Wisconsin Literary Luminaries


Book Description

From the humble Ingalls family cabin in the woods to Ayad Akhtar's multicultural conflicts, the Badger State's stories and imagery have long inspired. Explore how Aldo Leopold and Lorine Niedecker drew on their close observations of the natural world. Contrast the distinct novels that Jane Hamilton and Larry Watson set on Wisconsin apple orchards. Delve into Thornton Wilder's enduringly popular Our Town and the wild fiction of Ellen Raskin and Cordwainer Smith, who wrote like no one else. Join Jim Higgins for a detailed account of ten notable Wisconsin writers that blends history, literary criticism and fact.




Books in a Box


Book Description

A biography of the woman who was responsible for establishing hundreds of traveling libraries in Wisconsin between 1895 and 1914.




Literary Luminaries of the Berkshires


Book Description

The literary history behind this beautiful mountain region. The Massachusetts Berkshires have long been a mecca for literary greats, from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Edith Wharton to Sinclair Lewis and Joan Ackermann. The Green River in Great Barrington inspired William Cullen Bryant’s poetry. Charles Pierce Burton’s childhood hometown, Adams, became the setting for his frolicking Boys of Bob’s Hill children’s books. During an interlude in Lenox, Patricia Highsmith consulted a local undertaker for details to use in The Talented Mr. Ripley. In this book, Bernard A. Drew brings together a fascinating chronicle of some 250 wordsmiths who took inspiration from the hills and valleys of the Berkshires.




The Life and Letters of William Sharp and "Fiona Macleod". Volume 1: 1855-1894


Book Description

William Sharp (1855-1905) conducted one of the most audacious literary deceptions of his or any time. Sharp was a Scottish poet, novelist, biographer and editor who in 1893 began to write critically and commercially successful books under the name Fiona Macleod. This was far more than just a pseudonym: he corresponded as Macleod, enlisting his sister to provide the handwriting and address, and for more than a decade "Fiona Macleod" duped not only the general public but such literary luminaries as William Butler Yeats and, in America, E. C. Stedman. Sharp wrote "I feel another self within me now more than ever; it is as if I were possessed by a spirit who must speak out". This three-volume collection brings together Sharp’s own correspondence – a fascinating trove in its own right, by a Victorian man of letters who was on intimate terms with writers including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Walter Pater, and George Meredith – and the Fiona Macleod letters, which bring to life Sharp’s intriguing "second self". With an introduction and detailed notes by William F. Halloran, this richly rewarding collection offers a wonderful insight into the literary landscape of the time, while also investigating a strange and underappreciated phenomenon of late-nineteenth-century English literature. It is essential for scholars of the period, and it is an illuminating read for anyone interested in authorship and identity.




The Lives of Edie Pritchard


Book Description

"Characters so real they could walk off the page, virtuoso writing and up-all-night drama."— People From acclaimed novelist Larry Watson, a multigenerational story of the West told through the history of one woman trying to navigate life on her own terms. Edie—smart, self‑assured, beautiful—always worked hard. She worked as a teller at a bank, she worked to save her first marriage, and later, she worked to raise her daughter even as her second marriage came apart. Really, Edie just wanted a good life, but everywhere she turned, her looks defined her. Two brothers fought over her. Her second husband became possessive and jealous. Her daughter resented her. And now, as a grandmother, Edie finds herself ha­rassed by a younger man. It’s been a lifetime of proving that she is allowed to exist in her own sphere. The Lives of Edie Pritchard tells the story of one woman just trying to be herself, even as multiple men attempt to categorize and own her. Triumphant, engaging, and perceptive, Watson’s novel examines a woman both aware of her power and constrained by it, and probes the way perceptions of someone in a small town can shape a life through the decades.




Moon Wisconsin


Book Description

Discover Wisconsin with Moon Travel Guides! From lush forests and fertile farms to rushing rivers and tranquil lakes, experience Wisconsin's classic Midwestern charm with Moon Wisconsin. What you'll find in Moon Wisconsin: Strategic itineraries for any budget and timeline, from a long weekend in Milwaukee or Madison to a week-long getaway to Door County Detailed maps and handy reference photos throughout Curated trip advice for history buffs, foodies, outdoor adventurers, and more Top attractions and off-beat ideas for making the most of your trip: Check out a typical Wisconsin dairy farm and sample fresh wheels of cheese, or let the kids try their hand at churning their own butter. Kayak to sea caves, cycle through rolling hills filled with apple orchards, or hike around a secluded island. Hit the slopes at a ski resort, go snowmobiling across a frozen lake, or explore unique glacial topography on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Wander Milwaukee's historic downtown, check out the Harley-Davidson museum, and unwind with a locally brewed craft beer The best road trips in Wisconsin, including the state's designated "Rustic Roads" Honest advice from native "cheesehead" Thomas Huhti on when to go, what to pack, and where to stay, from luxe hotels, to historic lodges and lakeside cabins Recommendations for getting to Wisconsin and getting around, by plane, train, bus, or car (or even boat!) Thorough background on the culture, weather, wildlife, outdoor recreation safety, and history With Moon's expert advice, diverse activities, and local insight into the best of Wisconsin, you can plan your trip your way. Can't get enough of Wisconsin? Try Moon Wisconsin's Door County. For more Midwestern adventures, try Moon Minneapolis & St. Paul or Moon Michigan.




