An Explorer's Guide: Maryland by the award-winning author and Maryland travel expert Leonard M. Adkins, is a handy and informative guide for tourists, travelers, and locals wanting to explore the wealth of fun, scenic, and educational experiences that Maryland has to offer. From locations of hotels and reviews of fine restaurants, to great places for shopping, special events, family activities, all enhanced with 34 up-to-date downtown and regional maps, An Explorer's Guide: Maryland is enthusiastically recommended for anyone looking forward to a Maryland vacation whether for a week or just a week-end!

I live in Northern Virginia and am always looking for places to make quick getaways. I own other travel guides to the region, but they are not near as thorough or detailed as this one is. The author covers just about everything you can think of--museums, historic sites, places of interest, hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking, amusement parks, golf courses (even miniature golf courses!), sailing & boat excursions, parks, bookstores, antique shops, restaurants (both cheap and luxury places), motels, B&Bs, and much, much more.
What I really like is that he visited every place he writes about (man, what a job that must have been!). He gives overviews of the places, what makes them special, and what he experienced while there. For a travel guide, it is written in an entertaining style, and it has lots of local insider tips and information. Forget Fodor's and Frommer's; buy this one and really get to know Maryland

As an ancestral native of Talbot County, on Maryland's own Eastern Shore, I'm proud that we still have people like Bart Talbert out there defending our status as a Southern state. In my travels throughout the deeper South, I've often had to defend my accent and my heritage against those who view Maryland natives as "Northerners." It's sad that more people, particularly the young, seem to have no interest in the history of their people that is continually being erased. There is overwhelming evidence that Maryland would have thrown her lot with the Confederacy, had not Linclon's unconsitutional military occupation and a traitorous governor entered into the fray. Of course, it didn't help matters any that Maryland is geographically separated from the rest of the South by a very large bay. There was also the wholly unconstitutional election for Maryland's new governor, where votes for the Southern candidate were disqualified, and the mass imprisonment of politicians and prominent citizens who dared defy the Tyrant. In any case, Talbert presents good, albeit brief evidence here of what the truth really is. I would also recommend that readers explore other historical works on the subject like "Maryland and the Confederacy", by Harry Wright Newman, and a "Southern Star for Maryland", by Lawrence M. Denton. It pains me greatly that this book, and the two others I've mentioned, are all out of print. I've heard that Bart Talbert is now back in Maryland and teaching within the state's university system, and I can only hope that the knowledge he's capable of passing on to students there is appreciated by them and not lost.

This fascinating book describes events in Maryland just prior to and during the War Between the States. It focuses on thecharacter of the State and the political climate of the time in contrast to so many other Civil War books that simply rehashtroop movements and military tactics. Although Dr. Talbert's book is thoroughly documented with extensive footnotes and somewhat scholarly, he still managed the distinct achievement of writing in a very readable style that tells a story which is difficult to put down -- even though we may already know theoutcome. Modern political correctness has obscured from memory many of the events that took place in Maryland. Dr. Talbert, however, brings them together and provides a record which preserves the facts for posterity. He covers many fascinating facts and stories which together paint a clear picture of an unequivocally Southern State that was denied its will. Maryland: The South's First Casualty also includes a section containing brief biographi

This is a wonderful collection of pithy Mencken writings which you may often see quoted. If you have no intention of reading his full essays, read this. This was one of the best bathroom books I have ever had. It is funny, amusing, nihilistic, and condescendingly brutal (or is it brutally condescending?). Mencken writes with the authority of a god, but one with a strong sense of humor and an honest reverence for honesty. This is one of the most original, interesting, and inspirational American writers period. So pick up a copy and see your illusions melt away.

Chock-full of interesting and valuable insights, Minority Report encapsulates much of the Mencken oeuvre. The author never leaves room for doubt about his meaning. Not a few of the notebook entries reveal that Mencken had an inclination towards the visionary, as when he treats of scientific subjects. Mencken means everything he says; and although his writing has a very sharp flavor, his implicit message to the reader is that he is being as honest as possible within the confines of his own talents of reasoning and understanding. Mencken offends only insofar as the reader is guilty of taking himself too seriously. As the average entry is relatively brief, Minority Report accommodates all those who love to read deep but fun literature yet who find themselves always in a hurry with little time to devote to prolonged readings. Enthusiasts of H.L. Mencken will be pleased to find his hallmark of iconoclasm stamped on every page of Minority Report. For those new to Mencken, this is a good place to start. Those who have smarted aplenty from his other writings, either from too much laughter or from having watched their cherished preconceived notions herded to the slaughterhouse, should be pleasantly surprised by the depth, range and poignancy of H.L. Mencken's notebooks.

