Informative, interesting and entertaining. A lot of information about the old roses and a 'How-to' regarding pot pourri and other rose crafts. Beautiful watercolour plates of twelve of the old roses. Delish!

'Heritage Roses & Old Fashioned Crafts' is a charming, witty book written in the style of Jane Austen. It relates the history behind the name of the rose. The medieval crafts are delightful. The watercolour plates of the roses rivals Redoute. A true rose classic!

I live in Culpeper County, Virginia and am extremely familiar with local history. I live a half mile from Amissville and 1 mile from Waterloo, two communities that are mentioned in the book.

This book is well documented and right on the money in virtually all aspects; historical content, accuracy and sequencing. This book is highly recommended for those wishing to get an unvarnished perspective of the impact of the Civil War on a typical community caught in the crossfire of the Lost Cause.

Excellent reading.

This book is a great find for anyone desiring to get the southern civilian's perspective on the Civil War. Professor Sutherland deserves praise for his efforts in finding an incredible depth of resources to tell the story of a Confederate community, which, by virtue of its strategic location, found itself in the heart of this enormous conflict. The perspective Professor Sutherland brings to his subject gives this book a "readability" that easily separates it from many other civil war histories. The book really shines in its depiction of the affect the war had on the civilian population. In addition, this book details the beginnings of the concept of "total war" as created and put in force by the Union General, Pope (a new book is due soon from Sutherland on just this subject). This book shares the side of the conflict that is not normally exposed. Tales of unionists, free blacks and slaves in the area during the war are depicted along side the narrative of a proud Southern community as it anticipates victory only to see the inevitable conclusion. Located close to many battlefields, as well as being home to significant battles at Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station, Professor Sutherland points out that Culpeper was, perhaps, the community most affected by the war. A great book - easy to read and informative. When you are finished, you will have learned a bit more about this nation and the forces that have made us what we are today.

Willis Madden, son of Sarah Madden is given favorable mention in "Seasons of War, The Ordeal of a Confederate Community 1861-1865," by Daniel E. Sutherland. It focuses on the Culpeper County environs as both armies come and go - the great battles, the personalities of the civilian,s enlisted and officers, and the econimic and sociological impact on the locals.

This is a great book - well written, with interesting and solid documentation, a "good read". Instead of another exploration of the tragedy of slavery, this is the story of a black family whose hard work prospered themselves instead of an owner, for many generations, and who wound up selling their land very profitably indeed. It's an encouraging success story, rich in detail and embodying the values of education and industriousness. The characters are memorable. It's several years now since I read it and it's still vivid in my mind. It rings true and is a very satisfying book.

It was very beneficial to me, because I'm writing a novel that is set in the eighteenth century, and I need to know the herbal remedies used in that time period. Having this around will save me a lot of time in research.

A fascinating book! The author describes in today's language Culpeper's basic practice of medicine. It brings forth our rich medical tradition and explains how everything in nature is interconnected. "as above, so below!"

As a lover of historical fiction, I found MtP one of the reading disappointments of a long reading career. The language is so stilted , it's funny :"I am in awe of you." ?? The idea may be good, the historical research thorough, but dry....dry....I am stopping my laborious reading at the point that the incredible young heroine meets the 6'2" hero.....ENOUGH!!!!!

I recently moved to the east coast from California and was given a gift book called, "Marching Through Culpeper". Prior to reading this wonderful book, my exposure to Civil War history was limited to history in school and a few movies. It was always incomprehensible for me to understand the southern perspective until now. Reading Virginia Beard Morton's book opened my eyes to the thoughtless ravaging of innocent people, their homes and their land.

Yet, this book is so much more than about the horrors of war -- it's above all, a wonderful love story -- love of the south, family, and way of life. It's without question the best romance story that I've ever read. I loved the central character, Constance who was beautiful, strong, courageous and ahead of her time. And the fact that Constance is based on an actual women's life during that period, adds to the charm. My favorite character is Frank Stringfellow and his humor and ability to overcome obstacles under the most dangerous situations.

Ms. Morton illuminates a vision of honor, pride and courage of the gentle southern people who sacrificed everything. This book is a "must read" for everyone -- but especially women -- whether interested in the Civil War or not. I can't wait to see it when it gets made into a movie!

Warning ! Before you start to read "Marching Through Culpeper" be very sure you have 48 hours with nothing else to do! You will not be able to leave the story and characters of this wonderful novel based in Civil War Culpeper, Virginia!
Virginia Morton has created a masterpiece of historical fiction. The story-line is well crafted, the fictional characters individually interesting and engaging, and best of all, the detailed history and real-life Civil War heros are portrayed to educate and entertain.
Those of us who are not Civil War buffs, read history only occasionally and may be from "Union territory", definitely do not have an adequate understanding of the impact of the Civil War. I learned more from "Marching Through Culpeper" than from all the history classes taken in my earlier years! This book brings you right into the heart of the conflict - up close and very personal.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone! It is a great novel for men, women and is quite suitable for teenagers. It will grab your heart, test your mind and will become a part of your life. You will remember this book and you will read it again! When is the MOVIE coming out???
I give it a FIVE-STAR rating!!

...but I do not recommend Nicholas Culpepper's prescriptions. It is interesting to read what the 17th century physicians considered to be appropriate remedies and the illustrations are a wonderful aid to identification. However, if you want to practice medicinal herbalism, get a modern book to use in conjunction with Culpepper and take the advice of the modern book if there is a difference.

