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Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People
by Imani PerryNAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK BY: Time, USA Today, People, AARP, Harper's Bazaar, Today.com, BookRiot, Bustle, LitHub, BookPage, The Millions, Ms., Our Culture, Electric Literature, W, and VultureA surprising and beautiful meditation on the color blue—and its fascinating role in Black history and culture—from National Book Award winner Imani PerryThroughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology.Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon.Poignant, spellbinding, and utterly original, Black in Blues is a brilliant new work that could only have come from the mind of one of our greatest writers and thinkers. Attuned to the harrowing and the sublime aspects of the human experience, it is every bit as vivid, rich, and striking as blue itself.
Black in Fashion: 100 Years of Style, Influence & Culture
by WWD Tonya Blazio-Licorish Tara DonaldsonA stunning and comprehensive look at the indelible contribution of Black designers, models, scene-makers, and stylists to fashion history, from &“the bible of fashion&”—WWD.Black in Fashion is a celebration of Black voices in fashion as captured by Women&’s Wear Daily contributors and photographers since the publication&’s inception in 1910. WWD is showcased here with more than 375 black-and-white and color photographs, illustrations, and articles from its massive archive. The book, written by Tonya Blazio-Licorish and Tara Donaldson, explores the contributions of trailblazing designers like Stephen Burrows and Virgil Abloh, whose philosophy inspired a new generation to interact with fashion differently; pioneering models like Naomi Sims, who in 1969 at age twenty-one launched Naomi Inc., a cosmetics company catering to Black women; and celebrities and multi-hyphenates like Josephine Baker, whose approach to fashion in the 1920s single-handedly changed and challenged the influence of Black culture on a global scale. In-depth profiles on Black creatives throughout the fashion world—and on key topics such as the Black is Beautiful movement—punctuate the lavish pages as well, in addition to original interviews with notables and a foreword from acclaimed American designer Tracy Reese. Black in Fashion is an incomparable celebration of Black fashion from the ultimate voice of authority.Curated from the expansive archives of the legendary WWD, this visually stunning and groundbreaking work unveils the remarkable legacy of Black trailblazers whose style and vision have left an indelible mark on the fashion industry.Perfect for those looking for fashion books, fashion coffee table books, or Black history books, Black in Fashion is a must-have for fashion and history enthusiasts alike.
Black or White: Biografia di Michael Jackson
by Daniel IchbiahFra tutte le star apparse durante diversi decenni, Michael Jackson resta la più affascinante, quella che sfugge di più all'analisi immediata. Pieno di talento, capace di mettere in scena spettacoli di rara qualità, di scrivere canzoni indimenticabili, di muovere il suo corpo in modo sbalorditivo, Michael Jackson ha sedotto il pubblico innanzitutto per le sue qualità artistiche. Come contropartita, il pubblico ha dovuto accettare le eccentricità fuori dal normale di un personaggio mai classificabile, una specie di eccentrico eroe di una favola che avrebbe deragliato lungo la strada. Resta il fatto che la Storia ricorderà l'essenziale : « Billy Jean », « Thriller », « Don’t stop til you get enough » e altre canzoni diventate dei classici e destinate a resistere all'usura del tempo… Come ha dichiarato un altro maestro della sua arte, Steven Spielberg : « Così come non avremo mai più altri Fred Astaire o altri Chuck Berry o altri Elvis Presley, non ci sarà mai più nessuno paragonabile a Michael Jackson. ». « Il suo talento, la sua vivacità e il suo lato misterioso fanno di lui una leggenda... ». Questo libro racconta la vita di Michael, si sofferma in modo approfondito sugli episodi più rilevanti della sua esistenza e descrive l'evoluzione del cantante. Parla del "dietro le quinte" di Thriller, l'album di tutti i records. Contiene anche dei ritratti di Quincy Jones, Janet Jackson e La Toya. Per quale motivo un genio della pop music si è trasformato in un personaggio enigmatico, alla ricerca di un'identità parallela?
