The Book of Irish Families, Great & Small (Third Edition, Expanded)

Book Description

The Worlds Largest Collection in Print
New third edition now includes 28 volume index to the Irish Families series
The Best and Final Edition.

Over 45,000 entries total:

700 illustrated coats of arms
Origins & Locations
Includes families settled from Scotland, England, etc...
Ancient Maps and illustrations
All 32 counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland (Ulster).
396 full size pages.

There is no other like this one ! A magnificent world class illustration of Irish Family History, this book is the culmination of 4 decades of research by the I.G.F.. Hundreds of families from each county are given in Part One with family history. Over 45,000 family names are given in specific counties or Poor Law Unions.
This is the new third edition (2003), which includes select family histories. For the first time ever, the index for the first 28 volumes in the Irish Families set is also included. The famous and large families like Murphy, Kelly, Sullivan, O'Brien, Ryan, Kennedy, Walsh, Daugherty and Donahue are of course in this book, as are thousands more, including rarely found families that settled in Ireland from England, Scotland, Wales, and the continent. Among the hundreds of settler names are those of Betagh; Coppinger; Trench; Coplan; Hall; Green; Hunter; McKenzie; Baker; Howell; Bellew and many more.

Families from England
Many English families have settled in Ireland from the 12th century onwards. Often, the native Irish were forced to "translate" their names into English sounding ones. The 50 most numerous names from England in 1853 are given, along with hundreds of family history extracts on specific families like Smith; Jones; Williams and Taylor.

Families from Scotland
Due to the proximity of the north of Ireland and the south of Scotland, migration between the two countries has been constant. A great settlement of Scottish families took place in the 17th century during the plantation of Ulster by the British Crown. Later, some of these 'planter' families came to America, becoming known as the Scotch Irish or Scots Irish. The 50 most numerous names of Scotland are given, along with hundreds of family histories, including families like McDonald; Brown; Thomson and Robertson.

Families from the German Palatinate

Families came to Ireland in the 18th century from the Palatinate of the Rhine. In 1709 some 7,000 arrived in England and many settled in Co. Limerick, Ireland and America. Some of these are families like Bowen, Baker; Delmege and Pyper.

Danish or Viking Families

The Danes (Lochlainders, Ostmen or Vikings), had colonies in Ireland for centuries. Centered in Dublin and Meath (in Fingall), and in Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick, settling primarily in the coastal counties of Ireland from the 8th century on. These Viking families include: Betagh; Coppinger; Palmer; Plunket and Skiddy, among many others given in this work.

Jewish Families in Ireland

Many Russian and Polish Jews settled on the south side of Dublin city from the late 1800's. These included the families of Coplan, Fridberg, Greenberg, Weiner, Maisell and many others given in this work.

Welsh Families in Ireland

Families by the name of "Walsh" (in Irish, Brannagh or Breathnach), meaning a Briton or Welshman, are found early in Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Killarney, Tipperary, Wexford, Waterford and Galway. Some of these families were: Howell, Lawless, Lillis, Lynagh and Rossiter. Many are included in this work

Anglo Norman Families in Ireland

The Anglo Norman invasions of the 12th century brought many new families to Ireland. Some took on Irish names. Anglo Norman families in Ireland include: Barry; Bellew; Bermingham; Burke; Carew and Clare, among hundreds of others given in this book along with family history notes.

Huguenot Families in Ireland

French and Fleming Huguenot families settled in the 17th century in Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork, and Lisburn, etc... They were noted for making linen, cloth and lace. Some of these families were those of Barre; Perrin; Hazard; Hassard; Lefanu; Trench and many others as given in this work.

'Irish Families' Contains many family names left out of other popular works, including those of Edward MacLysaght, Patrick Woulfe and John O'Hart. The best single book for finding any Irish family surname, there are more names, arms, and locations here than in any other book . Truly a 'must have' resource for finding numerous and scarce names in Ireland.Format of this Book

Entries on family names are arranged in the following order:

(1) When available, the coat of arms linked to the name appears above the name which is in bold type. All arms shown in this volume were actually used by families in Ireland, acknowledged by recognized authorities.

(2) Beneath the name is the source from which the arms are taken.

(3) Occasionally we list a Gaelic or more ancient form of the name on the next line in regular type. (note we have not punctuated these). We suggest those interested in the gaelic consult Irish Names and Surnames by the Rev. P. Woulfe. The IGF edition of that work contains a new surname index, which proves most helpful to researchers.

(4) The next line, in italics, gives variant spellings of the name as available.

(5) The history associated with the name

The amount of information found will vary with each name. Please consult all possible spellings of the name. More information may appear in other volumes to this Irish Families set. Names not covered here will appear in other volumes of our Irish Families, great & small series. The surname index to this first volume , (and to volumes 2 through 28), is found in part III of this book. The researcher should consult that index as well as the location index found in part II of this book.

The location index (see part II) represents extracts taken from larger, more detailed listings found in the Master Book of Irish Surnames. Space limitations do not allow reprinting all the index listings found in that book. In fact, there are over 50,000 listings from that book which we did not have room for at all! We have included as many surnames as possible to give hope to Irish family researchers. These listings may prove particularly helpful for those with less common names. The student of Irish family names would do well to consult that work independently.

Maps and Illustrations

Province Map

showing Munster; Leinster; Connacht; Meath;

Oriel; Aileach; and Ulster.

Key to Terms

Including useful terms and abbreviations used.

Ancient Map

Showing territorial divisions upon the coming of the Vikings to Ireland. Includes Tirconnell; Tirowen; Uladh; Uriel; Brefney; Hy Fiachrach; Hy Many; West Meath; East Meath; Offelan; Fine Gall; Offaly; Omurethy; Leix; Ormond; Thomond; Desmond; Decies; and Hy Kinshelagh.

