Professor Gary Gerstle's book doesn't remotely resemble the pop history books that sell so well today. The happy history that provides all that one needs to know about the great events of American history is missing here. In place of the pap, the professor has substituted facts, data, and the truth.

In Working-Class Americanism, we find the Great depresion, at least at the micro level, as well as its antecedents and aftermath, to be quite different than we were quite sure we knew. Dr. Gerstle fights through the popular notions of how the times impacted working men and women to determine how the great events of the first half of the last century really touched ethnic workers in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Those of us who know Woonsocket - at least a little - wonder why students of American history don't know a great deal more about the place that is still the most French City in the United States. Here resides a large population of the descendants of an important yet largely overlooked ethnic minority that contributed greatly to the advancement of the industrial revolution in America. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Franco-Americans spread over the northern regions of the U.S. and especially to New England and to nowhere more than Woonsocket. These hard working and modest people wanted nothing more than a place to preserve their cultural identity and to find work to support themselves, their offspring and their institutions, especially the Church.

The horrendous difficulties these French Canadians faced as they moved from being an admired but suspect seperatist oriented minority to become part of the American labor movement that reached beyond the safety and security of their in group has been tackled in a very straight forward manner by Dr. Gerstle. He has stripped away the myths of the monolithic impact of the powerful economic forces of the first half of the twentieth century and demonstrates clearly that we cannot rely on the widely perpetuauted myths of the economic history of the times.

That the impacts of the Great Depression varied significantly by industry, even within a single city should open the eyes of readers. That even in related industries such as the woolen and cotton textiles the impact on labor was widely different in places like Woonsocket. That the times and the overpowering nature of American culture threatened the insularity of even the most committed ethnic groups is laid out in stark detail. That the French Canadians looked outside their society to seek common cause with workers from other backgrounds - even some, such as the Irish, that had worked to keep them in check - is a wonderful tale that Dr. Gerstle has treated beautifully and with great sensitivity.

The book is an academic treatise that has the clear writing style of a work of popular fiction. To gain an appreciation of the complexity of the times and an original view of the American labor movement, buy this book. You'll be enriched and you'll enjoy the read.

Logically arranged geographically with ample outstanding photographs of this spectacular state, adequate historical summary and clear highway guides.

This is a richly layered book, full of interesting and thoughtful insights into the Zunis and the anthropologists who have studied them. McFeely combines a sympathetic approach to Zuni culture with intelligent analysis of the Euro-American anthropological tradition. Her language is sometimes difficult, a reflection no doubt of the fact that this book had its origins in a Ph. D. dissertation at New York University (some unfortunate passages are so complex and convoluted that they come close to defying comprehension). But this is more a stylistic problem that one of substance. I was particularly taken with McFeely's descriptions of the Eastern anthropological museums of the early twentieth century in which Zuni artifacts were displayed in row on row of glass cases, and with her observation that a dialogue took place between the frozen objects in the cases and the peering faces reflected in the glass (of course, the peering faces were learning about themselves even as they studied Zuni). It is a good metaphor for the book. Readers who are interested in the complex interplay between Native American cultures and the dominant European culture of the United States, will, I think, find this book rewarding--but only if they are willing to read slowly and carefully.

This book will sweep America with the TRUTH. It is a short, simple read that makes you THINK about what our Founding Fathers REALLY meant! That's why Americans need to read it; people are talking too much and not READING and THINKING!! This is a must read for EVERY American because they will not teach this in schools. Mr. Connelly does a beautiful job backing up all of the facts with little read references. TWO BIG THUMBS UP!!!

This is an excellent information resource that compiles a lot of relevant facts about the history of America. There are many insightful quotes by our country's founding fathers and several interesting statements that are not widely known. The author has done the research for you and gathered information from many sources into a concise easy-to-read book. I was impressed because it was presented in a way that gave me relevant factual teaching in a passionate empowering format that compelled me to get involved and make a difference. It is an honest look at our country without being depressing or hopeless. The author actually has answers and encourages the readers to follow through to help America by at least voting and even writing letters and helping support the candidates of your choice. Together we can make a difference!