This is a great book with wonderful color illustrations by one of the master practitioners of our Western Medical Tradition. This is one of the few books that identifies each herb with its planet association. This relationship is an important element to an holistic approach to health. "As above so below". "

It is rare to find an herbal reference guide to herbs so charmingly and exactly illustrated. Gardeners will find the illustrations helpful to see what less familiar herbs look like. But Culpeper's Color Herbal offers much more. Each herb is listed individually with a color illustration, a description, other information, specific exerpts from 16th century herbalist Nicholas Culpepper, and description of modern medicinal uses. This allows the reader, or the herbalist, the unique opportunity to compare traditional uses of the past with modern uses and current scientific research on active compounds. It is interesting to see which herbs science has proven to have medicinal value similar to the old uses. I was surprised, for instance, to find that Culpepper's old remedy for bronchitis, Colt's Foot (a familiar garden weed), is actually the source for a substance used in modern over the counter cough remedies! I was even more surprised when an Eyebright solution stopped a case of conjunctivitis - my first venture into herbal treatments! Descriptions are given for which parts of the herbs are useful medicinally. Appendixes I have not seen elsewhere provide 1) definitions of old time ailments, like the agues, for which old Culpepper prescribed, 2) a listing by ailment which herbs old Cullpepper used for which ailments and 3)a modern listing by ailment of which herbs are considered useful now. All of this information is presented extremely clearly and concisely - about half a page is devoted to each herb - making it an easy reference in a world of complicated herbals. I would not say this is THE total, definitive guide to herbs. It IS an herbal to come back to time and again in my library for reference and just plain pleasure. I recommend it for beginner through intermediate herbalist, those who want to venture into / expand their herb garden into specifics, the history lover and to the curious. A keeper.

If you have an interest in Herbs and their culinary, mystic and medicinal usages, both modern and historical, then this IS the book for you. It is beautifully illustrated and text is written in both medieval English and modern English.

Each plant (it includes some fruits and trees as well) is pictured and the habitat is described. Along with each description is any affinity to a ruling planet as well.

My only critisism is that it contains a great deal of jargon, you will need to read up on herbalism per se to understand how to make tinctures etc. That said the book is a reference to the plants not the art.

I have had my (well thumbed copy)for over 10 years now and it is a constant companion to my interests in the natural power of the Earth and her fruits.

I first heard of this book as being an excellent primary source for herbs and herbalism from the 16/17th Centuries.

It is very comprehensive and aside from a listing of each herb and its properties, it has several sections teaching the fundiments of medicine of the time. It covers:

* how a herb is assigned to a planet
* how a degree of strength is determined and what it means
* what 'humours' it affects and what 'humours' (bodily fluid systems) are
* and much much more.

If you are looking for a source to use for alternate medicine then this is NOT the best starting place. There are better works of a modern nature out there for that. However, as a back-up resource or a way of learning about the time when medicine was still holistic and not too scentific then this is he book for you.

The Wordsworth edition is in paperback and easy on the pocket. This publisher takes certain classic works and keeps them in print in small runs from time to time by demand. This means that although the book may be not immediately available, it will beome available again in the near future.

I hope this helps you.

I greatly enjoy and benefit from this old herbal. Culpeper links herbs and astrology in some sections and tries to discuss just herbs in another. Tho the language is old english and sometimes a little difficult for me to understand, the methods for diagnosing and treating illness are somewhat more like the Chinese diagnosis than modern herbals, and to me, more understandable. Although I wouldn't trade some of my more modern herbal books for it, it is an invaluable aid in my natural healing business.

"Lee Takes Command" is the volume in the Time-Life Civil War Series that reminds us the Army of Northern Virginia was not overly impressed with its new leader at the beginning of his legendary tenure. Winfield Scott might have convinced Abraham Lincoln to offer Robert E. Lee command of the Federal army, but the average Confederate soldier was not too keen about "Granny" Lee and his penchant for digging trenches in defense of Richmond in June of 1862. This volume begins with a photo essay on "The Making of a General," that covers the highlights of Lee's family and military career up to the moment he was ushered onto the stage of American history.

Lee took command of the Confederate army defending Richmond when General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines. Several choice quotes regarding Lee's shortcomings as a military commander, include a patently ironic one from George B. McClellan, set the stage for the creation of a legend. The volume is divided into five chapters: (1) Mechanicsville to Gaines's Mill details how Lee forced the Federals to withdrawn across the Chickahominy River; (2) Flight to the James describes covers the battle of Malvern Hill, which saw McClellan withdraw his army to Harrison's Landing, thereby ending the Peninsula Campaign; (3) Taking the War North covers Stonewall Jackson's battle with Nathaniel Banks at Cedar Run; (4) Jackson's Bold Sweep finds John Pope now in charge of the Army of the Potomac and the two armies moving around northern Virginia until (5) Another Bull Run, which I have always tended to think of as a major battle, but which is reduced to being covered in a single chapter.

"Lee Takes Command" covers a lot of ground, both in terms of time and territory. As a result, this particular volume focuses more on the bigger picture than the details, as compared to other books in the series. Lee himself is not always at the forefront of the action, but certainly his surrogates, namely Jackson and Stuart, carry out their military efforts in his spirit. The book is illustated with historic photographs, etchings, drawings, paintings and such, which is one of the hallmarks of this series. For every illustration you recognize chances are you will find two or more than you do not. As with most episodes of the Civil War, you will be struck as much by the ineptitude of the Northern commanders as you will be by Lee's brilliance.