Majesty of the Mississippi Delta

Rating:
Summary: History beautifully brought to life
Review: If your love of beauty and history extends to architecture but your travel budget is limited, consider obtaining a copy of THE MAJESTY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA.

Author Jim Fraiser and photographer West Freeman traveled the 200-mile length of the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, the heart of of the realm of King Cotton, to assemble the text and illustrations for this handsome, informative little book. The result is replete with fascinating anecdotes about times long past and splendid pictures of the extraordinarily beautiful homes, churches and public buildings that stand as a monument to an era.

Beginning at Port Gibson, the "Gateway to the Delta," and the classic simplicity of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Messers Fraiser and Freeman trace the history of this diverse and scenic region in both the lives of its founders and the exquisite constructs they created. The text is filled with gossipy tidbits as well as less-familiar history, like the chandelier from the famous steamboat Robert E. Lee that hangs in Port Gibson's First Presbyterian Church and the tale of the ghost of owner John Bobb, murdered by Union soldiers, that purportedly still roams the flying-wing stairway and double-tiered galleries of McRaven in Vicksburg.

This book is for those whose hunger for beauty extends to that crafted by the hands of man. If it has a flaw, it is that the taste of these magnificent structures it provides leaves the reader hungry to sample them first-hand. Should one be fortunate enough to do that, they could do worse than to tuck their copy of THE MAJESTY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA into their tote as a reference.

Rating:
Summary: As much a travel account as an architectural
Review: Majesty Of The Mississippi Delta is as much a travel account as an architectural and art history of the homes, churches, and stores on the Mississippi Delta. Color photos of both interiors and exteriors are accompanied by quotes from historical documents and descriptions of each building. A rich history for those who enjoy architectural history in general and the Mississippi area in particular.