Maryland Books

Journal of Anthropological Research, 56 (2000)

Submitted by Mary C. Beaudry, Department of Archaeology, Boston University

Some will think Rebecca's story a sad one, only thinking about the hard life she had of all work & little play. That her childhood was cut short by tragedy. Don't be sad for this enduring, hardworking girl, for she has long since gotten over it, & has thrived & lived a very good life.

While REBECCA, A MARYLAND FARM GIRL may have only 67 pages, it is filled with struggles & victories of a child from another time that will immeasurably enrich your own life.

I especially loved the chapter describing each season on Sugarloaf. With such obvious love for and knowledge of the mountain, the author vividly describes the different aspects of each season in exquisite detail.

I highly recommend this book!

The photos and text are a trip through the past that improves with repeating.

This is a well written history of the Western Maryland Railway, covering the time from birth to being absorbed by the Chessie System. Background history during major decisions of the railroad is excellent, giving insight to the evolution of the company.

Illustrations and maps are plentiful, augmenting the text.

This is, in my opinion, the best book on the WM that I have read; it has earned a place in my personal collection. I constantly refer to it in my research, and often reread it for pleasure.

This is an excellent book for those interested in exploring different perspectives on the English colonization of Maryland, for "The Wished-for Country" is told by many different narrators, including a Piscataway, a Jew, an English settler, an African slave, and even a hawk and a lion. Also of interest is the the motley, multi-racial "Wesort" group at the center of the novel's plot.

For those who like seeing their characters come back in other novels, fans of "A Wished-for Country" will find decendents of the Hallam family in Karlin's novel "Prisoners".

"A Wished-for Country" is now my favorite novel. When I reached the last page I turned back to page one and began again.

To me the book's most shining 'moment' is the presence of Cabbalist Jacob Lombroso and his obstinate resistance to the territorializing force of Christianity. ("God save me from your love," he tells a meddling priest.) His unstinting pursuit of tolerance and freedom for himself and his new community constitutes more of a heroicism to this reader than the greedy zeal of America's traditionally recognized forefathers. [The book mentions historic record of many of the characters, Lombroso included, and I'm not sure exactly where Karlin departs from the record.)

America's praise for the religiously persecuted in Europe who 'found refuge' in the New World always overlooks the persecution that the 'persecuted' inflicted on others when they got here. That Karlin's novel reminds readers of the territorializing instinct of religion is one of its greatest strengths, suggesting a natural place for it within the emerging Post-Colonial 'tradition' in literature. At the same time, this is in many ways a utopian novel, since it focuses on the determination of these early Americans--in the face of unending opposition-- to live in harmony.

This book hits home and goes deeper into the background of the causes and conflicts arrising from the Maryland Campaign of 1862.

Take this book with you when you visit Antietam National Battlefield. You will come away with a better understanding of what took place before and after America's Bloodiest single day battle.

Highly recommended!