Ray Stannard Baker (1870–1946)

I was surprised on a few different levels by this book. One was a fairly sympathetic portrait of Kaiser William II, which you don't see very often (and certainly not at all in English language works after 1914). While the book was not uncritical (there are a number of comments about the suffocating nature of the Imperial German government), there is also a lot of praise for technical and educational innovations made in Germany, including in shipbuilding and glass-making, both of which are given a detailed survey. Worth a read if you can find a copy.… (mehr)

Janet Chapple has assembled an engaging anthology of writings describing Yellowstone National Park, America's premier natural treasure. Starting with Nathanial P. Langford’s “The Wonders of the Yellowstone” which in 1871 brought Yellowstone to the forefront of America’s collective consciousness, the editor has gathered a potpourri of writings documenting fascinating voyages of Yellowstone sojourners. The texts are interspersed with maps and original illustrative materials. Especially valuable are the 1884 water color illustrations of Thomas H. Thomas, which appear for the first time in print courtesy of the National Museum of Wales. Annotated with notes on place names and a bibliography of relevant literature, the volume is a valuable addition to the voluminous literature devoted to Yellowstone.… (mehr)