While this book is definitely easy to read, It packs a real punch! This book should be required reading for anyone that steps into a voting booth. If this you were not allowed to step into a voting booth until you have read it, our country would be a very different country as of the result of what people could learn from this book!

Chad Connelly has distilled into 75 pages, a clear, concise, and powerful education on not only how the political system of country was founded and how it works, but more importantly he has shown every voting American how and why he or she must be involved in our governmental process!

This book, "Freedom Tide" should be a part of every history course in America! Chad Connelly has put the true history of how our country was founded back into print. It is apparent from the 60 references in the Bibliography, that the author has done his homework. This is not just a book that expresses the author's opinion, but rather it is a book that exposes the truth about what our founding fathers believed and the principles upon which our country was built with the blood, sweat, and tears. I believe so much in the message of this book that I am giving it to every history teacher that I personally know!

One would think that that was more than could be expected from a book of 75 pages, but Chad Connelly does not stop with just the history of how our country was founded, but he also details how our choices at the voting booth affects how our businesses function and how if we do not become responsible as individual Americans, how our business will ultimately be driven into non-existence if we do not elect leaders that truly understand what business is all about and how it works! Every person that is involved in a working career should read this book. It does not matter if that person is a laborer or president of the company. It affects every working person in America!

Larry A. Coates

This classic guide was the first of its type, and thus probably got more people into birding than any other book. Peterson uses ink drawings to show the important "field marks" for identifying species. The downside to these drawings is that they tend to idealize the birds, showing them in perfect postures and making the field marks more prominent than they really are. Many competitors, such as the Audubon Guide and the Stokes Guide, use photographs instead. Photographs give a more accurate portrayal of the subtleties of color and pattern in plumage, but there are always those poor shots in a photographic guide that are blurry or show the bird at a bad angle. Whether you decide that a guide based on drawings or photographs is best for you, I would strongly suggest that you pick up an audio recording of birdsongs, such as "Birding by Ear," or the "Field Guide to Eastern/Central Bird Songs," both put out by Peterson's. As any experienced birder will tell you, the ear is just as important as the eye, especially in summer, when birds are often hidden by foliage.

I looked at nine or ten bird books over the weekend before finally deciding on this one. I like it's compact size, durable cover and it's very complete index. The most important reason for my decision, however, is the fact that it shows pictures of both male and female birds where the female bird's plummage and head differ from that of the male. None of the other books I checked showed female birds or only showed them in very rare instances. I also like this book because it shows most birds in both standing or swimming positions and also in flight. There are also occasional drawings of chicks.

The text that accompanies the pictures is necessarily brief but covers: Latin and common names, description, food, range, migratory pattern, habitat, voice and similar species. Also included is a "Systematic Checklist" so you can keep a "life list" of all the birds you've seen. There is a guide to identifying birds by visual categories (swimmers, birds of prey, waders, perching birds, etc), size, tail and wing patterns. The last part of the book contains maps illustrating each bird's range which makes it easy to compare the habitat of, for example, an Olive-Sided Flycatcher with an Acadian Flycatcher.

Obviously this is a guidebook and not the type of book you sit down and read through, but I have found myself reading the entries for the often amusing "voice" sections. Here's the one for the Chestnut-Sided Warbler: "Song, similar to Yellow Warbler's; 'see see see see Miss Beech'er' or 'pleased pleased pleased to meet'cha;' penultimate note accented, last note dropping." Hey, someone who knows what "penultimate" really means!

The Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds is the best such guide you will find. The nice thing about birds and birding is that there are few enough species out there that you can get virtually all of them in one regional guide.

This book is outstanding. It relies on illustrations rather than photographs to show markings and other details used to ID birds in the field. I find that photos are often sub-standard, not showing characters essential for identifying birds due to the position of the bird, markings of the individual chosen for inclusion in the book, etc.