13th Century Norman Map

Showing unconquered areas, and areas of Norman Rule & influence.

Administrative Divisions

Listing the major territorial divisions of Ireland, including: The Province; The County; The Barony; The Parish; The Townland; and Poor Law Unions.

Ireland, showing railways map

Showing railway routes in Ireland on the map.

Source List

List of helpful resources.

Key to Poor Law Unions and registrars dist.

A Listing of the Unions along with registrars districts that they contained.

Family Research sources and tips

Tips for the family researcher.

Barony Map

Showing 325 baronies of Ireland on the map by county. The barony was used an a unit in 19th century land valuations.

Ireland Map

Written Chart naming Families settling in Ireland

Showing families from other nations known to have settled in Ireland.

Ireland upon coming of the Vikings.

Showing the divisions of Thomond; Desmond; Decies; Ossory; Hy Kinshelagh; Ormond; Hy Many; Offaly; Leix; Omurethy; Offelan; Fine Gall; Brefney; Hy Fiachrach; Tirconnell; Tirowen; Uladh; and Uriel.

A One of A Kind Resource

This is the number one collection of Irish Families ever to appear in print. This Master volume alone, exceeds any other single book in the field. It is a one of a kind beauty - never equalled. There are more Irish Family names, spellings, locations, arms and sources here than in any other single book ever published.

The Final Word This book contains information on families in all 32 counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Later volumes in this series focus on individual counties, and contain additional information, not found in this volume.

New Third Edition. Available only with Thread sewn soft binding. 396 pages. maps, resource list for family research. Family Histories. Additionally includes Master Index to the Irish Families series. Full 8 1/2 x 11 in size.

Customer Reviews:

Total Waste Of Money.......2007-09-08

This book is a huge disappointment. All it lists is surnames and if any a short sentence about the name. For instance Moylan: an old irish family.

Totally a huge waste of money.

Irish Family names.......2007-08-01

A great book giving information on Irish Family names and regions they are found in. A very useful book for those doing Irish family research.

Disappointed.......2007-01-14

This book covers a huge range of Irish names, however only provides minimal information on each and coat of arms for the select few. It provided the same information that is easily found on the web.

Be sure you get the third edition.......2005-04-29

The third edition of this work is definitely the best. It contains the index to the entire 28 volumes in the series, which covers every county in Ireland. The second edition was published earlier, and does not contain the complete index to the series. The third edition has all the family history information from the second edition, PLUS the complete series info. This book contains the largest collection of Irish Family Names, locations and arms ever put to print.

A solid and accessibly presented genealogical reference.......2003-02-14

Now in an expanded and updated third edition, The Book Of Irish Families Great & Small by genealogy expert Michael C. O'Laughlin (Editor of the monthly "Journal of Irish Families) is a solid and accessibly presented genealogical reference based upon ancient and modern manuscripts. Offering 20,000 Irish family names, 700 illustrated coats of arms, ancient maps and illustrations, step-by-step guides for tracing Irish family roots, and so much more, The Book Of Irish Families Great & Small is a first-rate and enthusiastically recommended reference for any dedicated genealogist or aspiring family historian seeking to track down their Irish roots.

Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored

Average customer rating:

Ridiculous conspiracy theories based on facts
Authentic Ancient American History
excellent seller and product
Discovering Mysteries
Be Realistic In Your Analysis...

Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored

Manufacturer: New Page Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
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Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals: 100,000 Years of Lost History

ASIN: 1564148424

Book Description

The nursery rhyme begins, "In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Less well-known is the line that follows: "…to learn if the old maps were true." How can there be "old maps" of a land no one knew existed? Were others here before Columbus? What were their reasons for coming and what unexplained artifacts did they leave behind?

The oceans were highways to America rather than barriers, and when discoverers put ashore, they were greeted by unusual inhabitants. In Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America, the author of The Atlantis Encyclopedia turns his sextant towards this hemisphere. Here is a collection of the most controversial articles selected from seventy issues of the infamous Ancient American magazine. They range from the discovery of Roman relics in Arizona and California's Chinese treasure, to Viking rune-stones in Minnesota and Oklahoma and the mysterious religions of ancient Americans. Many questions will be raised including:

What role did extraterrestrials have in the lives of ancient civilizations?

What ancient pyramids and towers tell us about the people who built them?

Are they some sort of portals to another dimension?

What prehistoric technologies have been discovered, and what can they tell us about early settlers, their religious beliefs, and possible other-worldly visitors?

Did El Dorado exist, and what of the legendary Fountain of Youth?

Was Atlantis in Cuba?

What are America's lost races and what happened to them?

Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America brings to the fore the once-hidden true past of America's earliest civilizations

Frank Joseph is the author of The Atlantis Encyclopedia (New Page Books), as well as a dozen other books on history, prehistory, and metaphysics. He has been the editor-in-chief of Ancient American magazine since its first issue in 1993. He lives in Wisconsin.

Wayne May is the founder-publisher of Ancient American. Laura Lee is the award-winning producer and host of the nationally syndicated "The Laura Lee Show". David Hatcher Childress wrote the best-selling Lost Cities series. Zecharia Sitchin is the author of the best-selling Earth Chronicles series. Andrew Collins is world-renowned for his consistent bestsellers, including Gateway to Atlantis.

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculous conspiracy theories based on facts.......2007-04-29

This book is a compilation of articles that take facts and add conjecture or speculation to arrive at a possible thesis.
The articles in this book are generally based on large leaps of faith which have little or no basis.
The editor, Frank Joseph, is from a historical conspiracy theory type magazine called Ancient American.
The book is a collection of articles from the magazine, printed in book form for a quick buck.
If you looked for this book in your local bookstore, you would most likely find it in the "new age" or "alternative history" section.
It is not possible to read this book as non-fiction because some of it is based on guesswork or patchwork history.
If fact and fiction are mixed, you have fiction, no matter how much fact is involved.
Unless you are a conspiracy theorist or you are looking for a book full of magazine articles of historical fiction, you can probably skip this one.
Some of the stories are interesting, but all are portrayted as journalism when they would more accurately be described as historical fiction.

