With the loss of Colonial Homes magazine, Christmas ideas with a American colonial theme are becoming rare. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation along with Libby Hodges Oliver and Mary Miley Theobald have created not only a historical account of early American celebrations, but a beautifully designed and photographed book. Decorating starts outside with simple wreaths and pine roping to more elaborate fruited creations. Inside the greenery continues along with ideas on table decorations,the Christmas feast and best way to spoil Christmas guests. Chapters cover candles to Christmas trees along with colonial revival and twenty first century interpretations. This book will be a welcome inspiration for anyone looking for Christmas ideas and traditions.

Informative (and occasionally surprising!) text accompanied by exquisite photographs of the holiday decorating style known as Colonial Williamsburg.

The text is coordinated effectively with the photographs to which it refers, making this a helpful guide for those interested in recreating or adapting the patterns for their own decorations. Lists of fruits and greenery that are or are not historically valid as well as diagrams for constructing bases for fan-style and pyramid decorations are both practical and helpful. For those preferring merely to look rather than do, it's still a lovely holiday visit to Williamsburg.

With its lively, readable text and beautiful photography, Williamsburg Christmas is a must have book for anyone who enjoys Colonial history and Williamsburg. It makes you want to make that visit to Williamsburg during the Christmas holidays.

"Caesar's Story: 1759" is a good book for those being introduced to slavery (not during The Civil War). It's gritty in it own way, in how it deals with a black young slave child and white young owner child starting out as friends, but then becoming slave and master, without the fun memories. The Young Americans series is wonderful because each person was a living being, who lived a life. Even though little is known about Caesar, I'm glad he was given the chance to enter the reading worlds of readers. I recommend.

Nixon provides wonderful insight into the time period through the eyes of a young slave, Caesar. The prologue sets the mood for the story to be told by an experienced storyteller and once the tale begins, the reader will have a hard time putting it down. Caesar brings the reader into his world. The frustration of slavery is so palpable the reader will feel Caesar's yearning. He is reminded repeatedly that a slave has no control over his future. His sister is moved to the big house to serve as a personal servant and his father is sent to Williamburg to work as a carpenter. With his family torn apart, Caesar is then told he has been chosen to become a personal servant as well. After spending his early years playing with the master's son, Nat, Caesar has a difficult time adjusting to his life as a personal servant to the same boy who was once his best friend. The one thing he discovers is that he may not have his freedom but he will always have spirit.

This, the second in the Colonial Williamsburg Young Americans series, is the story of a slave boy who moves from Carter's Grove Plantation to Williamsburg when his young master attends the grammar school at the College of William and Mary. This brief tale of mid-seventeenth life is fast-paced and full of action, while yet vibrantly aware of the emotional turmoil suffered by all parties to the blight that was slavery. Nixon, a prolific and talented children's novelist, never allows her writing to dwindle into maudlin political correctness or weep sentimentality. This is a highly recommended book not just for the young readers for which it is intended, but anyone who appreciates a good historical read. Reading this just prior to a visit to Colonial Williamsburg would be a treat indeed.

I read this book in the 60's, and loved it deeply then. It has held up well. I'd be hard pressed to say whether I like this book or _Dawn's Early Light_ (the first story in the series) best. It is probably best appreciated after reading the first book in the series. They form the bookends of a wonderful series about several intertwined families on both sides of the Atlantic from the American Revolution through World War II. The editions I read as a kid had family trees on the endpapers, and they were a great help.
_Homing_ recounts the story of Mab, a young girl, and her extended family, through the beginning of WW II. Although I am not a historian, I have not ever encountered a historical event in one of Ms. Thane's books that was contradicted by any history I have read. She makes history immediate and real by showing how characters you care about are affected by historical events. The history is background to the story; although it contributes significantly to the plot, I never felt I was being lectured. Characterizations ring true; I came to care deeply about the people in the story. There are ways in which this book, and the whole series, remind me of the books of Rosamunde Pilcher - the are populated by people I'd like to meet, coping with their lives.

The last of the Williamsburg Series, Homing brings you full circle back to the past. The best way to read this book is after you have read the others, beginning with "Dawn's Early Light". I first read them when I was a teenager and I still read them every couple of years. The characters are like family or maybe the way we would like family to be.

This is the conclusion to the Williamsburg Novels that begins with Dawn's Early Light. The characters continue to ring true and the historical view of both England and the US during the early days of WWII is great. The story truly comes full circle and makes you want to read them all again.

I had the pleasure of listening to this author lecture to in class during my senior year of college. Having the opportunity to discuss this book with the author made Slave Counterpoint come to life. Slave Counterpoint makes the topic of Antebellum slavery captivating for those interested in learning about the early days of slavery in the Cheasapeake Bay region. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has a sharp curiosity about early colonial history and wishes to be engaged in an honest account of events(I would recommend reading this book a couple of chapeter at a time).