In this book each entry includes a bird's common and scientific names, a brief physical description of the body and coloration, a drawing(s) of the bird, a brief description of habitats where they are likely to be seen, a blip about their geographic distribution, notes on their song, and reference to similar species (if any). The entry also refers the reader to a map number that shows the summer and winter ranges for each bird.

This is "the bird book" to have for birds that live east of the Rockies for the novice and experienced birder alike. If you've never had much luck figuring out which birds you are looking at try this book.

5 stars all the way!

Note: if you travel much throughout the USA, you ought to pick up the Peterson Guide to Western Birds as well -- it is the sister book to this one. With both of those books in hand you will be in good birding shape.

Alan Holyoak, Dept of Biology, Manchester College, IN

Author Gary Kinder is a good writer. In "Ship of Gold" he weaves two different stories into an exciting adventure book.

The Central America was a two-wheeled steam ship carrying Californians and a large shipment of gold from Panama to New York in 1857. Beset by a hurricane off the coast of Georgia, she sank with a loss of 400 of her five hundred passengers. About a third of the book recounts the voyage of the ship, its growing impairment in the storm, eventual sinking and the rescue of survivors. Using many first person accounts, this sea story is as exciting as any of the recent spate of "true adventure" books that have hit the shelves in the last decade.

Most of the book is given over the story of Tommy Thompson, dreamer, visionary and treasure hunter. We learn the life story of a young man who possesses an engineers ability to tinker, Franklin's persistence, inventiveness and curiosity, Rockefeller's business acumen and enough personal idiosyncrasies to drive many who have worked with him to distraction. Thompson dreams of working in deep oceans, recovering, maneuvering and exploring at depths not worked by anyone else. The work he wants to do is sunken ship recovery.

The Central America is his target. Lying off of the Continental shelf, she is miles down. That depth has ensured, however, that she is unplundered, which can not be said about most wrecks laying in shallow waters that are the usual targets of treasure hunters. The problem is that the whereabouts of the Central America are unknown, and the means to find her and - if found - recover her treasure do not yet exist.

Most of the story focuses on Thompson's creating everything needed to pursue his vision. He and his team research the Central America until they know it inside and out. They conceive of and invent the technological means of carrying out the search and recovering objects from the deep. They enlist sonar technology that can sweep likely swaths of the ocean in which their ship might lay. They hire experts to take the information they have and project possible locations of the ship. They identify, pursue and convince the wealthy of Columbus, Ohio to back their venture. The Tommy Thompson story is the story of an entrepreneur living the American "pluck and luck" ideal and conquering new frontiers.

Actual ocean operations involve many challenges - pursuit by other treasure hunters, rough seas, technological breakdowns, false targets and frustration by financial partners looking for quick results. The story of Thompson at sea in search of the Central America is quick paced and surprisingly suspenseful given the fact that it really is the story of some guys on a modern ship with expensive technology conducting search and salvage operations.

But that is the worth of the book. Kinder renders the Tommy Thompson story very well and manages to create believable suspense without being overwrought. He does an outstanding job of weaving a white-knuckle sea disaster with a modern tale of entrepreneurism into a pretty good book. My only complaint is that at times he becomes almost worshipful of Thompson and does spend a lot of time detailing his habits, history and person -- more than you usually want to know in this type of book. But it's a credit to the author's writing skill that this hagiographic element does not distract too much from a suspenseful and interesting tale.

I don't know which is more fascinating, the story of the steamship Central America sinking amid a violent storm; or the story of the engineer extraordinaire who resolved to recover it's California gold rush cargo that had remained undisturbed for almost 125 years under two miles of ocean. Fortunately, Gary Kinder chose to tell both tales and they are equally engrossing

Almost by definition, disasters at sea make for interesting reading, and the foundering of the Central America ranks among the worst maritime losses in American history. She went down in water over 10,000 feet deep, lost for over a century. Kinder relates her final voyage, illuminating the heroism of her captain, crew and passengers in a style that nearly makes the reader weep as her decks vanish into the sea. That alone would make this book worthy of note in any list of ship histories, but Tommy Thompson determined to find the wreck and to recover a treasure that many experts considered to be unrecoverable.