Authentic Ancient American History.......2007-04-29

Finally, people aren't ignoring the evidence of pre-Columbus voyages to America. This change in thinking has been a long time coming. This book presents some of the most compelling evidences for the voyages and visits. Even skeptics will have a hard time putting this book down. See also: Columbus Was Last: From 200,000 BC to 1492, A Heretical History of Who Was First & The Island of Seven Cities: Where the Chinese Settled When They Discovered America

excellent seller and product.......2007-02-13

Item as described and received in a timely manner... an excellent buying experience!

Discovering Mysteries.......2007-01-03

This is exactly what I looked for. A collection of interesting articles, and among them strong evidences that the Vikings were in America before Columbus. Just what I was looking for. Great!

Be Realistic In Your Analysis..........2006-05-24

Childress' book cites numerous known abberations to the common perception that most relics and antiquities found in North America are of "native" cultural origin, and having these bits all in one place in one book is useful and entertaining. However, the speculation on aliens, portals, and Atlantis-type culture is, as always, tedious. Anyone can speculate and it is a writer's choice on how he or she chooses to speculate. The reader ,however, must be realistic in their analysis and truth behind the writer's speculation. If it is for entertainment purposes, the book and its speculations are wothwhile; if it is for actual information, the book is worth the price to read about the additional relics that have been found in North America that can really question our prevalent interpretations of North American history - however, the speculation on aliens and such is just that...entertainment value only. Early Mankind was a lot more innovative and flexible than people like Childress give them credit for - no use of aliens and portals is necessary to explain the historical evidence that is apparent in the antiquities record.

Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields: Discovering America's Hallowed Ground

Average customer rating:

Another Great One!
Great concise read...
Great Detail, but incomplete
Civil War Buffs
Great Companion

Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields: Discovering America's Hallowed Ground
Jeff Shaara
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II
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Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War
The Glorious Cause
The Last Full Measure

ASIN: 0345464885
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Book Description

TRAVEL THROUGH A PIVOTAL TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY

Jeff Shaara, America’s premier Civil War novelist, gives a remarkable guided tour of the ten Civil War battlefields every American should visit: Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, New Market, Chickamauga, the Wilderness/Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg/Appomattox. Shaara explores the history, the people, and the places that capture the true meaning and magnitude of the conflict and provides

• engaging narratives of the war’s crucial battles
• intriguing historical footnotes about each site
• photographs of the locations–then and now
• detailed maps of the battle scenes
• fascinating sidebars with related points of interest

From Antietam to Gettysburg to Vicksburg, and to the many poignant destinations in between, Jeff Shaara’s Civil War Battlefields is the ideal guide for casual tourists and Civil War enthusiasts alike.

Customer Reviews:

Another Great One!.......2007-09-16

Another great book. Read it in two days. Very informative and written well.

Great concise read..........2007-09-15

Excellent review of the landscape of the great Civil War battles...nice personal touches from Shaara himself. Maps could be improved with more color and more color photos would be really nice.

Great Detail, but incomplete.......2007-06-28

I found this book a mixed bag. Overall, I was disappointed at its incompleteness. For the 10 Civil War Battlefields that the author has chosen to discuss, he does a great job bringing to life in vivid detail both the battles that were fought and what to see in visiting the battlefields. I would expect nothing less from such a talented historian. Where this book falls short is in the battlefields and civil war sites not even discussed such as Manassas, Stones River, Andersonville, etc. The author indicates that he has left out a lot of battlefields in order to keep the book somewhat compact. In addition, the author does not even provide driving directions to the battlefields described in the book. Instead he simply provides web links to the appropriate National Park Service websites.
In summary a great book to take with you as long as these are the only battlefields that you are going to see. To his credit, the author does describe most of the major battlefields including Shiloh, Antietam and Gettysburg.

Civil War Buffs.......2007-05-25

This book is a must for Civil War buffs, Good material for review prior to any vist to the bttlefield

Great Companion.......2006-12-09

OUTSTANDING. Well written, good maps, some interesting photos.
As a Civil War buff, I found Mr. Shaara's guide an excellent companion to take along when exploring the 10 discussed Civil War battlefields. To trod on those Hallowed Fields is a unique experience, Mr. Shaara's book make that experience even more personal and informative
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn and experience 10 of the Civil War's bloodiest battlefields. A great take-along when visiting these battlefields.

Discovering the Unknown Landscape: A History Of America's Wetlands

Average customer rating:

A terrific historical overview of wetlands...
An essential book for those interested in wetland protection

Discovering the Unknown Landscape: A History Of America's Wetlands
Ann Vileisis
Manufacturer: Island Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Rivers | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1559633158

Book Description

The rapidly disappearing wetlands that once spread so abundantly across the American continent serve an essential and irreplaceable ecological function. Yet for centuries, Americans have viewed them with disdain. Beginning with the first European settlers, we have thought of them as sinkholes of disease and death, as landscapes that were worse than useless unless they could be drained, filled, paved or otherwise "improved." As neither dry land, which can be owned and controlled by individuals, nor bodies of water, which are considered a public resource, wetlands have in recent years been at the center of controversy over issues of environmental protection and property rights.

The confusion and contention that surround wetland issues today are the products of a long and convoluted history. In Discovering the Unknown Landscape, Anne Vileisis presents a fascinating look at that history, exploring how Americans have thought about and used wetlands from Colonial times through the present day. She discusses the many factors that influence patterns of land use-ideology, economics, law, perception, art-and examines the complicated interactions among those factors that have resulted in our contemporary landscape. As well as chronicling the march of destruction, she considers our seemingly contradictory tradition of appreciating wetlands: artistic and literary representations, conservation during the Progressive Era, and recent legislation aimed at slowing or stopping losses.

