strongly recommended introduction for non-specialist general readers faced with the unique challenges that mental illness brings to themselves and to their charges.

For the new or not-so-new believer that needs practical instruction in how to grow in the Lord this book is an invaluable resource.

Jerry Bridges is one of the most articulate and audience engaging Bible teachers of our era. In Growing Your Faith: How To Mature In Christ, Jerry showcases the essential elements of a Christian life in his usual and wonderfully accessible style. Readers will learn how to deepen and enhance their relationship with Jesus, acknowledge the role of the Holy Spirit in a Christian pursuit of holiness and spirituality, -- and just exactly what it means in this present day to follow Christ in a secular and all to often hostile world. Highly recommended reading!

It doesn't take the Coast Guard to know the Coast Guard, but sometimes the inside knowledge and access helps the cause. Authors Stacy and Virginia Thomas met in the Coast Guard while both serving at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and got married at one of the lighthouse of which they write in Guarding Door County. Their writing style in the book is professional and precise, their words carefully chosend to show respect for their service and the men and women who served before them.
The authors have broken the book down geographically, assigning themselves southern, northern and island blocks of lighthouses. Life-saving stations, as there are only three in the county (Sturgeon Bay Canal, Bailey's Harbor and Plum Island) are covered in one extensive chapter. And as there are only twelve historic lighthouses on the peninsula as well, they also receive lengthy coverage in the book, with multiple images of each lighthouse through time.
An added bonus to this book is the authors' treatment of their final full chapter, a primer on "Current Events: Preservation and Tourism" of Coast Guard heritage on the peninsula. Guarding Door County, therefore, goes beyond the history to the story of the present day, allowing those folks who go to (or in many cases, return to) the peninsula the opportunity to carry this book with them as a travel aid.
(published in Wreck & Rescue Journal, May 2006, V 9, No 1)

Guarding Door County is another wonderful addition to Arcadia's titles. The book gives a very good overview of the U.S. Coast Guard which explains how lighthouses and life-saving stations became part of the organization. Each picture has detailed captions that bring the stories to life. I liked how the authors included a final chapter on preservation and tourism to update the reader on what was currently happening to the structures. Finally, the appendix really helped me understand how Fresnel lenses worked. Overall, I loved looking at the historical photos and learning more about the lighthouses and life-saving stations in Door County.

Allen Balik makes his passion for wine very clear in this wonderful book...a must for both beginners and those in the know...very approachable

This is an interestingly and refreshingly written guide to the whole world of wine for people who may not want to become total wine experts, but who do truly enjoy wine. This book can only enhance their enjoyment. The authors, Allen Balik in particular, obviously are wine experts, so confident of the depth and breadth of their knowledge that they aren't afraid to write with an engaging, accesible style, and without condescending to their readers or patronizing them. They cover a wide variety of subjects -- wine growing, wine selection, wine tasting, ordering wine in a restaurant, buying wine for your dinner table, and many, many more, all with a light, witty touch. The profuse graphics, both art work and photographs, are beautiful. But more than that, they combine synergistically with the written words to make the learning experience easy and aesthtically pleasing. This book is a real keeper!

Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg are about six months apart but very close in distance and in personal. These are the last two great victories the Army of Northern Virginia would enjoy. The Union army would finally get a commander structure that would stand and fight as intelligently as possible. Never again, would Lee find victory through failures of the other army commander. There are many firsts in these battles and no easy answers. This excellent book covers both battles in detail and gives us the Battle at Salem Church too. I had this book with me when touring this area and recommend it to you. I would never have found many sites without it.
The series format is directions to a point on the field, orientation, a general lesson on what happened in your view, followed by first person accounts of the action. These guides are designed using the general staff training concept of a Staff Ride. This is when a class is taken to a historic location, discuss what happened and see how the terrain influences the event. Staff Rides are designed to be intensive "on the ground" training coupled with physical observation in the hopes students will gain experience for later use.
I am not saying this to frighten you away from this guide but to tell you this is not a walk about and look at the monuments type of guide. This guide will have several pages devoted to the action at this point. It may contain a critique of the local commander's actions with possible alternates.
My experience is that reading the book prior to my visit works best. This allows me more time observing the field and less time reading the book. Of the tour options, a professional guide is usually the best but most expensive choice. The park driving tour is the best choice for a quick trip through the field to get the kids passport stamp. This book is the best choice for a serious student of the battle looking for a detailed explanation.

These series of books are the best available resource for conducting ACW battlefield tours - assuming that your purpose in touring battlefields is to study and understand the applicable tactics, strategy and terrain and to develop an appreciation for the objectives and efforts of the participants. If you go to ACW battlefields to gawk and gossip as an everyday tourist then you do not need to study these guides. If you have an active interest in ACW history, military history in general or fascinating chapters in human history, then these guides are remarkable values, "Best Buys". Thorough but not intimidating, insightful and objective, with no deficiencies noted.