It takes a talented writer to make an engineer seem interesting, or maybe the engineer just has to combine an almost Edison-like gift for innovation with a bit of treasure hunter to be interesting. First you have to find the ship, then you have to figure out how to bring it's cargo back to the surface - no mean feat at those depths. But Thompson wasn't content with simply finding and recovering the gold bullion and coins that went down with the Central America, he wanted to bring the artifacts up as cleanly and completely as possible. Where others might have been content to just sink a robot-controlled bucket down to the wreck and scoop up what ever could be found, Thompson and his crew invented new technologies that brought coins up with so little damage that appraisers at first questioned whether they were from a shipwreck. Thompson and company face one challenge after another, engineering problems, technologic problems, financial problems and even the drama provided by rival treasure hunters. You might be surprised how difficult it can be to put this book down.

Gary Kinder chronicles the story of a young maverick, out-of-the-box thinking engineer in his efforts to use the recovery of a mid-nineteenth century shipwreck as a proving ground for his deep-ocean research ideas. Tommy Thompson is a tireless dreamer who never let an obstacle or the "conventional wisdom" stop him from focusing on his goal. Combined with this modern-day epic is the historical and human account of the original ship on its final voyage: who the passengers and crew were, why they were there, where they were from, where they were going, what the ship carried that made it such a significant event, and what happened in those final days and hours as the ship sank. Kinder has equaled Thompson's efforts with his diligence and attention to detail in writing this tale. He has taken the tedium of scientific research, investment capital and engineering physics and turned them into an edge-of-your-seat adventure! With every page I could not help but be in awe of the depth of research the author has put into this document. This book was given to me by my brother, who has a masters degree in English literature and who is a voracious reader. He described this as "the best book I have ever read." I have to agree. After 507 pages, I still didn't want it to end.

Perhaps because of the avalanche of praise bestowed on this book, I was rather disappointed when I read it. A credit to Ambrose that his book is rarely dull, but his is far from a comprehensive study. Perhaps it would have been more accurately sold as a biography of Meriwether Lewis, whom Ambrose is almost embaresingly enamoured with.

For a first read on Lewis & Clark this is not a bad place to start, but critical information on some very important people is lacking. We never learn about the ultimate fate of York, Clark's slave, who was critical to the survival of the expedition but was brutalized by his master on returning East. Sacagawea is also abandoned after the journey. Even Clark is given scant attention considering his role.

in other areas, critical scholarship is lacking. It is also the opion that Lewis commited suicide and was not murdered but Ambrose gives short shift to those who claim otherwise. Why did a point-blank shot to the head and subsequent wounds fail to kill Lewis for several hours? Ignored is the well known evidence that Grinder family spent some of Lewis' money over the years after his death. Now, it is most likely given his mental state and previous attempt that Lewis did kill himself but Ambrose rumbles past any forensic or psychological investigation in 3 pages, instead wondering if Lewis made a mental role call of his companions or dreamt of the Dakota prarie.

The mental state of Lewis is described merely as "meleancholy" several times and later theories of his substance abuse patterns or homosexuality are not addressed. In other areas, Ambrose is far too eager to give credit to Lewis & Clark for being "the first" to do everything but start a fire. Numerous trappers and explorers dating back to LaSalle had been in many of the areas or even used the same routes. On page 311 Ambrose even credits a brief debate on where to proceed as "The first vote ever held in the Pacific Northwest...the first time in American History a black man had voted, the first time a woman had voted". Needless to say York and Sacagawea were not made formal partners or granted any rights to speak of, and many Native American societies could take issue with that being the "first vote' or even first vote by a woman'

I apologize if this if overly harsh. This is a solid, readable account but not the all-encompassing masterpiece most reviews here regard it as.

