Lake Erie: A Pictorial History

Rating:
Summary: A piece of American history which should not be missed
Review: Authors Julie and Ken Sobol are together and independently the authors of several books and numerous TV screenplays, and while an initial glance at Lake Erie: A Pictorial History might indicate it to be a specialty item for limited collections, take a look under the appealing vintage photo cover: there's a lot more going on than meets the eye. For one thing, the history of Erie and the area's role in the development of the US and Canada as a whole is fascinating: it was the pivotal factor in the War of 1812 and conflicts over its future ultimately led to an era of rapid economic boom for America. Pack in archival photos, illustrations, and portraits of major players and events in the region and you have a piece of American history which should not be missed.



Rating:
Summary: Essential Book for Great Lakes Collection
Review: This is an essential book for any library in the Great Lakes region and any collection that aspires to cover the geography of the United States and Canada. One would have to cover many miles and search out innumerable obscure museums and photo collections in both the United States and Canada to see the photos brought together here for an afternoon's reading. Here are pictures of giant sturgeon, the canals, the storms, a 100,000 fans at a 1914 baseball game, rum runners, the tycoons who made Lake Erie boom. Coverage of such places as Long Point and its wealthy club members and other points of interest on the Canadian side of Lake Erie is good. This coverage of the Canadian shore is especially useful for the American reader or at least it is for this American reader.
Photo reproduction is very good-- often surpassing my memory of the original prints.