Discovering the Unknown Landscape is an intriguing synthesis of social and environmental history, and a valuable examination of how cultural attitudes shape the physical world that surrounds us. It provides important context to current debates, and clearly illustrates the stark contrast between centuries of beliefs and policies and recent attempts to turn those longstanding beliefs and policies around. Vileisis's clear and engaging prose provides a new and compelling understanding of modern-day environmental conflicts.

Customer Reviews:

A terrific historical overview of wetlands..........1998-08-24

This is a great primer for anyone interested in the history of our wetland ecosystems- from armchair ecologists to the PhDs. It helped me enormously in understanding how our wetlands came to be what they are today. Vileisis' style is engaging and clear, making this a real page turner. I didn't want to put it down.

An essential book for those interested in wetland protection.......1998-02-06

We've all heard the statistics. As Vileisis puts it, "Overall, 221 million acres of wetlands once graced our nation's lower forty-eight states with a rich mosaic of life. More than half of these important landscapes no longer exist." This book traces a history of loss and chronicles the changing attitudes of the settlers from Europe and their descendants about wetlands. Caught up as we frequently are in controversies about how to identify wetlands, how to preserve them and mitigate their loss, this book provides a long perspective and calls for no less than a change in culture if we are to stop the inexorable downward trend.

Vileisis describes how, to the first European settlers, what we call wetlands were "dismal swamps," linked by images such as Pilgrim Progress' "slough of despond" to whatever is dark and evil. Later wetlands represented opportunity: drain them and make a lot of money, whether selling real estate in Florida or planting more and more crops.

This is more than a book about wetlands, however. It is a history of water policy in the United States. It tells the history of the great American institutions that grew up to deal with wetlands issues: the Soil Conservation Service, the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others. She also tells of the federal legislation that shapes our current ways of dealing with wetlands; how these laws got passed and how they have been enforced. Anyone attempting to understand the changing role of the Corp of Engineers in wetland protection, for example, should read this book.

The book is also gracefully written and filled with great stories about entrepreneurs and dreamers who saw opportunities in controlling the rivers and draining the swamps, and how their plans almost always went awry. It also tells of those who helped change the cultural attitude toward wetlands, people like Mrs. Augustus Hemenway of Boston, who, with William Brewster, founded the Audubon Society and groups like Ducks Unlimited, who saw dramatic decreases of wildlife in their favorite hunting areas. When scientists began to understand the values of wetlands in the early 20th century, long-entrenched attitudes began to change.

Vileisis points to the essential difficulty for understanding and dealing with wetlands: land is property, and our thinking is guided by concepts of "property rights." The waters of the country, on the other hand, have been understood as belonging to all of us. But wetlands are both land -- we can put a fence around it -- and water -- it flows and knows no boundaries. This is the key to why it has been so hard to shape public policy and attitudes about wetlands. As Vileisis puts it, "Americans were stuck somewhere between the conventional view of wetlands as property and the ecological view of wetlands as a life-support system."

Vileisis takes heart from the resiliency of nature, but in her closing chapter she says, "...while there have been changes in attitudes, policies, and laws, and marked decrease in the rate of wetlands loss, the destruction of wetlands continues because powerful interests cling to the status quo that calculates its profits in the ledger of short-term private gain with little concern for the common good." For those of us who work to change this cultural attitude, this book extends our sense of interconnectedness to those who lived before us. Vileisis says, "Informed by history, we can remember the trade-offs already made and turn away from the mistakes and misunderstandings of a time when we knew no better."

The Battle Between the Farm Lanes: Hancock Saves the Union Center: Gettysburg July 2, 1863 (Discovering Civil War America Series, V. 4)
Average customer rating:

Suffers From Lack of Maps

HANCOCK SAVES THE UNION CENTER

Pop-rate Microhistory of Part of the Gettysburg Battle

Walking Gettysburg's Battlefield: Hancock and the Union Center on July 2nd

Excellent addition to Gettysburg history

The Battle Between the Farm Lanes: Hancock Saves the Union Center: Gettysburg July 2, 1863 (Discovering Civil War America Series, V. 4)

Manufacturer: Ironclad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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Protecting the Flanks: The Battles for Brinkerhoff's Ridge and East Cavalry Field, Battle of Gettysburg, July 2-3, 1863 (Discovering Civil War America)

ASIN: 0967377072

Book Description

Gettysburg, late afternoon, Thursday, July 2, 1863.

The Union left wing is a shambles. General Dan Sickles has been carried from the field with a gruesome wound and his Third Corps is in full retreat.

Confederate troops cross the Emmitsburg Road and advance on the center of the Union position. There is no coherent Union line, just two-thirds of an over-extended Second Corps scattered the length of Cemetery Ridge. A desperate Winfield Scott Hancock organizes a defense, placing artillery batteries, hurling regiments forward, trading men for time. It is a masterful performance under extreme conditions.

The Union and Confederate forces collide in Plum Run Ravine. More than at any other point in the three days of fighting, the issue hangs in the balance. This great battle is reduced to less than an acre of ground.

This book pays close attention to the terrain, how it shaped the battle, how it dictated the movement of troops and how it guided Hancock's decisions. The thrilling narrative and the detailed driving and walking tour make it a must for both casual and serious students of the battle.

Customer Reviews:

Suffers From Lack of Maps.......2007-09-29

This book addresses an important part of the Battle of Gettysburg. Unfortunately, the maps are woefully deficient, which detracts from the book's effectiveness.