I had to read this book for my History of Slavery class, thought by the author. Dr. Morgan gave excellent insight in addition to his book. I would suggust this book to anyone for anytype of reading, pleasure and required.

I have read no better detailed study than this book. Long but worth it due to the rich detail.

This is a book about a girl whose name is Ann and she's 9 years old. She lives in Colonial Williamsburg and she wishes she could be a doctor but she can't because she's a girl. Matthew Davenport is Ann's best friend's brother. He likes to tease the younger children about anything that would scare them. When the Capital burns, Matthew frightens Ann by telling her she will have to move to a swamp to a house with a dirt floor and poisonous snakes. Soon people start coming down with smallpox, so Ann can't go to crowded places anymore.

One time, after church, Matthew tells her there's going to be a really crowded festival where Native Americans are dancing to drums, which is illegal. Matthew thinks it would be so cool to see it because he wants some adventure. He says she'll be too scared to go. Ann decides she'll prove him wrong.

I really like this book because it has a lot of adventure and Ann is always getting into mischief. If you read this book I think you'll really like it.

Sarah Tiedemann

This is a great book, and I'd reccommend it to anyone who loves reading about history and learning more about Colonial Williamsburg. I think it's a great book about a girl named Ann who's living in Colonial Williamsburg, and dreams of helping her father in the apothacary instead of becoming a gentlewomen. Read this book now! You'll enjoy it! I did!

Courageous bride is the story of the next generation of Montroses, Luc and his adopted sister Nikki, and their roles in WWII. Nikki goes to France searching for her natural mother and stays in Europe to enter service in the WRENS. Quite by accident, she meets a Scottish Montrose cousin, and events unfold that keep the two meeting each other at Garnet's English home at different times throughout the war. Luc, who follows in his father's footsteps to become a fighter pilot, also finds love in Garnet's home, as have so many young people before him. But before any of these young people can fulfill their happiness, the war must come to an end. What will happen to Luc, who is reported missing in action, and to Nikki, who has been chosen to fulfill a dangerous assignment on the front in France? Peart has again woven a story of young people searching for fulfillment of God's plan for their lives, and has successfully found a fitting way to remove the matriarch Garnet Cameron Montrose Devlin from the series. Once again, my only criticism is that Peart needs to put a detailed family tree in each book, as the cousins, half-cousins, in-laws, and other members of the Camerson/Montrose families continue to grow and get more confusing in each book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have read all of the previous 13 books in the series and I loved them all. "The Brides of Montclair" series is probably one of my most favorite of all time. The history and heritage in each of the books is brought to life in the mind of the reader. It has really been neat reading each book and following the Montrose and Cameron families as they continue to grow. I would definitly recommend this book to anyone, but it really helps if you have read all of the other books because they are refered to quite often. I anxiously await another book in this series.

I first read Dawn's Early Light and the other novels in the Williamsburg series 40 or 45 years ago, when we took them out of the library over and over again and read and reread them until I still could probably reconstruct large chunks of them verbatim if I were stuck on a desert island. The characterizations are so good that even years after my last rereading I can keep the complex family trees straight without effort. The well researched settings are so well done that even today they form the basis for a lot of my general knowledge of American (and later English) history in the periods they cover. The story pulls you right in, the characters are realistic, lovable, and intelligent, the dialogue is witty, the writing excellent--the Days, Spragues, and in the later books the Campions have always felt like members of my own family. What could be a better indicator of a great read? I'm glad to have thought of looking for them on amazon and am pleased but not surprised to find they're still in print.

The first book of the the "Williamsburg Series" I ever read was "Ever After", tucked away with other of my mother's books. I fell in love with the characters and England at the age of 12. After finishing the book I hied to the library and one by one picked up the other books in the series which were still available in the 1960's. During the 70's I visited Williamsburg three times, reliving the area through Ms. Thane's books. My greatest joy was having my oldest son choose the College of William and Mary for his undergraduate degree. The highlight of my literary life occurred when I discovered the bookstore in Williamsburg carried all of Ms. Thane's books, which were all purchased immediately. I have read and reread these books for over 30 years and now I am so pleased to have my daughter experience them. The Days, Spragues, Campions, and their worlds gave me and my son an incredible lust for history, both American and English. I still get a lump in my throat every time I see, hear, read, etc. anything about Williamsburg. Anyone who intends to visit the area should be introduced to these books before they go (although I do have to admit that these books are "chick stuff"!)