This book is inimitable Stephen Ambrose. Like all of his books, he turned this book of history into his story --- a nonfiction adventure story. Stephen E. Ambrose actually evolved into what can be called a nonfiction novelist. Starting with historical facts, he blended-in a judicious amount of hyperbole, added a pinch of sensationalism, and came up with a new metamorphosis called creative history that was very successful at holding a reader's attention. There are now other authors (including yours truly) who do the same, but, Ambrose was the first and the best. "Undaunted Courage" is yet another book in a long line of his books that shows he knew how to inform by perfecting the knack of making history interesting. He shall be missed.

I found this an excellent book that transported me back in time to the days of the Louisiana Purchase. For me, such an experience is the definition of a good history book.

The subject, as anyone who reads the introduction will see, is one that is dear to Ambrose. His intimate knowledge of the subject comes through in what is a thoroughly gripping narrative.

Ambrose clearly admires Meriwether Lewis, but his writing is fair and impartial as he delves into the trials and triumphs of the expedition as a whole, and Lewis personally. The story begins at the beginning, well before the voyage of discovery begins, by establishing the relationship between Lewis and Thomas Jefferson that will ultimately result in Lewis being given command of the expedition.

Clark's role is not ignored, and Ambrose repeatedly points out that Lewis viewed Clark as a co-leader, although the government at the time recognized him only as Lewis's lieutenant. But, as the title suggests, the book focuses on Lewis, the great project's leader, and his sponsor Jefferson.

Lewis's tragic decline and eventual suicide ends the book and serves as a sad counterpoint for his great and yes, courageous, leadership during the expedition.

Altogether the book offers a fascinating read for anyone interested in the story of Lewis and Clark, or students of Thomas Jefferson looking for additional perspective into the events that shaped his presidency.

I just want to tell you how much I APPRECIATED reading the best-selling "New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica" which I purchased from Amazon.com. It was just what I had been looking for. I have been very familiar with Costa Rica for many years since I was a young man living there as a missionary. I married a Costa Rican woman 29 years ago and am very happy. We are planning to retire to Costa Rica in the next few years. Anyway I just wanted to let others know that this guide is WORTH every cent I paid for it and was very HELPFUL.

I was born in Costa Rica but left the country about 32 years ago for the U.S.when I was a child. Needless to say I became out of touch with life in my own country. I just returned to stay for good. Before returning, however, I read most recent edition of"The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica." After reading this incredible book it was as if I never had left my country. I was more than prepared for what I found here by the loads of information in the book. I have knowledge my relatives here in Costa Rica don't possess about the country. A great book even for the natives!

A few years ago I moved from to Costa Rica from Venezuela. If I hadn't read "The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica" I would have been lost. The information in the book made my move a lot easier. It helped learn how things really work here and provided some excellent business advice. This useful book is really a "Golden Door" since it's worth its weight in GOLD.

Practically everyone who knows me has heard me rave on and on about this book. I read it for the first time about 4 years ago, after picking it up while browsing through the bookstore. I read the excerpt at the front recounting the Vietnamese general's final moments and I was hooked. I recently finished it again, and it was even better this time. Everything that happens to Hathcock seems like something out of a movie; something no mortal man could survive. I learned to respect the discipline and will-power of a well-trained Marine, and was left in awe of the effectiveness of the sniper. Charles Henderson does his part, too. He not only tells Hathcock's incredible story, but makes it an immersive, addictive one to read. Through his clear and descriptive writing, the reader is transported back in time to the dark "Charlie"-filled jungles of Vietnam, where he lies beside the sniper known as "Long Tra'ng" and experiences not only the satisfaction of a well-placed shot, but also the emotional struggles that a man must deal with when he takes the life of another one. Undoubtedly a timeless classic

While I myself didn't follow in my dad's footsteps as a Marine (he was Marine Air Group 61 in WWII--HURRAH!) but went in the Air Force instead (Security Forces--HOOAH!), the Corps still holds a special place in my heart, and reading this gripping story of Carlos Hathcock's exploits reminded me of why I will always love the Corps, even if I didn't wind up joining. Reading the book has made Gunny Hatchcock one of my all-time heroes, and it made me wish to hell the USAF had a sniper program! I lent this book to one of my SF buddies in exchange for Charles Sasser's "One Shot, One Kill" (another great read). America lost a true hero a couple of years back when Carlos passed away, and may God rest his soul. Kudos to Charles Henderson for at least keeping this outstanding troop's memory alive! Semper Fi!