I am a member of the Miracle Max Mystery Club, and I own and have read the book many times. I think that the book is an excellent story about a playful dog who goes on an adventure. Along the way, Max, the dog, meets many different obstacles, and will keep you laughing.

Lisa O'Connell has created a wonderful club and web site to support her book, "Miracle Max...Missing In Maryland!" Being a club member, my family and I have been able to read excerpts from the book which were on the web site. We really liked the idea of combining fun reading fiction with facts about the state of Maryland. We have pre-ordered some copies of the book for both family and friends because we can't wait to find out what happens to Max! We used to own a German Shepherd and he was a very special member of our family for many years. German Shepherds are very smart dogs and wonderful pets so what better animal to be the main character of a children's book! The Miracle Max Mystery Club web site is a fun place for everyone in your family to visit and keep up with the latest news on Max. See you in Maryland!

In 1794, when Rosalie Stier was 16, her Belgian family fled the Terror and came to America. When her family returned to Europe after her marriage, she wrote direct, intimate letters--over 230!-- covering all aspects of her domestic circle, her house and garden, politics, and society.

She pulls no punches: she hated "Tommy Jeff" and "Queen Dolla lolla" Madison; thought American might benefit from a king; made major investment decisions for her family; described the "rockets' red glare," (glimpsed from her bedroom window); and oversaw her daughter Caroline's debut into society.

An inspiring figure from this often-overlooked period, she gives the lie to those who believe that plantation mistresses-or housewives-did nothing but take care of a house. Her letters give the true picture of the all-consuming details: addressing business cares (she taught herself bookkeeping), educating her nine children; looking after her many servants and slaves; and (despite the household) surviving her isolation.

Her letters were discovered in the 1970s, when her family's centuries-old manuscript collection was cataloged. Rosalie's voice, buried for almost two centuries, is heard again.

This book is the letters of Rosalie Stier Calvert, mistress of a manor house in Maryland in the early 19th century. She was an emigre from Antwerp who eventually came to feel herself American. She married into one of the first families in Maryland. In addition to running her household and bearing 9 children, she handled her father's and brother's not inconsiderable investments. In her letters home, Rosalie made interesting observations on the politics and social scene of the day, as well as telling her family about her day-to-day life. Rosalie almost comes alive in the pages of this book.

It's great! It tells a Civil War story of my Great-Great Grand-father and
Great-Great Grand-mother (William and Sophia Jeffries). Jerre Garrett did a wonderful job in researching and telling the story of how the Civil War affected so many lives.

This book provides an insightful and detailed look at how life unfolded in the northern-most county of the northern-most broder state, Maryland, during the years of the Civil War. For those interested in the War or Maryland history, this book does an excellent job. You can see precisely how the war affected residents in this rural, slave-holding county and how, eventually, citizens recovered from the war. It's an unusual view (the local perspective in a unique region of the country, one with southern & northern ties), in an area where there are many books -- the civil war.

This is truly a 'keeper'. It was not only very funny to read about the family's adventures, it was also a 'How-to' book for living 'off-the-land'. The author shared memorable awe-inspiring moments that let you understand why someone would want to leave the city but at the same time he let you see reality of what the experience would require of you as he gives you a wealth of good self-help information that will be useful. He did the 'trial run' for the reader and left me smiling.

although dated, this book is a must for anyone who wants to live with alternative power or lifestyles. a must for anyone who is a homesteader or "back to the land" person!

Mencken helps to keeps me sane. When I can no longer stomach euphemisms, political correctness or the praise of mediocrity, along comes Harry to slay the idleheaded icons of modern American society. He accomplishes the task as effortlessly today as he did in the 1920s. It shows he was either ahead of his time, or things never really change. While those not familiar with Mencken might be unacquainted with some of those harpooned by him, a little research and reading will clear up the unfamiliarity. As for Mencken's style, vocabulary and content, one word describes them: priceless. Prejudices and Mencken's Chrestomathy should be required reading in every school across the nation. This book, like most of his writings, is not for the weak, for those easily offended or those who measure all things with the modern yardstick of self-righteous indignation. These people will be screaming half way into the first page. Keep your generals, kings and the like. If there were one person from the past I could sit with over a schooner of beer it would be the Sage of Baltimore.

