A Soldier's Sketchbook; an illustrated memoir from a World War II soldier; is drawn from the letters; sketches; snapshots; and mementos of Pvt. Joseph Farris; who left his home of Danbury; Connecticut; and set off to war aboard the U.S.S. General Gordon in October 1944; bound for France as part of Company M; 398th Infantry. Farris wrote more than 800 letters home; and he hewed his artistic talents with sketches and paintings along the way. He also secretly copied officers' notes and; once back home after the war; collected clippings and battlefield accounts; which form a sobering counterpoint to his reassurances to his parents that everything is "swell." This book chronicles a young soldier's experiences from October 1944 through January 1946 in France and Germany. In words and pictures; it tells of Christmas in the trenches; long walks through the rain and mud; landscapes of fear and despair; lost friends and leaders; changing beliefs about human nature; God; and the Jerries (as he calls the Germans). Transcriptions of many of the 800 letters Joseph Farris wrote home sit side by side with the real thing; reproduced in facsimile on the page. Snapshots and color sketches; painted in moments of reprieve during battle and carried home by this earnest young man and fledgling artist; help us see the world he saw.
#1276377 in Books Reinberger Mark E 2015-11-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 11.00 x 1.25 x 8.50l; 3.69 #File Name: 1421411636464 pagesThe Philadelphia Country House Architecture and Landscape in Colonial America
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Brian BallVery clear; well written6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Superb; entertaining and informative!By Steve S.This is a superb book! It provides a magnificent overview of the development of the country house in and around Philadelphia. There is an abundance of technical information in the book which provides a real gold mine for those interested in such details; bit it can easily be skimmed over by those not so inclined. The historical;pictures are fascinating; particularly the inclusion of some comparisons with New England trends and those in the "mother country" England itself. My only unfulfilled desire was to see some contemporary colored photographs of how the places appear today----but this is really a minor criticism in the face of the embarrassment of riches this book provides.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent History of Bourgeois Architecture in Colonial AmericaBy Erik M. AndersonAs an amateur student of architecture; I found this book surprisingly accessible; and filled with great information about the rise of the "colonial" architecture used by the bourgeoisie in early America. It starts by giving a great synopsis of the architectural and landscape developments and trends in England that influenced the colonies. If you are looking to study early American architecture; this is a great resource. The reader also shouldn't be discouraged based on the title - the reason for the focus on Philadelphia is elaborated on in the book; but essentially the region saw the widest use of country houses for a variety of reasons. In fact; the entire first two chapters deal with architecture from areas other than Philadelphia. The book also provides extensive end notes useful for further reading.
