Pennsylvania Books

Rigal's book is a radically fresh reading of American federalism as a broad cultural phenomenon. It's far out, but far out in the very best sense--a creative and powerful revision.

An American Musical Dynasty: A Biography Of The Wolle Family Of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania by music historian and educator Paul S. Larson (Professor Emeritus, Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is a unique and fascinating historical examination and history of the Wolle family whose influential and enduring musical tradition was founded in the American colonial era of the 1700's. The rise of their music intertwined with the Moravian Church tells the history of the Moravian culture, as well as that of a very fine style of exquisite concert music. An American Musical Dynasty is a deftly written, thoroughly researched, and highly recommended biographical saga tracing family, music, faith, and way of life throughout centuries of American history.

This new edition of American Tradition in Painting covers the distinctly American aspects of painting, focussing on American qualities which appear among abstract painters, discussing early landscapes and genre painting, and revealing attributes unique to American artists. An outstanding presentation.

Set in Amish country, this story introduces a young Amish boy who takes care of the horses on his family's farm. "Ever since I was old enough to help with the chores, I've cared for our horses. Datt says that I have a special way with them." Written in the first person, our young Amish friend introduces the readers to the types of horses used on the farm and what their jobs are. He takes us along to a horse auction and gives us an insight into how a horse is chosen to join those already on the farm Patrick's vivid pastel illustrations bring the story to life. The realistic illustrations capture the image created by the text, whether its in the field planting or at the horse auction. Each illustration is framed by a red border. An Amish Quilt pattern border set in the same red frame sets off the text. The author has included a glossary of horse terms. As with his other stories featuring the Amish, the author has had the story read by Amish friends and the art examined for accuracy. This will be a valuable addition to a library's collection or for anyone who loves horses.

I can't help wondering if the author squabbled with his publishing company over the title of this book. "Amish Life" is really an examination of the customs, lifestyles, and history of the Amish, Old Order Mennonites and Hutterites, whom the author collectively refers to as 'the Plain people.' It's not just about the Amish, even though they might be the most recognizable.

The religion of the Plain people originates in sixteenth century Europe coincident with the beginning of the Protestant reformation. Zurich, Switzerland was the original home of the Anabaptists who disagreed with the 'mainstream' Protestants of the time over infant baptism. The Anabaptists believed that baptism should only be conferred on adults who were willing to following the disciplines of the new Church. They also renounced oaths, reveling and drunkenness, the use of force in war or civil government, and personal adornment.

These practices did not make them popular with their fellow Protestants or the local rulers, and the book "Martyr's Mirror" records the persecutions of this period. Gradually, the Anabaptists split apart into the Mennonites, Amish (mainly because of disagreements over the practice of shunning), and Hutterites and migrated to America and Canada. The Hutterites seem most at home on the Great Plains, where they can practice their communal style of life on the vast acreage it takes to grow grain crops. The Amish and Mennonites, who do not practice communal living seem more at ease with dairy and truck farming.

This book defines the Plain lifestyles both in photographs and words, right down to barn-raisings and favorite quilting patterns. There is even a recipe for shoo-fly pie. One of my favorite photographs shows the laundry drying on an Amish clothesline in the middle of a snowstorm. I can see the same type of laundry every time I take the back roads into town (except on Sunday). The author is right, though: the Amish have discovered polyester knit fabrics in a big way. Turquoise polyester turtlenecks are a big item on the Amish clotheslines in this area. It's charming to think that under all that black there lurks a spot of turquoise.

The author carefully differentiates between various sects of Plain folk such as the Stauffer fellowship Mennonites and the Noah Hoover group. For an outsider like me, reading about these distinctions is like looking at a fractal image. Viewed microscopically or macroscopically, the similarities are more evident than the differences.

Even though the Plain people don't make an effort to convert outsiders to their way of life, their numbers are increasing. When I was a child, I don't think there were any Amish in my county. Now every parking lot in town has at least one hitching post for horse-drawn vehicles. The Amish seem to be much more efficient at farming the land up here than the 'English' (that's the rest of us), and all I have to say about that is, 'Hurray for horse-power!'

Illustrated with full-color photographs on every page, Amish Quilts Of Lancaster County is a gorgeous showcase of its title. Brief text introductions ground the reader in Amish quiltmaking history and techniques, but the majority of Amish Quilts Of Lancaster County is effectively a textile artbook, showcasing the quilts themselves in all their bold color and down-to-earth patterns. Most sample quilts are shown in an overall photograph, a detail photograph, and a photograph of the quilt's back. A truly beautiful sampling, and a joy for avid quiltmakers and quilt aficionados to simply page through.

This is the greatest book I have read. If you are interested in the wonderful daily life of the amish people, this is the book for you! I have visited amish country many times and love to see their daily life first hand. If you need furniture, buy AMISH!

This book takes an in-depth and serious approach to a subject all too often either ridiculed or condemned by other authors. Intensely useful for the student (or just the curious) who would like to look at a language phenomenon without the immaturity so many people treat it with.

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.