"Guns of Burgoyne" is a very enjoyable historical novel about the events leading up to and including the battle of Saratoga during the American Revolutionary War. The book portrays how common people from the Hesse-Hanau region of Germany were drafted into military service, and sent off to fight with the British in far-off America, while their "Elector" was paid for their services by the British government. It describes the harsh life the Hessian soldiers had to endure, contrasted against the privileged life of many of their officers. The story is told through the eyes of a young German Lieutenant, Kurt Ahrens, and through Gustav Rentner, an enlisted man "drafted" against his will into the Hessian army. It covers General Burgoyne's advance down Lake Champlain from Canada as he proceeded toward Saratoga and his ultimate defeat. It describes many of the same events that are covered in another of my favorite novels: "Rabble In Arms", by Kenneth Roberts. While that novel describes these events from the point of view of the American Colonists, "Guns of Burgoyne" describes those same historical events from the point of view of the Hessian soldiers accompanying the British. "Guns of Burgoyne" provides an excellent depiction of the Battle of Bennington, as well as the Battle of Saratoga. If you like highly accurate history, wrapped in an enjoyable story told by well developed characters, you must read "Guns of Burgoyne". Its unique perspective, told from the point of view of the Hessian soldiers accompanying the British, provides insight that would be difficult to find elsewhere.

Henner's Lydia by Marguerite de Angeli is a story which takes its readers (or its listeners, for it is a delightful book to read aloud to small children) to a traditional, rural Pennsylvania Dutch community of the 1930's in Lancaster County, PA. The story and drawings possess a wholeness, freshness, and integrity that have borne well the test of time, for this story first appeared about sixty years ago. Young Lydia and her family are Amish, and the characteristics and distinctives of the Amish community are described very well in this story, yet the characters are also people not too different from the kind of people we are. Few children's books manage to so illustrate the human condition with the warmth and wisdom of writer and illustrater de Angeli; this book, along with her book Bright April, is one of her best at doing so.

What happens in the story? Little enough, or so it seems at first: people sit on the porch, make cider in the backyard, walk to school, travel to market, eat food (smearcase, snitz and nep, apple butter, chowchow, fastnachts, half moon pies, and other foods appear on the table), talk, and plan the small events of daily living. Little happens, and everything: young Lydia discovers small but important things about life. Behind the characters and events of the story is a strength, a strength of love, family love, for which we at the end of the 20th century might feel a great longing. Because of this great love, the people in the story know who they are, and we, the readers, are implicitly, warmly encouraged to become the people we should be.

Marguerite de Angeli, born in 1889 in Lapeer, Michigan, wrote and illustrated twenty eight books for young readers during her life. The honors she received include the Newbery Medal, two Caldecott Honor Awards, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and the Regina Medal. She died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1987. Many of her books are out of print; it is good to see this story in print once more.

Randy-Michael Testa's In the Valley of the Shadow is a sad tale of political manipulation and the commercial development of some of our nation's most historic farmland. At issue in his account are several farms in a previously undeveloped portion of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which give way to a retirement community that, in one fell swoop, is expected to increase the population of a bucolic farming community by 40%.

Mr. Testa's account should be of great interest to at least three different groups. Advocates of rural land preservation will read this book as a sort of morality tale, an account of failed grass-roots opposition to the narrow-minded business interests of a few powerful men. Residents of Lancaster County should be keenly interested in Mr. Testa's recounting of the operations of the zoning system at the hands of an elected but thoroughly undemocratic board of township supervisors. Persons of Mennonite faith or upbringing (such as this reader) will find much food for thought and reflection in this account, for Mennonite business leaders function as the central protagonists of this story, blithely oblivious to the contrast between their grasping, monetaristic goals and the egalitarian values of simplicity and service to others on which their Anabaptist culture is based.

The familiar tensions of the wider development debate are present here - in particular, the conflict between the rights of the individual to derive maximum pecuniary benefit from his or her property, on one hand, and the right of a community to establish land-use standards aimed at preserving its aesthetic and historical integrity, on the other hand. Several additional elements throw the tensions of this debate into higher relief in Mr. Testa's account. First is the sheer beauty of the rural farmland being developed. Second, the fact that this community is principally inhabited by Amish and Old Order Mennonite farmers - who do not vote as a matter of religious conscience and whose ancestors were those who initially cleared this land and established these farms, many generations ago - adds special poignancy to the sense of loss and makes the tale of political machination even more troubling. Third is the wide latitude of any resident of the region has witnessed several times how quickly pristine farmland can be converted into consumerist monstrosities worthy of the less elegant parts of Houston and Los Angeles.

