The Soldier's Words/ Kenn Woods

 

Kenn Woods presented a copy of his new book, The Soldier's Words: First-hand accounts of what the Confederate soldiers actually wore & interesting anecdotes of the Civil War years, to Pam Williams, Associate Director for Library User Services. Woods utilized research materials from several libraries including the Ort Library to compile the book of personal reflections from soldiers about daily life. Woods acknowledged the help of staff and archivists at Frostburg State University with an inscription of thanks. 

A Civil War reenactor since 1988, he studied historical records and primary sources to learn exact details about the uniforms of Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. In the Introduction he states, "I wanted to present the soldiers/civilians observations through diaries, letters and memoirs." (p. 7)

During his years of research, he has unearthed facts previously overlooked in many historical accounts. For example, he discovered exactly what the crewmen of the CSS Virginia wore at the historical battle at Hampton Roads on March 8, 1862, and the answer is in his book.

What-I'm-Reading-Wednesday: 17 Carnations by Andrew Morton

Though Andrew Morton is perhaps best known for his modern celebrity biographies of subjects like Princess Diana, Tom Cruise, and Angelina Jolie, his newest publication is a fascinating historical account of the relationships between the royal Windsor family, Winston Churchill, and General Eisenhower regarding the infamous abdication of the English throne by Edward VIII and his subsequent friendliness with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. Morton brings to light letters, diagrams, FBI documents, and material from the Russian, British, and German archives to piece together a secret plot to reinstall Edward VIII as King of England in alliance with Nazi Germany.

Morton is known for his somewhat dramatic writing style, and some reviewers have questioned his interpretations of certain letters and documents. Morton makes heavy use of the infamous, once-hidden Marberg file, as well as the personal correspondence of various royalty, political figures, and top-ranking military personnel across Britain, Russia, Germany, and the United States. While some of his suppositions may be a bit on the fantastical side, this particular version of a history marred by conspiracy is still an intriguing read.

17 Carnations: The Royals, The Nazis, and the Biggest Cover-up in History is available in the library and can be requested at the following link: http://catalog.umd.edu/docno=004537599. Click on "Availability", then click on the yellow "Request" button, and log in using your last name and 14-digit Library barcode number on your ID. If you need assistance, please contact the Circulation Desk at 301-687-4395.

What-I'm-Reading-Wednesday: Night by Edna O'Brien

Edna O'Brien moved from her native Ireland to London in 1954, but Ireland remained the focus of her fiction. She began publishing in 1960 and has produced a steady list of novels, collections of short stories and two biographies.

A Pagan Place, a coming-of-age novel published in 1970, sketches her home country as a pagan place and her countrymen as dysfunctional characters. Night followed three years later and provides a psychological study of Mary Hooligan who is the narrator and main character.

In addition to fictional works, O'Brien has penned brief biographies of James Joyce and Lord Byron. It is not surprising considering her own turbulent nature that she would choose fellow rebels as her subjects. As she explains in her introduction to Byron in Love: A Short and Daring Life, she wanted to learn first-hand more about Lord Byron's fascinating character.

Although she has enjoyed favorable reviews in Britain and in the U.S., her books were banned in Ireland for sexually explicit language and irreverent themes.

Both novels are available on Floor 5 of the Ort Library in the PR6065.B7 area:  A Pagan Place and   Night.  The biography Byron in Love: a Short Daring Life is also available at PR4381.O47 2009.

What I'm Reading Wednesday: Poachers by Tom Franklin

Poachers by Tom Franklin is a collection of ten short stories mostly based upon the author's life in rural Alabama. Each tale hones in on the grittier and oft-overlooked aspects of Southern life like violence, gambling, hunting, fishing, and the distinct markings of poverty on a society already scarred by war, intolerance, and injustice. These stories will resonant with those with roots in Appalachia, as the cultural landscape and characters are reminiscent of times, places, and traditions in this area. This collection is sobering and thought-provoking and a quick read for those not hoping for the happiest of endings.

If you are interested in checking this out for yourself, you can request this item from the Ort Library catalog here: http://catalog.umd.edu/docno=003853965. Click on "Availability", then click on the yellow "Request" button, and log in using your last name and 14-digit Library barcode number on your ID. If you need assistance, please contact the Circulation Desk at 301-687-4395.

Use the hastag #whatimreadingwednesday to post your own book reviews online. We would love to see what you're reading!

What-I'm-Reading-Wednesday: The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace and Dr. Peter V. Rabins

I read the first edition of this book in 1982 when I became personally aware of the complications involved with a family member who was experiencing memory loss. Issued by the Johns Hopkins University Press, The 36-Hour Day is a family guide that details the long list of daily tasks that caregivers must address. Written by two professionals in the field of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins, the book's preface to this 5th edition acknowledges the advances in understanding Alzheimer Disease and the changes that have occurred with patient care in the past three decades. Appendix 1 includes a list of recommended Internet sites for information and Appendix 2 identifies relevant organizations and their Web addresses.

A detailed contents note about the book is available.

The 5th edition of The 36 Hour Day is available on Floor 5 of the Ort Library: RC523.M33 2011.

Featured Online Resource - OurDocuments.gov (National Archives)

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has created a web site where they are featuring 100 of the most important documents in United States history.

(Eli Whitney's patent for the cotton gin)

OurDocuments.gov featured documents from the Lee Resolution in 1776 through the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  In addition to well-known documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, you can view:

• The patent for the cotton gin.
• The check written for the purchase of Alaska.
• An aerial photo of missiles in Cuba. and
• The original program for the March on Washington

The entire list of document can be found here: 100 Milestone Documents.

The site also includes a section of Tools for Educators that provides ideas on how these important primary sources could be used in the classroom

Of course, these are just a sampling of the documents available from the National Archives, so take the time to browse that site as well!

The Manhattan Project Notebook (1942)