HANCOCK SAVES THE UNION CENTER.......2007-03-11

The author does an excellent job of describing the activities of Hancock as they relate to the Union defenses on Day 2 at Gettysburg. He was willing to give credit to units other than the 1st Minnesota in the stopping of Barksdale's Brigade,e.g., the 111th New York. Most of the credit seems to go to the 1st Minnesota. They suffered the highest percentage of casualties but not the highest number. Had Hancock not been all over the battlefield the outcome could have been different or there could have been more Union casualties. I highly recommend the book for those interested in accounts of specific parts of the battlefield.

Pop-rate Microhistory of Part of the Gettysburg Battle.......2007-02-24

Most books now published relative to the Battle of Gettysburg are "microhistories", focusing in on small segments of the whole, exploring those segments in great detail. "The Battle between the Farm Lanes" is such a microhistory, examining a crucial moment during the second day of fighting at Gettysburg. The Confederate successes at the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield and their failure at Little Round Top during the grand assault on the Union left on July 2, 1863, are well-known and well-documented in many works. Less familiar is the story of how the Union Army of the Potomac brought the Confederate onslaught to a halt and preserved the integrity of their main position along Cemetary Ridge. "The Battle between the Farm Lanes" is the story of how the Army of the Potomac brought the Confederate advance to a halt and turned it back. The authors carefully examine the role of Winfield Scott Hancock (commander of the Federal Second Corps) in directing that Union effort, and they give him high marks for saving the Army of the Potomac from grievous defeat. But they do not neglect Hancock's subordinate commanders in how they carried out his orders and performed heroically on the battlefield. "The Battle between the Farm Lanes" is a volume that belongs on the shelves of anyone seriously interested in Gettysburg, and it provides a a vivid look at Civil War combat on the infantry regiment and artillery battery level.

Walking Gettysburg's Battlefield: Hancock and the Union Center on July 2nd.......2007-02-20

The Battle Between the Farm Lanes: Hancock Saves the Union Center, Gettysburg July 2nd 1863, David Schultz and David Wieck, Forward by Jeffery Wert
301 pages, paperbound, endnotes, bibliography, index, Ironclad Press, 2006.

Paying close attention to the physical terrain of the battlefield, Schultz and Wieck offer an important re-visitation to familar material regarding the 'close run thing' of the Union center between 5:00 and 7:00pm on July 2nd 1863. A great amount of detail is offered and succesfully puts into context the charge of the 1st Minnesota, which in popular treatments of the battle, is second only to the 20th Maine's heroics on Little Round Top.

The authors make clear that the glory the 1st Minnesota gained during the charge was with the aid of the 111th New York infantry, commanded by Colonel Clinton MacDougall and the 4th U.S. Artillery, Battery C, commanded by Lt. Evan Thomas. The flanks of the 1st Minnesota were aided by artillery on the right, and on the left by a infantry charge immediately before the Minnesotans effort. The 111th New York was one of the three regiments that was unfairly lableled as the 'Harper's Ferry Cowards' stemming from an unfortunate command decision during the Sharpsburg Campaign of 1862.

The personality and presence of Winfield S. Hancock is a recurring theme in every chapter. He is the single most decisive element in the preservation of the Federal center along Cemetery Ridge. Lacking from the discussion is a description of Hancock's staff, which in this micro-history, would have been enlightening and enjoyable. This reader finished the the book thinking that Hancock was unaccompanied by couriers, advisors, and aides as he rode between the farmslanes during the afternoon of July 2nd.

Yet, there are some difficulties with this book. The size of the type font must be 18 point or larger. Initially I thought the publisher had sent me the Large Print edition for the visually impaired. There was a period of adjustment for my eyes to accommodate such large text. Also, some printer/publisher proofreading needed to be done before setting this book between its covers. The pages listed for the maps in the table of contents does not match with the actual page locations of the maps in the book. Also, the maps do not have the farmsteads labled which is a curious thing for a book that has the word 'farmlanes' in its title. Only one map, Tour Stop # 5, has a farm building labled. The maps have on them only the modern park roads and not the 1863 farmlanes. Furthermore, it would have been convienent for the reader if the publisher put a few maps in the first section of the book that describes the 1863 fighting. All the maps are in the second section of the book that describes the modern driving and walking tour.

In addition, the portaits of officers do not have their units in the captions. Lacking is a picture of Colonel William J. Colville (1st Minnesota) though it is located in the Library of Congress. At times the writing style doesn't carry the narrative consistenly forward. A favorite expression of the authors is 'by the time . . .' but there is very few statements of time in the book. Of course, given the fact that the book covers about two hours of fighting, the reader does not expect a minute by minute account, but an estimation of the range time, such as the phrase '. . .about 3:30pm . . .' or ' . . . probably sometime between 4:00pm and 4:30pm . . .' would have helped.

From the bibliography is missing Richard Moe's highly regarded 'The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers.' Missing from the book are appendices at the end of the book; especially helpful would have been an Union and Confederate order of battle of those units on the field at the Union center. There is an appendix which offers an essay on measuring the ground on which the fight occurred; the appendix is located in the middle of the book, between the narrative and the tour.

Though mechanically the book has its flaws, overall the discussion it offers is enlightening and clearly presented.

