Kansas Books

If, during a quiet moment, sometimes the memory of that love from long ago enters your thoughts and suddenly you begin once again to reflect on where you are and where you would like to be....if only...then you will enjoy and connect with this book.

During the late 1980's and early 90's, everyone and their dog was writing Kansas books. Once a few regional authors, like Fitzgerald and Buchanan, opened the door with their travel guides, the floodgates did not close for several years. In the midst of all this, there was some good and a lot of bad. This book, I'm glad to report, is among the best. First of all, just to warn the readers, the photographs are all black and white. How unique. Color photography books on Kansas were already done ad nauseum. So why not black and white??? The images are well reproduced, text is to a minimum, and each of the photos must stand on their own right, which they do. Pray has accomplished the task of weeding through what was obviously a lot of photographs to pick the ones that tell the best story. She accomplishes this successfully. Of particular note, the introduction is by regional author Daniel Fitzgerald. It is worth the purchase for that, as Fitzgerald did not write introductions or forewords very often. This is some of his rare writings during his most prolific time period. This book is very hard to find, so good luck. Pick it up when you can. Maybe this volume should be reproduced again!!

Having just finished My Antonia, and wanting to read more about the Prairie I picked this up. It's just as moving. Thank you, Harold Gray.

This is the history of the Butterfield's Overland Despatch (B.O.D) which transported freight and passengers over the Smoky Hill route from Atchison to Denver. It includes maps and photos.

This book really does a fine job with maps and details that can get you onto some the rare publicly accessible rivers in Kansas. Author, Dave Murphy has really put together a fine guide book in a state that has, up to now, not been well known for its rivers.

This is the only one book that can give a complete tour in the mainstream culture of the imagination and its relationship with the power. Even if you hadn't read the theories of Benda, you can enjoy the reading of this one, because is a resume of the position between the power and the intelectuals.

Author Judi Braddy, in her straightforward, personal, and sometimes humorous style, has written a book to help us all find clear direction--and to maintain it when everything around us seems to be conspiring to convince us to veer off in various directions. A must-read for those struggling to find and/or stay the course--and a great reminder for those who feel confident they are already on the right path.

Award-winning historian David Dary presents True Tales of the Prairies & Plains, an anthology of true stories of the Old West gathered from newspaper accounts and little-known published sources. From the legend behind the origin of the word "rawhide", to legends of buried treasure, to the unmitigated roughness of an era when women were scarce and buffalo roamed the plains. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this exciting tell-it-like-it-is collection, enthusiastically recommended for Western buffs.

It's 1877, and young Martha Friesen finds herself on the wide-open plains of Kansas. Her Mennonite family left the Chortitza colony in southern Russia looking for the freedom to worship as they wish, and to follow their pacifist principles. But, the new life in America has introduced some strange new thoughts and temptations. Martha's brother, Jake, dislikes the new farm, and is talking about leaving for the city. And, meeting Indians and non-Mennonite whites, she begins to question some of the assumptions that always seemed so natural.

This is a very nice book. I enjoyed the way the author brought Martha and her family to life, had them react in very realistic ways. Also, I really enjoyed the strong Christian theme that underlies the story. So, if you are interested in the Russian Mennonites, or in the life of frontier-folk, then I highly recommend this book.

I was sorry to reach the end of the book, and wish it were much longer. I think that you will feel the same!

This book was inturiging, and totally worth 5 stars. It made me remember playing on the court with my friends.It made me remember the big ball, dribbiling on the ground, and to think that James Naismith invented it all!