I have recently finished "Prejudices," by H.L. Mencken. I knew little of the author, save that which I had gleaned by reading one of his other books ("A Discourse on the Gods," I think it was.) But, after coming away from the Satanic wag's essays, I am inclined to accord him a place in the pantheon right next to Nietzsche, Mark Twain and Socrates. An evil, little man! Acerbic, brilliant, roaringly funny! History buffs will appreciate the insight these essays will give on the values and mores of the Early 20th Century and the light his intelligence throws upon the world around him--and around us today. Because, as it turns out, the greatest accomplishment of this witty court jester, this slayer of phonies and defender of common sense is his talent for uncovering atemporal, universal principles which are as true today as they were a hundred years ago . . . or a thousand! A brilliant work from a glowing mind, the secret thrill in reading it is seeing how little everything has changed and what a short distance we've really come since the Age of Troglodytes.

I bought this book for genealogical purposes, but found that it was a very enjoyable book to read and explained the culture of the Tobacco Coast to me better than several other books I have read. There was also enough detail that I felt I understood much more of the thought processes of the people I have been tracing and has fleshed out their surroundings in a very complete way.

Professor Lee gives us a scholarly review of a microcosm of the culture and weltanshauung of a relatively backwater Maryland county headed into revolution. That such scholarship is targeted at a minor topic is truly impressive. If anything, it gives one pause as to whether the investment in academic research in history is overdone. For here is a representative picture drawn, but at such detail it must have taken tremendous resources. One wonders what topics suffer to give such infinite color to a tiny leaf on a giant tree. But the beauty of scholarship and solid writing for those interested in this topic, such as genealogists or revolutionary war scholars, will find this book a delightfully sharp and detailed portrait of a place whose most might town was the now unremembered "Port Tobacco."

Ronald Hoffman is an excellent historian who has brought great knowledge of Chesapeake social and cultural history to this biographical work that places three generations of the Carroll family within their colonial context. It is a wonderful biography that gets the reader into the minds and lives of these three Charles Carroll's. But for me the best thing was the number of times it made me think, "Oh, that's how it was." I have read enough colonial history to know that there were lots of tenant laborers and not just slaves in the region, to know that Catholic Maryland quickly became Anglican Maryland, and to know that the Revolution was not just about ideas but also about social change. Ronald Hoffman's narrative, however, really brings these facts home. His book is not about any one of these issues in particular, but in telling the story of three generations of Carroll's in Maryland he brings home the greater circumstances of the colony better than many historians who have set out to make a case for one of the above arguments, or many of the other fascinating takes on early Chesapeake society contained in this highly readable book. I have not read any book lately that I enjoyed more.

I was originally attracted to this book out of a simple curiosity about the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence (Charles Carroll outlived Adams and Jefferson by about six years, or about 56 years after 1776!). On a deeper level, I hoped to learn more about the kind of early capitalist that would be attracted to signing on to the American Revolution in general. What this book helped me discover was a family that had over time become focused, almost obsessed, with making a buck under fairly adverse circumstances (namely, continuing in their Roman Catholic faith that made it difficult for them to thrive, even in an enclave as seemingly sympathetic as colonial Maryland, with its relatively large Catholic population). But when the time came for this family to rise above its simple wealth building and to champion the cause of the Revolution, it did indeed rise to the occasion, however brief and painful the process might be. (Hoffman attends to both the private and public lives of the Carrolls.) The history of the Carrolls is a part of the history of the magic that was the American Revolution. It is not surprising that the book ends abruptly with the death of Charles Carroll's father and his wife, about 10 days apart from one another in 1782 (though there is a brief summing up of Carroll's remaining 50 years and the attention attracted by his death in 1832). The story is told, the dynasty pretty much complete.

What's the book like? At times it seems downright willfully prosaic, and the story proceeds much like a carefully written doctoral dissertation - all conclusions fully supported and made in as logical a context as possible, all contentions politically correct for our time. Hoffman's goal is of course to be scholarly and thorough, not to be entertaining or controversial. Thus the sweep of this history must emerge and coalesce in the mind of the reader. Leave being beaten over the head with the broader conclusions inherent in the narrative to more popularly written histories.

Suffice it to say, if you're a municipal library and you need to beef up your Revolutionary War material, this is a prime buy. If you're a true history buff, this would be an excellent choice to work into your reading list. It has the effect of immersing you into the spirit of the times and providing you with detail you could not have imagined you would find interesting (but you do). If you're a casual reader, just be advised - this is heavy stuff. It's not an easy read, but it is ultimately a rewarding one.