This second book of Mr. Testa is more focused and tightly written than his first book, After the Fire, an exuberant and compelling account of life with an Amish family. In this second book, Mr. Testa shows a more mature understanding of the Lancaster County community, but also a greater sense of sadness and resignation. One hopes that Mr. Testa will not give up too easily. In particular, one hopes that Mr. Testa will seek to build further bridges to the politically influential Mennonite community on a grass-roots level, exploring the points of commonality between his ideals and the historical convictions of the Mennonite peoples. One hopes, too, that Mennonite readers will not be too quick to dismiss Mr. Testa's concerns without giving them careful and reasoned consideration, despite statements about certain Mennonite business leaders that some may consider inflammatory. (It is troubling that some Mennonite booksellers refuse to stock this book, which touches on themes so central to their lives.) As Mr. Testa suggests, it is in the hands of the Mennonite community, with their religious ideals or lack thereof, that the fate of the County lies

As the author puts it, (more or less) "If you are the type of person who wants to succeed by keeping his nose to the grindstone and shoulder to the wheel, this book is NOT for you. If you want to succeed without bothering, read on..."

Parkinson's prescription for success, altho written over thirty years ago, and somewhat overtaken by the cultural changes, [particularly as they relate to women) is uniquely valuable (especially to men!). Parkinson is an engaging and humorus writer, but with great lessons buried (not very deeply) in his nice wit.

Get the publisher to reissue... it will be well worth the efort!

Excellent book. This is a very thorough survey of how the Industrial Revolution came to and had an impact on Lancaster City and County, Pennsylvania. Prior the Industrial Revolution, Lancaster's economy was largely farm based, but also thrived on a large portion of skilled artisans and small factory-like operations. The first and perhaps most major step towards industrialization came with the establishment of a cotton mill inudstry, a trend which was sweeping its way through New England and had begun to enter the Mid-Atlantic states in the late 1840's and 1850's. While other cities through which the cotton mill craze had swept were dependent upon the mills due to a lagging economy, Lancaster was able to incorporate the mills into an already diversified and largely successful economy.

Dr. Winpenny--professor of history, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA--provides a wonderful historical background for both Lancaster City and County as well as an economical history of both. By doing so, the reader is easily able to discern the cause and effect of the factory system and the Industrial Revolution in Lancaster. Winpenny provides thorough empirical data and statistics as realistic support to the point presented in the book.

For any student of economic history, the Industrial Revolution, or for those who have a particular interest in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this book is an essential.

The bargain pricetag notwithstanding, this is one of the best parenting books I've ever read. It's concise but comprehensive, covering domestic and international adoption issues, special needs topics, open adoption, and a host of other important matters related to building happy, healthy adoptive families. I found the material on interracial and international adoption issues to be among the book's strongest features; the author offers great advice for sensitively answering kids' questions, straightforwardly dealing with nosy strangers, and maximizing the joy of being a multicultural family. An excellent resource.

Harry de Grosmont, love him or hate him you've gotta admit the guy was a looker and one heck of a force to be reckoned with, both on the field of honor AND on the dance floor!
Here he is in all his glory. Is he the brave knight and right hand of the king? Is he the handsome party boy with a taste for downmarket girls? Is he the introspective, soul searching old author of religious musings?
The answer is YES, Harry is all that and MORE!
Read all about Harry, the women, the madness, and the music in this searing Expose which dares to rip the lid off of the royals' best kept secret!

There were no books about the AVRO Lancaster who packed more information in 96 pages for so little money when this one came out in 1979. The first in this joined PSL/Airfix series not to serve as elaborate background material for one of the later company's 1:24 kits, it still has a nice modelling section, describing e.g. how to convert your Lancaster into a Lancastrian or a York. The cover of this book is a colour photograph, not as with the previous five books the same painting as on the Airfix modelbox, an easy distinction. Later books in this series (Mosquito, B-17) were even more like common aviation books in outward appearance, though they all shared the same format. It is a shame that such a good serie has come to an end.
Funny thing is that a likewise and very recent series by SAM publications starts with the same aircraft as this series. The SAM series can serve as a very good replacement if you can't find the old PSL/Airfix books, as they store an even bigger amount of information within their pages.

Wonderful review of the Lancaster's use in the war.Covers not only the plane but also describes in some detail ground crew and air crew experiences. The b&w photos fill the pages of the book and are of the very best quality. Not much detail on the Lancaster systems but well worth a look!

LANCASTER BRIDES is an inspiring anthology of four very good, excellent, in fact, complete novels about love and faith in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Amish community. Author Wanda Brunstetter has researched her sources well and writes in a wonderful clear presentation. I couldn't put this book down and I'm sorry it's over! I usually send these Barbour inspirational romances to my sister and sister-in-law so they can enjoy them as well, but I have a feeling I might have to hang on to this one! These stories are, in fact, beloved, and I highly recommend LANCASTER BRIDES for all women, teenagers to senior citizens! It's a terrific ride with many basic insights into the Old Amish ways. It's also full of romance and faith. All in all, a good setting for these fine stories.