Moon Wisconsin's Door County


Book Description

Moon Travel Guides: Make Your Escape! Soak up stunning coastlines, picturesque villages, and classic Midwestern charm with Moon Wisconsin's Door County. What you'll find in Moon Wisconsin's Door County: Strategic itineraries for every budget and timeline, from a weekend getaway to a week-long trip, curated for outdoor adventurers, foodies, history buffs, and more Must-see attractions and off-beat ideas for making the most of your trip: Spend the day cycling through forests and along rugged shorelines, or hiking to extraordinary caves and historic lighthouses. Unwind at a charming B&B, or wake up to a refreshing breeze at a beach-side campground. Sign up for a scuba dive into Lake Michigan to see perfectly preserved shipwrecks, or island-hop the bay by kayak or canoe. Peruse local art galleries or the fascinating Maritime Museum, and sample local cheeses and fresh cherries. Pick up a bottle of Door County wine, and find the best spots to sit by the water and watch the sunset Honest advice from Wisconsin native Thomas Huhti on when to go, what to pack, how to get around, and where to stay, from cozy lakeside inns to secluded island campsites Full coverage of Door County including Sturgeon Bay, Washington and Rock Islands, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, and more Coverage of gateway cities like Milwaukee and Madison Detailed maps and helpful reference photos throughout Thorough background on the culture, weather, wildlife, and history With Moon Wisconsin's Door County's practical advice, myriad activities, and local insight on the best things to do and see, you can plan your trip your way. Exploring more of the Midwest? Try Moon Minneapolis & St. Paul or Moon Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Headed North? Try Moon Ontario.




The Chippewa


Book Description

Inspired by August Derleth’s seminal book The Wisconsin, Richard D. Cornell traveled the Chippewa River from its two sources south of Ashland to where it joins the Mississippi. Over several decades he returned time and again in his red canoe to immerse himself in the stories of the Chippewa River and document its valley, from the Ojibwe and early fur traders and lumbermen to the varied and hopeful communities of today. Cornell shares tales of such historical figures as legendary Ojibwe leader Chief Buffalo, world famous wrestler Charlie Fisher, and supercomputer innovator Seymour Cray, along with the lesser-known stories of local luminaries such as Dr. John "Little Bird" Anderson. Cornell gathered firsthand stories from diners and dives, local museums and landmarks, quaint small-town newspaper offices, and the homes of old-timers and local historians. Through his conversations with ordinary people, he gets at the heart of the Chippewa and shares a history of the river that is both one of a kind and deeply personal.




Sweet, Wild and Vicious


Book Description

From the time he began recording with the Velvet Underground in the 1960s until his death in 2013, Lou Reed released nearly 50 original albums. In Sweet, Wild and Vicious, Jim Higgins delves into each one, with descriptions, details, analysis and appraisals that will amplify and expand fans’ understanding and appreciation of them. This listener's guide is personal as well as definitive, a thoughtful consideration of Reed's entire career from the perspective of a devoted follower able to separate the highs from the lows.




Heart of Junk


Book Description

A hilarious debut novel about an eclectic group of merchants at a Kansas antique mall who become implicated in the kidnapping of a local beauty pageant star. The city of Wichita, Kansas, is wracked with panic over the abduction of toddler pageant princess Lindy Bobo. However, the dealers at The Heart of America Antique Mall are too preoccupied by their own neurotic compulsions to take much notice. Postcards, perfume bottles, Barbies, vinyl records, kitschy neon beer signs—they collect and sell it all. Rather than focus on Lindy, this colorful cast of characters is consumed by another drama: the impending arrival of Mark and Grant from the famed antiques television show Pickin’ Fortunes, who are planning to film an episode at The Heart of America and secretly may be the last best hope of saving the mall from bankruptcy. Yet the mall and the missing beauty queen have more to do with each other than these vendors might think, and before long, the group sets in motion a series of events that lead to surprising revelations about Lindy’s whereabouts. As the mall becomes implicated in her disappearance, will Mark and Grant be scared away from all of the drama or will they arrive in time to save The Heart of America from going under? Equally comical and suspenseful, Heart of Junk is also a biting commentary on our current Marie Kondo era. It examines why certain objects resonate with us so deeply, rebukes Kondo’s philosophy of wholesale purging, and argues that “junk” can have great value—connecting us not only to our personal pasts but to our shared human history. As author Luke Geddes writes: “A collection was a record of a life lived, maybe not well or happily but at least with attention and passion. It was autobiography made whole.”