I first found the novel Yankee Stranger,the second book in the Williamsburg series, on the bottom shelf of a small town library. I was 13 at the time. I went home and curled up on my bed for a slow summer day read. I didn't not move for a solid eight hours. I was captured by the excellent history and charactization in that work. My mother asked what in the world I was reading. I told her the best book I've ever read. I was wrong. There are several books,all by Elswyth Thane,and each and everyone of them are the best. I read these books eight years ago. I still remeber the charaters I came to love. This book is the first book in a series that will lovingly haunt you for the rest of your life. Its awsome scenery and its family of characters will endure in your heart forever. Its more than a romance its an experience of times, places, and people that you will love for a lifetime.

Does the "DNA" analysis of the clothing so you can get a true picture of each garment as it marched through time. Answers questions I have always wondered. Beautiful pictures.

This book centers on dress from the 1700's, and its coverage of the period is excellent -- Gorgeous photos of original existing gowns, 18th century tailor's schematics (must be scaled), all kinds of info on how clothing was fashioned, worn, supported by corsets and what would become the 19th-century version of the enormous hoopskirts/crinolines (in the 18th century they were called "panniers" "hoops," or "farthingales", which jutted out to the side, not in a circular or elliptical fashion); the photos alone are great inspiration for the serious vintage fasion reproducer. Also includes lots of info on men's fashions, which are often neglected. I LOVE this book! -- YOURS TRULY, THE COSTUME FREAK FROM BOSTON, MA.

Like Janet Arnold's now-classic "Patterns of Fashion" books, this book takes existing museum garments and offers basic scaled patterns for them. It also offers great details about how the garments were original made, tips for using period techniques, and even a few short histories (like the history of pockets). I can't recommend the book highly enough.

The patterns are not, however, for beginning sewers; they must be scaled up to size and then made up in muslin for the best accuracy. However, even beginners can enjoy drooling over these wonderful garments (shown in color and b/w) and learning about period construction.

The Christmas story is about a young girl growing up in colonial times. Felicity is extremely excited about her invitation to attend a dancing lesson at the Governor's Palace. It is every young girls dream to be there, and Felicity has received this wonderful honor. Felicity wants the most beautiful dress to wear, like the one on her fashion doll. Knowing how much it costs and that her family is very poor she wants it anyway. Her mother promises Felicity the dress. The plan was for her mother to make the gown by hand. However Felicity's mother become very ill. Felicity is worried that her dress will not be completed on time, and she is ashamed for being disappointed about the dress when her mom is sick. On the night of the dance when Felicity has come to realize that she would not go her mother gives her a wonderful surprise. She had found strength to finish the dress that was her daughters Christmas wish. Felicity is the most beautiful girl at the party and realizes that dreams do come true.
I believe that Tripp gave a wonderful representation of that the colonial times was like. She represented Felicity very realistically. Any girl in her palace would be disappointed if she could not go to the party, yet feel a sad burden that the mother is sick as well. Felicity hoped for a miracle simply that her mother would get better not even thinking of her own wish for a completed dress and ended up getting both wishes.
I loved the American Girl books growing up specifically Felicity's stories. I am amazed that Tripp can grab children's attention book after book. And you learn so much about the time period in the process of reading. I enjoyed reading this book again.

American Girl books are great, this one included. Felicity's fear when her mother becomes sick let us realize how feelings for what is really important to us - family members, a feeling of security, friendship - haven't change a lot since Revolutionary days, both in America and worldwhile. What changes is how we live the everyday life - we drive cars and not carts, at school we learn science and not how to serve tea... Just one question, how long will we have to wait for a Native American Girl, and for a Jewish American Girl?

I read this book because I was learning about the American Revolution in class. This is a very touching book that anyone can enjoy. Learn about Felicity's dream doll at the store that she wished to get, the dance she was invited to by the mayor, the disease that her mother had. I really enjoyed this book because of the wonderfully illustrated pictures and the great story. In fact, all of the Felicity books are "da bomb"!

I have this book and also the Felicity doll and I really enjoy the American Girl books and found this to be my favorite out of them all. The story shows that back in the 1700's girls had the same problems and adventures that they do today.I reccommend this book to any young girl.

This is the first in the American Girls Short Stories series about Felicity Merriman, a nine-year-old girl living in the America of 1774. In this book, Felicity is bored with her constrained "girl's" world, where her time is spent wearing cumbersome dresses and making small, uniform stitches. Excitement enters, when she meets the knacker's new horse. The knacker, Jiggy Nye, is a cruel man who mistreats the horse. Here Felicity learns that sometime you must work for what you love, and sometimes you must give it up.

The final chapter is a fascinating and highly informative look into life in 1774. This book lives up to the excellence that characterizes most American Girls books. My daughter and I greatly enjoyed it, and we recommend it to you.

Felicity loves horses and hates having to sit still and straight. Then she hears that cruel old Jiggy Nye has a new horse and just about worked her to death. When she sees the horse she instantly falls in love with her and gives her the name of Penny. She decides if she doesn't do anything about Penny being beaten no one will. Will she be able to save Penny in time?