Black to Nature: Pastoral Return and African American Culture
by Stefanie K. DunningIn Black to Nature: Pastoral Return and African American Culture, author Stefanie K. Dunning considers both popular and literary texts that range from Beyoncé’s Lemonade to Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones. These key works restage Black women in relation to nature. Dunning argues that depictions of protagonists who return to pastoral settings contest the violent and racist history that incentivized Black disavowal of the natural world. Dunning offers an original theoretical paradigm for thinking through race and nature by showing that diverse constructions of nature in these texts are deployed as a means of rescrambling the teleology of the Western progress narrative. In a series of fascinating close readings of contemporary Black texts, she reveals how a range of artists evoke nature to suggest that interbeing with nature signals a call for what Jared Sexton calls “the dream of Black Studies”—abolition. Black to Nature thus offers nuanced readings that advance an emerging body of critical and creative work at the nexus of Blackness, gender, and nature. Written in a clear, approachable, and multilayered style that aims to be as poignant as nature itself, the volume offers a unique combination of theoretical breadth, narrative beauty, and broader perspective that suggests it will be a foundational text in a new critical turn towards framing nature within a cultural studies context.
Black, Brown + Latinx Design Educators: Conversations on Design and Race
by Kelly WaltersIn Black, Brown + Latinx Design Educators, Kelly Walters collects twelve deeply personal interviews with graphic design educators of color who teach at colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. The book centers the unique narratives of Black, Brown, and Latinx design educators, from their childhood experiences to their navigation of undergraduate and graduate studies and their career paths in academia and practice. The interviewees represent a cross-section of ethnic and multiracial backgrounds—African American, Jamaican, Indian, Pakistani, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, and Brazilian. Their impactful stories offer invaluable perspectives for students and emerging designers of color, creating an entry point to address the complexities of race in design and bring to light the challenges of teaching graphic design at different types of public and private institutions. Interwoven throughout the book are images that maintain cultural significance, from family heirlooms to design works that highlight aspects of their cultural identities. Readers will gain insight into the multitude of experiences of Black, Brown, and Latinx design educators who teach and work in the field today.
Black: A Celebration of a Culture (Nyu Series In Social And Cultural Analysis Ser. #11)
by Deborah WillisTucked away in the dusty halls of the Smithsonian archives and nearly forgotten by most historians, black culture is a vast, complex, interconnected web of different people, trends, and lifestyles. Although absent from our collective memory, Deborah Willis has dug through the archives and hunted down the remnants that tell the wonderful and tragic history of a people. Tackling all subjects with bravery and frankness, Deborah Willis's work is a true treasure to behold.Black, A Celebration of a Culture, presents the vibrant panorama of 20th-century black culture in America and around the world. The photos tell one story that resonates throughout the world. Broken up into segments that examine in detail such subjects as children, work, art, beauty, Saturday night and Sunday morning, the photos detail the history and the evolution of a culture. Each photograph, hand-picked by Deborah Willis, America's leading historian of African-American photography, celebrates the world of music, art, fashion, sports, family, worship or play. With over 500 photographs from every time period from the birth of photography to the birth of hip hop, this book is a truly joyous exhibition of black culture. From Jessie Owens to Barry Bonds, Ella Fitzgerald to Halle Berry, Black: A Celebration of a Culture is joyous and inspiring.
Black: The History of a Color
by Michel PastoureauThe story of the color black in art, fashion, and culture—from the beginning of history to the twenty-first centuryBlack—favorite color of priests and penitents, artists and ascetics, fashion designers and fascists—has always stood for powerfully opposed ideas: authority and humility, sin and holiness, rebellion and conformity, wealth and poverty, good and bad. In this beautiful and richly illustrated book, the acclaimed author of Blue now tells the fascinating social history of the color black in Europe.In the beginning was black, Michel Pastoureau tells us. The archetypal color of darkness and death, black was associated in the early Christian period with hell and the devil but also with monastic virtue. In the medieval era, black became the habit of courtiers and a hallmark of royal luxury. Black took on new meanings for early modern Europeans as they began to print words and images in black and white, and to absorb Isaac Newton's announcement that black was no color after all. During the romantic period, black was melancholy's friend, while in the twentieth century black (and white) came to dominate art, print, photography, and film, and was finally restored to the status of a true color.For Pastoureau, the history of any color must be a social history first because it is societies that give colors everything from their changing names to their changing meanings—and black is exemplary in this regard. In dyes, fabrics, and clothing, and in painting and other art works, black has always been a forceful—and ambivalent—shaper of social, symbolic, and ideological meaning in European societies.With its striking design and compelling text, Black will delight anyone who is interested in the history of fashion, art, media, or design.