Excellent addition to Gettysburg history.......2007-02-09

Ironclad Publishing continues to bring affordable high quality Civil War histories to the public as part of The Discovering Civil War America Series. This is the fourth excellent book in the series the others are:
Protecting the Flank: The Battles for Brinkerhoff's Ridge and East Cavalry Field
A Little Short of Boats: The Fights at Ball's Bluff and Edwards Ferry
"No Such Army since the Days of Julius Caesar" Sherman's Carolinas Campaign: from Fayetteville to Averasboro
Each is a paperback book of 200 to 300 pages, with illustrations, maps, index, bibliography and notes. Each book is a very good introductory to intermediate account of the subject and is about the best buy available in Civil War history.
July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg is my candidate for most written about event in the Civil War. The Pickett's Charge is the other event that could be considered for this status. Do we need/want another book about this well covered event? Considering the work of Coddington and Pfranz this is a very valid question. Some of you may not consider buying this book as you have the mentioned volumes in your library.
While this is a valid consideration, I feel that you will lose a unique view of this action. Most accounts focus on the Confederate side of Longstreet's' attack. The Union response while not slighted has not gotten equal coverage. Unintentionally, this promotes the idea that Longstreet's attack ran out of gas as darkness ends this very long day.
Shultz and Wieck focus on Hancock's responses on July 2nd. Starting with the arrival of his Corps and deployment thru the end of the day, with the attack broken and the Union line intact. Sickles unauthorized advance that weakens the Union left complicate Hancock's task. Sickles being out of position and trying to defend to long a line forces Hancock to reinforce to him. As the battle moves into Hancock's area, he no longer has a full Corps and must cover Sickles area too.
This book is a detailed history of how Hancock held. Riding from crisis to crisis, meeting threat after threat, we come to understand the wrenching decisions he makes. The 19th Main, the 1st Minnesota, the Harpers Ferry Cowards and Turnbull's Battery march and fight across the pages. Each of these actions is detailed and placed within the larger action, allowing us to understand the unique dangers and contributions these units made.
This is a well written easy to read account of the Union response. One of the nicer items is a detailed tour of the area. This allows the reader to visit and understand the why to much of the actions. This book is a valuable addition to your Gettysburg library and highly recommended.

Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities Forchildren (Keepers of the Earth)

Average customer rating:

I can't say enough about these books!
Great for Homeschooling Ecology Unit

Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities Forchildren (Keepers of the Earth)
Michael J. Caduto , and Joseph Bruchac
Manufacturer: Fulcrum Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children
Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children (Keepers of the Earth)
Keepers of the Night: Native American Stories and Nocturnal Activities for Children (Keepers of the Earth)
Native American Gardening: Stories, Projects and Recipes for Families
KEEPERS OF THE ANIMALS TEACHER'S GUIDE

ASIN: 1555913873

Customer Reviews:

I can't say enough about these books!.......2002-04-02

The entire series is excellent!!! I have all four and I highly reccomend them. They teach science, literature, native american culture, and give children a respect for the natural world at the same time. (there is even the occasional bit of math thrown in). My son loves doing the activities with me! Excellent for unit studies!

Great for Homeschooling Ecology Unit.......2001-08-02

We use this book as a homeschool social studies/ecology resource. Each section begins with a Native American story related to the topic of the chapter, then moves on to a discussion of the subject matter. Each section also has activities/experiments, questions for review and discussion, and recommendations for materials for further study. My kids really look forward to each lesson in this book, because the information is presented in a fun manner, and the activities are appropriate for a wide-range of ages!

The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers: Your Sacred Path to Discovering the Gifts, Talents, and Abilities of the Feminin

Average customer rating:

Very interesting book
Review
Sacred Medicine Shared
A thorough and practical book!
Saddened to hear such negativity.

The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers: Your Sacred Path to Discovering the Gifts, Talents, and Abilities of the Feminin
Jamie Sams
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Dancing the Dream: The Seven Sacred Paths Of Human Transformation (Religion and Spirituality)
Earth Medicine: Ancestor's Ways of Harmony for Many Moons
The Sacred Path Workbook: New Teachings and Tools to Illuminate Your Personal Journey
Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours: A Classic Native American Creation Story as Retold by a Seneca Elder, Twylah Nitsch, and Her Granddaughter, Jamie Sams
Sacred Path Cards: The Discovery of Self Through Native Teachings

ASIN: 0062507567

Book Description

On Women Turning Fifty honors the new faces of aging with powerful, positive images of fiftysomething women who share stories of mid-life discovery. Accomplished by beautiful photographs, these candid and engaging interviews reveal women whose challenges, conflicts, and triumphs are reshaping our attitudes toward work, relationships, and personal growth. From Gloria Steinem, Isabel Allende, Ellen Burstyn, and Mary Ellen Mark to single-parent school teacher Deanne Burke and breast cancer survivor Barbara Eddy, the diverse voices in On Women Turning Fifty offer exhilarating models of confidence, courage, and celebration.

Customer Reviews:

Very interesting book.......2007-03-12

I enjoyed reading and learning from this book and also have the cards and I enjoy them as well. Very good author....read and enjoy and best of all--learn.

Review.......2006-06-10

I've enjoyed this book although, at times, the writing is dry and uneventful. It is sometimes hard to follow but the information and experience it contains makes up for those slight downfalls.

Sacred Medicine Shared.......2006-01-29

What an enlightening read for those who seek to understand better and heal within themselves all parts of ourselves. People of Peace and Love feel the truth working within themselves as the stories of these Clan Mothers are shared.
An awesome spiritual book does not give us all the answers, it shares some knowledge, and then we have to work it and walk it daily in our lives. I am thankful that Jamie shared this knowledge, it has enriched my life. And, will work its own medicine here. Pilamiya!

A thorough and practical book!.......2004-05-17

I have personally benefited from Jamie's book by being a part of a circle of women who use this book as a guide to gain a greater understanding of ourselves and those around us.
It doesn't matter what color we are, we all come from the same rainbow with the same lessons to learn. The 13 original clan mothers gives us very clear, detailed wisdom of what it is to be a whole, complete woman. It is written in a simple, accessible way. Myself as well as many women I know, have experienced the magic of the clan mothers cycles as a part of our lives, with each mother presenting herself to us personally with her teachings and love. Try incorporating it into your daily life, and see how the lessons and wisdom come to you from moon to moon! It is powerful, if you choose to use it. Ofcourse,each to her/his own.
I believe Jamie to be a beautiful Spirit, and it comes through her words in the 13 Original Clan Mothers.

