American Towns: An Interpretive History |
Buy American Towns: An Interpretive History here, one of 749 Maine History books offered for sale at discount prices here in the history books section at R bookshop. There are currently 73021 history books in our history books section, and over 1,000,000 books listed in our book store. We greatly appreciate your patronage at R bookshop and look forward to offering you a large selection of great books at discount prices now and in the future. Thank you for shopping at R Bookshop!
|
You Are Here: Home > History Books > Maine History > Item 256
 |
American Towns: An Interpretive History
|
by David J. Russo
Sales Rank: 1708369
|
List Price: $28.95
$28.95
At Amazon
on 6-19-2008.
|
|
|
|
Features
Cover Type: Hard Cover with 384 pages
Published by: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher July 25, 2001
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 1566633486
ISBN 13 Number: 978-1566633482
Book Dimensions:
9.6 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
Weighs: 1.7 pounds
From Library Journal
Russo (emeritus, McMaster Univ.; Keepers of Our Past: Local Historical Writing in the United States) presents a vivid, bittersweet journey through four centuries of evolution and change in America's small towns. In this topical and meticulous study of charismatic America, he explores the consequences of social and technological change on the political, economic, social, and cultural patterns of town life. Russo places towns, typically founded as real estate ventures, at the head of political and economic influence in rural America. After looking at the relationships among town life, social stability, and meaningful cultural values, he describes how improvements in transportation, communications, and technology led to the diminished influence of U.S. towns and their eventual transformation into a pale replica of urban life. He concludes with the rueful observation that "life in small towns gradually became indistinguishable from the cities." Russo writes with linguistic intensity. He has produced a tightly woven and convincing work of fact, change, and consequence. Recommended for all academic and greater public libraries. John E. Hodgkins, Yarmouth, ME
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
The enduring image of the American town is largely one of nostalgic ideals of community. Russo draws on the scholarship of anthropologists, sociologists, historians, and economists to survey four centuries of American towns' development. He notes the distinctions and commonalities in their formation and growth; their sites; and their political, social, economic, and cultural aspects. Proceeding chronologically from the seventeenth to the twentieth century, Russo first looks at parallels between early American towns and their European counterparts, some towns' evolution from preexisting Indian villages, and later the contributions of African village cultures when slaves were brought to America. He looks at how the politics of colonialism and the later economics of towns as trade centers determined how, where, and when towns were established; considers the pioneering push westward and the impact of rail transport in transforming towns into cities; and concludes with a fascinating discussion of towns in myth and reality. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Reader Reviews
American Towns: An Interpretive History is a survey of small town history and development examines not only specific locales, but the overall changing of the life they present and represent from colonial to modern times. Towns across America are contrasted for atmosphere and direction, histories are compared, and a healthy dose of American history is enjoyed in the process.
Comment | |
(Report this)
Back To Top
|
American Towns: An Interpretive History
Available from Amazon
Price: $28.95
Updated on 6-19-2008.
|
NOTICE: All prices, availability, and specifications
are subject to verification by their respective retailers.
| We offer American Towns: An Interpretive History and other related Maine History Books here at Rbookshop.com. To view more books about Maine History please use the previous and next buttons near the top of this page.
|
|
Search for books at
