This book is unique in its subject matter. It helps today's reader understand the importance of the entire cotton production, trade, and manufacture.

Ms. Willoughby writes that the cotton trade's impact rippled over many other segments of the national economy and she quotes from another writer that this fiber has been called the most significant ingredient in the economic life of the whole nation [United States] before 1860.

The book describes the connection of cotton to currency and to banking and shows in detail how the banking system was vastly different from our present financial institutions.

The author stresses that much of the cotton business depended on the reputaions of individual men from the planter to the final purchaser and she gives short biographical descriptions of many key individuals.

Transportation facilities were vital to the moving of the cotton from the farm or plantation to the mill. The book describes the importance of vessels and shipping in every phase of the process and also the part that the early railroads played in making important changes in the entire ecomomy.

I would give this book a 10.

I was floored by this book. It is diary of a group of men traveling to the yukon in search of gold. I was amazed at the things that they went through. In our relatively easy modren life, It is good to read about what extremes people would go through in the old days. To say that they had a rough journey would be an understatement. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get a feel for what it must have been like to ber part of the gold rush in the Yukon territory.

This is an extraordinarily detailed account of the St Anthony Falls cataract with all the names of it's founding father's, companies and buildings that rose and fell around the whole area. This is a must have for anyone who is interested in the history of the downtown Minneapolis/Gateway/Falls. Having worked in one of the buildings that was talked about in the book for the better of five years I have come to appreciate the wonderful history of Mill City as it once was. I highly recommend this book, especially given the fact that the brand new Mill City Museum will be opening up in May 2003.

Hallelujah! The documentation book we've needed is finally here! Many, many thanks to the dedicated volunteers whose hard work has made this gem available.

If you want to read detailed information about Union Pacific locomotives and trains, then this book is not for you.

If on the other hand you want to see some magnificent photographs of Union Pacific trains running down California's Feather River Canyon (surely one of the most beautiful stretches of railroad in the USA), then this book is a "must read". Photo captions indicate where and when the photographs were taken, but do not go in to details of the locomotives or the "technical side" of railroading.

This is undoubtedly one of the best railroad books I own.

What a joyous occasion it becomes to whirl through the new book on Venetian-born Carlo Marchiori, a master of many arts, who now lives and works in Calistoga, Ca., the northern-most town in Napa Valley. The book not only presents his life and work in a colorful, well-photographed journal, but it has the magical touch of Carlo's own imagination for the styling of the photographs, layout, and storyline. Now his mastery of arts includes book design as well as painting, drawing, sculpture, construction, architecture, and costume design!

A self-proclaimed great illusionist, he nontheless informs us of the historical references in his art while capturing our imaginations on an illustrated magical journey back through time. The book is storybook, history, and journal, all rolled into one, and written with Carlo's great sense of humor and gusto for life. From the moment you turn the first page, you are captured by Renaissance man Marchiori's presentation, all colorful, fun, and fantastic. It is a delightful glimpse into his most beautiful imaginings, and they are bountiful. You laugh, smile, ooooo, and ahhhhh, and see life above the mundane, as does Carlo!

It is interesting to note that he allows tours of his home, and has a shop and artist studio in Calistoga, where various pieces of his art are sold. These are extraordinary experiences not to be missed while in Napa Valley.

I am personnally a decendant of Juan Nepomuceno and would appreciate thoughts about this book. send comments to SRC_ME @ Yahoo.com. i have just learned of this book and a few others listed on this site and plan to review them all. Check back for future reviews by myself.

I think this is a great book! It talks about Lake Cumberland being formed. It made me realize what life was like before the Wolf Creek Dam was built. I enjoyed reading this book very much and think you will too, especially if you live near where the setting was like me.

Finally It's Friday! is an accurate and sensitive portrayal of young adulthood as it was lived by many of our parents and grandparents (and by some of us) as it recounts the author's college years working (as a Linotype operator) for the local newspaper. Reid's astute observations and keen wit make this book not only an immensely enjoyable read, but also a terrific conversation starter for those interested in (and still fortunate enough to garner) a first-hand account of their own family's history.
BONUS: Finally It's Friday! is also an engrossing treasure for anyone interested in the heyday of letterpress printing!

Mike Smith provides informative tips for fishing the New River, its tributaries, and Claytor Lake in this delightfully concise book that should fit into a tackle box, glove box, or back pocket when folded up. He tackles times of year, water conditions, bait selection, lure presentation, and methodology (whether wading or paddling a canoe) to help readers make a more informed decision about where and how to fish in order to change the act of fishing into the action of catching. Moreover, Smith goes into species specific strategies as well as more general tactics called "Big Fish Tips" such as my two favorites from the book, which are found on pages 32 and 57: "Practice stealth" and "One word--topwater." You can tell that Smith knows his fish and his prose flows effortlessly and steadily like the river he details. From time to time, he punctuates his tactics with anecdotes that range from nostalgic musings about trips with his grandfather to more recent waxings on conservation and the plight of trout and smallmouth as civilization encroaches on their habitat. I read this book on a flight from Atlanta to Lexington, KY and was impressed with the scope of Smith's knowledge in such a brief work. It really made me homesick for Virginia and a float down the New where I have seen and caught some of the big fish for which Smith gives his expert tips. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fishing and more particularly to anyone who will be fishing in southwestern Virginia.