Saddened to hear such negativity........2003-04-04

I haven't read this book yet, although I intend to.
I recently received it as a gift from a friend after
having told her how wonderful a book I thought "Dancing the Dream" was. It's sad to see that, as the result of what I think is jealousy and resentment for Jamie's success, some rather negative comments have been posted. Don't believe all that you hear/read. From what I read in Dancing the Dream, Jamie doesn't claim to be a pure blood, and she's very honest about how she has been treated by some members of the Native American community.
Some feel she has no right to share the mysteries of greatness
because she isn't a "pure breed", (I find that just pure arrogance), some feel she's giving information away that somehow will become diluted by us "white folk", (there is a
bitterness against the white man, and rightly so, -- one of the casualties of cruelty is the loss of trust), but the fact that this information is being shared by so many, both pure breed and other, is, to me, a sign that it NEEDS to be shared. Many of us have lost our way. We live in a world of chaos and hatred, of dysfunction and disassociation, and we need to find a way back to our sacred paths. Thank you Jamie Sams, and others, for providing us with the means with which to do that.

On the Back Roads: Discovering Small Towns of America

Average customer rating:

Disappointed!
Discover Small Towns: Discover Yourself
This isn't travel, but a vacation.
Excellent book.
Disappointed

On the Back Roads: Discovering Small Towns of America
Bill Graves
Manufacturer: Addicus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Blue Highways: A Journey into America
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On the Road with Charles Kuralt
A Walk Across America

ASIN: 1886039364

Book Description

Do you like small towns, places off the beaten path, trips down memory lane? Ever wonder if old-fashioned values are still alive in America? Then kick back, unwind, and hop onboard with travel writer Bill Graves as he takes you On the Back Roads. Graves has a knack for finding the quirky, the offbeat in some of the most obscure, yet fascinating, small towns on the map. Among the places and faces he discovers: a town where it's against the law not to own a gun, a town famous for its split pea soup, the wise 83-year-old Emmy who camps alone in the dessert, and a man who hunts live ants for a living. The list goes on! Retired and free to roam in his motorhome, the “RV Author,” Bill Graves, logs 40,000 miles through the western states of California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed!.......2003-02-26

I was disappointed.

A collection of very short tales from the author's travels... Really not much of a theme running through it. I'm not sure what the author's objective was in writing it, other than to be able to tell people that he's writing a book. If you want to read about small town America, try Dayton Duncan's "Miles from Nowhere" or Jonathan Raban's "Bad Land."

Discover Small Towns: Discover Yourself.......2001-09-18

I got this book so I could write a small synopsis for an RV publication and read it with some skepticism. Could Graves possibly engage my interest about towns I'm sure I'll never visit? As I scanned the chapters, as I so often do with this sort of book, I had to stop and read deeper. He wasn't writing strickly in support of tourism, but about getting to know oneself, to be in the moment, to not let life pass you by. While sharing some of his past, we're able to watch Graves' internal struggle to find peace, and traveling back roads with Rusty gave him the opportunity to do just that. Although the author often talks about his mode of travel, the motorhome was merely a conduit -- although a comfortable one -- to make this journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves travel, introspection, humor and good fun.

This isn't travel, but a vacation........2000-07-22

Looking on the back cover of this book when I got it, I was lt down. In small print on the upper-left corner it says "Travel". But in big print, upper-middle, it refers to the auther and the "R.V. Author" (something like that). I come from the philosophy that one cannot truly experience the magic and wonders of the backroads in an RV. I bought the book hoping to "meet" some wonderful people from Small Town, USA. I was hoping to hear about interesting sights hidden from most Interstate travellers. I was hoping to read about the new wisdom and insight which comes from travelling alone in unfamiliar places. Bill Graves does none of this. He usually spends about 2 largely-printed pages on one town and all of the people in it. Sometimes, he only writes a half of a page. He takes the interstate when he can, and he complains about the heat. This book is also edited poorly. There are several cases where he will introduce someone with one name and have it spelled differently two or three lines down. Jessy, Jessie, and Jesse describes the same small boy who rides in his dad's truck. I do get a small smile every now and again from reading this book, which is why I didn't give it 1 star. But if you want a real travel book, read William Least Heat-Moon. Not this.

Excellent book........2000-04-02

A most entertaining book. I had trouble putting it down. Graves has an easy style which is always humble, insightful, and extremely well researched. It makes you want to hit the road today!

Disappointed.......2000-03-30

This particular book does not cover "America," but only California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. When I have the opportunity to travel to these states, I think it will be somewhat helpful. I was dissapointed more of the U.S. was not covered.

Average customer rating:

Not a travel book
Very helpful

Uruguay (Discovering)
Charles J. Shields
Manufacturer: Mason Crest Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ITMB Uruguay Map with Montevideo City Plan (Travel Reference Map)
Uruguay (Enchantment of the World. Second Series)
Montevideo Map
Uruguay (Cultures of the World)
Argentina North and Uruguay Nelles Map (Nelles Maps S.) (Nelles Maps)

ASIN: 1590842901

Customer Reviews:

Not a travel book.......2007-02-04

A very interesting thin book about Uruguay, but it is not useful as a travel guide.

Very helpful.......2006-03-03

I liked that this book contained many facts and figures and charts, which was very helpful in learning about Uruguay before traveling there. I did think the book was rather 'pricey' for the size and scope of the book.

Off-Season: Discovering America on Winter's Shore

Average customer rating:

Are we there yet?
Move Over, Conroy!
A rare treat, an emotional winter jaunt
For the love of the ocean.
Ever want to get away from it all?

Off-Season: Discovering America on Winter's Shore
Ken Mcalpine
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Red House : Being a Mostly Accurate Account of New England's Oldest Continuously Lived-in House
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The Outermost House: A Year of Life On The Great Beach of Cape Cod

ASIN: 1400049733
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Book Description

No Longer the Forgotten Season

Just after Labor Day, Ken McAlpine said good-bye to his family and began a drive up the East Coast, from Florida to Maine, on a one-man quest to capture the elusive “forgotten season” of beach towns shuttered until the return of warm weather. Off-Season is a moving portrait that brings to life the magic of the sea and shore in winter, the charm of beach towns emptied of summer crowds, and the warmth and eccentricities of year-round coastal residents who revel in small-town spirit.

