From: Steven
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 15:30:42 PST

Another 98 favorite of mine is "What's the Deal?," an entertaining history book by Rhoda Blumberg, covering the Louisiana Purchase. She opens it with a "cast of characters," which is just right for the way she presents history. She makes people like Napoleon and Thomas Jefferson come alive, often by showing their imperfections. And she shows how important other lesser known people are in history's great events, how one person's mistake can set off a chain of unanticipated results. We get to see how many different events had to happen in order for the Louisiana Purchase to occur as it did. She makes history seem exciting and unpredictable, even when we know how it will work out. And though she's willing to show the flaws, and even silliness of many of the people involved, she still shows genuine respect and admiration for their work.
-------------------------------------------------------Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library 1595 Burns Streeet West Linn, OR 97068 ph: 503e6x57 fax: 503e6'46 e-mail: steven at westlinn.lib.or.us
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Received on Wed 30 Dec 1998 05:30:42 PM CST