Massachusetts Books

Whether you are a casual reader or a serious garden historian, this book has something for you. It is the second of a trilogy of very fine books written on American gardening covering the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s.

While it is fascinating just to page through and you can start just about any place and enjoy yourself, it is truly indispensible if you are interested in historical gardens. This is THE bok for anyone trying to recreate a period garden to go with a house style and who wishes to know the proper design layout, plants, materials, colors and even what fruits vegetables were being grown.

It also contains nice, gossipy little tidbits of information about everyday life, when to plant, how to cultivate in the 18th century manner and lots of black and white illustrations from the period. Well footnoted, extensive glossary, lists of plants with latin names given to avoid confusion, just a top-notch piece of work.

All three books in this series are excellent. I found this one very helpful, as at the time it was reissued I was in charge of the [18th century] gardens at Fort Frederick State Park in Western Maryland.

Recently I pruchased this book from used book store. I can only say that in the first few chapters it has captured my attention. I was lucky enough to find the origional print of the book (1963) and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a good look at the power of the Irish in America. The underlying currents of the book alone are worth the read.

very enjoyable boo

It is awesome and I think anyone traveling should pick one up because there is nothing that compares except maybe GPS!

I'm a truck driver and this is the atlas that everyone I work with uses...simply the best. Great detail, easy to read, easy to understand.

I found the atlas to be very accurate, easy to read and most of all a great deal for the price. I used it extensively on my New England vacation and highly recommend it to anyone who plans to visit the New England states.

I've just recently moved up to the northeast and this map has been invaluable to getting around. the spiral bound spine makes it easy to use in the car.

Reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's Notebooks is a very different experience than reading those of Henry James, Steinbeck, Thomas Mann (Diaries), Robert Musil or even those published by Reynolds Price. The self mannered awareness that the future will prize their "private" thoughts and ideas is absent. These were truly private workbooks. Hawthorne writes in full voice as someone for whom communication is vital and difficult. Open this work anywhere and read what sounds like the inner voice of someone practiced at concealing his thoughts publicly. Expansive, suggestive, and illuminating for all those who would like to know more of the deep thought and artfullness that went into his major works. Some of his working ideas for stories sound absolutely modern. One story idea develops the possibility of having two men talking and discussing their difficulties while waiting and waiting for someone who never comes. They don't know what to do, so they continue to wait and discussing the one who never comes. Sound familar? A little like "Waiting for Godot"? If you love great literature and if you love Hawthorne, then dig deep and buy this expensive but magnificent book.

If you are interested in the history of Jewish education in America, this book is a fascinating read. For those who want to hear about Rav Soloveitchik's early days and some of his philosophy, the book tells about how he came to Boston and how he came about founding Maimonides School. The chapter on Coeducation & Women Studying Talmud focuses on the history of women's Jewish education and speculates about why the Rav agreed to coeducation at Maimonides. I cannot say whether all the author's facts are accurate, but I can say that Latin was taught at Maimonides School well into the 1970s (and not just in the 50s and 60s), as that is when I studied Latin there.

This book raises some interesting questions about the roles of religion (specifically Puritanism), mourning and grief in early American literature, specifically Rowlandson's Captivity Narrative. I recommend this book to anyone who does serious research into early American literature, history, and cultural context. This is *not* an easy or light read.