Although I lack military experience, I must say that this novel is perhaps one of the greatest military biographies I have read. Perhaps the reason this novel is so enjoyable, is because you have absolutely no idea what story will be told next. Furthermore, if you are like me, you possbily never even heard the name Carlos Hathcock before.

This biography was very enjoyable, because it kept me on the edge of my seat. The personal stories of Hathcock, and eyewitness accounts are amazing. I can't fathom an individual who can shoot a gun accurately at 2,000 yards. But this novel gets you in close and personal with a person who lived by the motto, "one shot, one kill" at a distance of over 1,000 yards.

Henderson, the author, does a great job of describing Hathcock, and his missions by using expert witnesses and documents. Merely page through the bibliography to see the amount of research that Henderson did for this novel, and you will realize that this book must be pretty close to the absolute truth.

Overall, this book is fantastic, due to the missions that are explained in here. Henderson makes you feel right at home with this legend, and creates a lively image on each mission. As a result, this novel is easy to read, because it is a page-turner. Henderson also does an excellent job as to explain the mentality of Hathcock towards the Marines and towards the art of sniping. I never realized that a person who is a sniper must have a unique mentality in order to do this job. And Henderson shows that sniping is not for everyone.

The novel also immortalizes Hathcock as a hero and a leader.....as it should. Hathcock was at the top of his field, and literally designed the manual for this new class in the military. But his ideas have found there way into SWAT teams, and police forces through the world. Hathcock was a hero, who ultimately paid the price for his bravery in the Vietnam war. This novel is a must read for all individuals, not just the military type person!

This is an impressive book in scope and execution. It's told through the tortured memories of John Brown's third son, Owen, who survived the doomed attack on Harper's Ferry.

The book pays little attention to the Harper's Ferry adventure and to the Browns' adventures in Kansas, and concentrates instead of the social and familial context of Brown's actions. There is considerably more attention paid to Owen's relationship with his father and his obsessions about sex and human relationships than to the cowboy style adventures in Kansas.

While it is written in a stately and measured tone, it does not have the feel of something written in the late 18th century, and Banks' narrator seems comfortable using words and constructions which sound quite modern. Perhhaps because of this, the book never drags in spite of its enormous length.

The central question the book seems to me to ask his the eternal one about ends justifying means. The Browns' seemed to know that the actions that they took in Kansas were morally wrong--yet they believed, and Owen believes at the time of the writing, that had John Brown and his gang not perpetrated the Pottawatomie massacre that the entire course of American history would be different. They believed that the moderate free-soil politicians would have sold out, that Kansas would be admitted to the Union as a slave state, and that Lincoln would never have been elected and the NORTH would have seceded. Of course we'll never know, but we have to ask ourselves if their actions were justified given what they believed. Definitely shows you the terrorists point of view.

Very good book on a fascinating subject.