McAlpine skipped the more popular destinations like Nags Head, Virginia Beach, Cape May, and the Hamptons, opting to visit lesser known locales like Sharpes, Florida; Tangier Island, Virginia; and Montauk, New York. There he found people who celebrated the departure of the tourists with the cautious hope they’d return next summer. He encountered fishermen struggling to make a living, a former playboy lifeguard now ministering to the elderly and ill, a marine policeman both reviled and respected, a lone kayaker paddling away his grief, a couple fighting to save the world’s coral reefs, divers searching for everything from false teeth to dead bodies in dark waters, and deserted snow-covered beaches more beautiful than anyone could describe.

More than a travelogue—and a whole new breed of beach read—Off-Season is a stroll off the beaten path and a look at the people and places in our country that keep the spirit of community alive.

Customer Reviews:

Are we there yet?.......2005-10-19

I really had high hopes for Ken McAlpine's Off-Season:Discovering America on Winter's Shore. When I got to Quoddy Head I just didn't feel fulfilled. Not that this travel book didn't have its good moments, but you know that point in a vacation where you just want to get home, that's how I felt reading this book. In the author's quest to give us "local color" he at times drones on. The highlights of the book were his trips to Tangier and Hog Islands. But, the last third of the book was rushed. In the beginning of the book McAlpine dawdled and this might be the reason why there just wasn't any meat at the end. His constantly reminding the reader how he just wasn't another tourist and endeared himself to the "locals" started to make my teeth hurt after awhile. Finally, I grew up within 30 minutes of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay and it seemed to me like in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states the author skipped over quite a bit. This tome to the loneliness of a winter's sea is just OK, kinda like a soggy peanut butter sandwich at the end of a day at the beach.

Move Over, Conroy!.......2004-12-09

This book sings of the eastern coast of the United States in much the same style as my favorite Poet-Novelist, Pat Conroy. I can feel the salt spray, and the cold, and the emotional ups and downs of the author as I savor each chapter!

I have craved my own experiences in these locations, and maybe someday, I'll use McAlpine's book as a tour guide!

A rare treat, an emotional winter jaunt.......2004-11-21

Journalist Ken McAlpine's decision to travel slowly from Florida to Maine in the dead of winter could not have been more appropriate. Familiar miasmic tourist locations like Key West, the Outer Banks, the Jersey Shore, Long Island's East End, coastal Connecticut, Rhode Island and the Cape all take on new sheen and character under McAlpine's pen. I couldn't help but be jealous for all the solitude and friendship he found on his frigid but warm winter trips. Anyone who has appreciated a quiet, special location when the tourists were all gone will doubtless appreciate the dialog, the characters and the voyage itself. As several reviewers have already noted, McAlpine's fresh travel log achieves and instills an admiration, respect and vigorous hope for an America in which there is still so much originality, warmth and community. Thanks to McAlpine, we can recognize that hope. I loved this book.

For the love of the ocean........2004-09-02

Throughout his life the ocean has mesmerized Ken Alpine; the effect on his soul by the ocean has been tremendous. He even states that he was almost born and he kissed his true love by the ocean's edge. What interests him are individuals who are also connected to the ocean and who live within its vicinity year round. In OFF SEASON Ken Alpine embarks on a physical, albeit emotional, journey north from Florida to Maine during the autumn and winter months after the departure of the tourists to ascertain the authentic edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

I have very little experience with the East Coast so reading this book was refreshing. I gained a new perspective of how these small communities survive and have evolved throughout the decades and their inhabitants. Soon after beginning this book it is clearly apparent that Alpine is no fan of tourism and the development of the oceanfront. He continually laments the commercialization and homogenization of society and it's destructive forces; during his journey he deliberately avoids the large tourist resorts in favor of the unforgotten fishing towns that border the Atlantic.

If you don't mind repeatedly being bombarded with Alpine's political agenda OFF SEASON is a meaningful, innovated travelogue of one man's fascination and concern with the ocean and the individuals who make their living near it year around. Recommended.

Ever want to get away from it all?.......2004-07-18

Do you ever feel like getting away for awhile, leaving family and friends for a brief vacation - but can't? Pick up a copy of this book to have on hand when the mood hits. Like the armchair athlete, you will have a vicarious experience, but you won't find a more enjoyable or relaxing way to "go".

Author Ken McAlpine left on this trip initially because "the world seemed to be sliding with exponential speed into a cesspool of trouble ...terrorism, murder, corporate fraud...the woeful list...familiar to anyone who reads today's news".

(Does this sound like anything YOU may have felt lately?)

McAlpine believes (and seeks to confirm) that "most of the world isn't like this...that the clamor and flash of mayhem and mistrust have drowned out the better behavior of the world at large". His trip is a test of sorts: does he find the "proof that the world still rests on a quiet foundation of hope and community"?

He decides to visit oceanside communities in winter, exploring the reality that exists when they are uncluttered by tourists and the usual summer distractions. McAlpine is a travel writer, so he beautifully describes the locales he visits up and down the eastern seaboard. But he is also an astute observer of human behavior and has a degree in environmental science, so his perceptions are interesting and informative as he shares stories and chats with the locals about their way of life. I found myself happy to be "traveling" with Ken because his wonderful, dry sense of humor puts much of what he finds into a warm, compassionate and often hilarious perspective.

Does he find what he's looking for?

Pick up a copy and put it on your nightstand. Keep it for when you aren't sure if you can watch yet another evening newscast, or read another depressing headline. Then savor McAlpine's take on our modern world.

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