Seldom in American history have the actions of one man had so great an impact on human events as did those of John Brown, the famous Abolitionist. Russel Banks' epic novel, Cloudsplitter, recounts the life and times of the enigmatic man who changed the course of a nation. The author imagines John Brown's last-surviving son, an aged Owen Brown, who narrates the story and fills in many historical gaps that still surround the juggernaut unleashed by his fanatical father. The real Owen Brown remains a vague footnote in history. Although he occasionally surfaces like an apparition in some John Brown biographies, Russel Banks takes advantage of this particular gap in history to create his own expansive narrator, sometimes verbose and full of remorse, a living paradox racked with guilt and grandiosity. At his best, Owen tells his story with love and devotion and much largesse. Other times, when he is most guilt-ridden and self-absorbed, the narrative bogs down and becomes suffused with rancor and hate. John Brown the stoic patriarch is cast as a savage self-righteous prophet of biblical proportions, and Owen plays a convincing role as the would be son of Abraham.John Brown was the scourge of "Bleeding Kansas" (Osawatomie Brown) and the martyr of Harpers Ferry (Butcher Brown) but to Banks' Owen Brown, he was also a failed farmer and often made bankrupt by dreams of get-rich schemes. For Owen, in the end, he was a brutal father who destroyed his own family for the sake of the anti-slavery cause. Absolutely nothing stood between John Brown and his God.John Brown died that the slaves might be free...He sired twenty children, but only half lived to be adults, and three of those were killed in his Kansas and Virginia campaigns. With the blessing of Abraham Lincoln, under the command of Robert E. Lee, John Brown was hung in Charleston in 1859.Ironically, John Brown's execution brought together three of the most extraordinary characters in American history. Besides the old zealot himself, there was the marine colonel in charge of the affair, Robert E. Lee, who would later lead the Confederate armies against the Union, and a federal militiaman named John Wilkes Booth, who six years later as a famous actor would perform the last tragic act of the Civil War. Henry David Thoreau compared John Brown's martyrdom to that of Christ. "Some eighteen hundred years ago Christ was crucified; this morning, perchance, Captain Brown was hung. These are the two ends of a chain that is not without its links."And Ralph Waldo Emerson promised that Brown's martyrdom would "make the gallows glorious like the cross."And his soul goes marching on...As Owen tells it, John Brown was consumed by divine wrath. "The man had read every word of his Bible hundreds of times; nothing human beings did with or to one another or themselves shocked him. Only slavery shocked him." From the Ten Commandments, John Brown cobbled together a single imperative that southerners would come to loath: Thou shalt not enslave another human being. John Brown planned his assault on slavery from the high moral ground of the Adirondack Mountains, at the foot of a peak called "Cloudsplitter". His dream was to stretch the Underground Railroad from Alabama to the Canadian border and to eventually crush the Slavocracy through mass insurrection and economic ruin. The raid on Harpers Ferry, the climax of Banks' story (or anticlimax of Owen's) was meant to trigger that insurrection. But the raid failed terribly and resulted only in the capture of the great emancipator himself. What it did trigger, though, was the Civil War. Cloudsplitter is well researched and masterfully written. It is Russel Banks' best effort since Continental Drift (1993). This imaginative, ambitious novel humanizes the legend of John Brown much the way Bruce Olds did in his remarkable first novel, Raising Holy Hell (1995). But even in death, John Brown's juggernaut could not be stopped, and seldom in American history have the actions of one man had so great an impact on human events.Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Russell Banks is a wonder to the literary world! Here we have a man who has invested so much of his time to give a fictionalized account of the life of martyr John Brown and his mysterious son Owen. Banks spent years learning the history of this historic family, and before creating his fictionalized version, he spent a cold winter in the mountains near the location of the Brown Family for many years.

Banks loves to play around with the ideas of truth vs fact, insanity vs sanity, private life vs public scrutiny, and more than anything else, the relationship between father and son. His recreation of the mythical John Brown seems almost too real for comfort, and the imaginative birth of the historically allusive Owen Brown is likewise worthy of praise.

Cloudsplitter is a book of biblical proportions, existing on multiple levels and asking a reader to do, what in today's standards is virtually unheard of, stick with him through the short of 800 page novel. Not many today have what it takes to embark such a monumental effort as Banks has, and his merits are his rewards. This book belongs on your shelves, next to Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" and snuggled up beside James's "The American" for this truly is American Fiction at its most prolific best. It is one for the ages, and Banks can sleep soundly at night, he has done no injustice to John Brown nor the world for bringing such a wonderfully spun tale to life.