Blackening Canada
by Paul BarrettFocusing on the work of black, diasporic writers in Canada, particularly Dionne Brand, Austin Clarke, and Tessa McWatt, Blackening Canada investigates the manner in which literature can transform conceptions of nation and diaspora. Through a consideration of literary representation, public discourse, and the language of political protest, Paul Barrett argues that Canadian multiculturalism uniquely enables black diasporic writers to transform national literature and identity. These writers seize upon the ambiguities and tensions within Canadian discourses of nation to rewrite the nation from a black, diasporic perspective, converting exclusion from the national discourse into the impetus for their creative endeavours.Within this context, Barrett suggests, debates over who counts as Canadian, the limits of tolerance, and the breaking points of Canadian multiculturalism serve not as signs of multiculturalism's failure but as proof of both its vitality and of the unique challenges that black writing in Canada poses to multicultural politics and the nation itself.
Blackfellow Bundi: A Native Australian Boy
by Leila Gott Harris Kilroy HarrisLeila Gott Harris’s Blackfellow Bundi: A Native Australian Boy offers a tender and insightful portrayal of the life and experiences of Bundi, a young Aboriginal boy navigating the challenges and joys of his cultural heritage in the Australian bush. Written with empathy and vivid detail, the book brings to life the traditions, struggles, and resilience of Indigenous Australians in a rapidly changing world.Through Bundi’s eyes, readers are introduced to the beauty of the land, the deep connection of his people to their environment, and the wisdom passed down through generations. Harris explores themes of identity, community, and belonging, as Bundi learns about his culture and navigates the complexities of interactions with settlers and the encroaching modern world.Rich with evocative descriptions and heartfelt moments, Blackfellow Bundi captures the spirit of a boy growing up in a time of cultural collision, where the preservation of heritage stands alongside the pressures of change. Harris weaves a narrative that is both educational and moving, offering readers a glimpse into the unique perspectives and challenges faced by Aboriginal communities.This book is not only a coming-of-age story but also a celebration of Indigenous traditions, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting diverse cultures. Perfect for readers of all ages, Blackfellow Bundi invites reflection on the shared humanity that transcends cultural divides while honoring the richness of Australia’s First Peoples.
Blacklist (Beautiful Idols #2)
by Alyson NoelFans of Pretty Little Liars will crave the mystery and suspense in the second book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël’s Beautiful Idols series, where celebrity worship is a dangerous game.Wannabe reporter LAYLA, aspiring actress ASTER, and fledgling musician TOMMY joined the Unrivaled nightclub competition for the same reason—they knew winning it would change their lives. They just never imagined that somewhere along the way they’d become entangled in the disappearance of mega starlet MADISON BROOKS. Now each of them is smack in the center of a media frenzy that threatens to take all of them down.Banding together to clear their names, the fierce adversaries become temporary allies and vow to dig up the truth. But when Layla, Aster, and Tommy team up with an unsuspecting insider, they will find that some secrets are best kept in the grave.
Blackness Is Burning: Civil Rights, Popular Culture, and the Problem of Recognition (Contemporary Approaches to Film and Media Series)
by Treaandrea M. RusswormBlackness Is Burning is one of the first books to examine the ways race and psychological rhetoric collided in the public and popular culture of the civil rights era. In analyzing a range of media forms, including Sidney Poitier’s popular films, black mother and daughter family melodramas, Bill Cosby’s comedy routine and cartoon Fat Albert, pulpy black pimp narratives, and several aspects of post–civil rights black/American culture, TreaAndrea M. Russworm identifies and problematizes the many ways in which psychoanalytic culture has functioned as a governing racial ideology that is built around a flawed understanding of trying to “recognize” the racial other as human. The main argument of Blackness Is Burning is that humanizing, or trying to represent in narrative and popular culture that #BlackLivesMatter, has long been barely attainable and impossible to sustain cultural agenda. But Blackness Is Burning makes two additional interdisciplinary interventions: the book makes a historical and temporal intervention because Russworm is committed to showing the relationship between civil rights discourses on theories of recognition and how we continue to represent and talk about race today. The book also makes a formal intervention since the chapter-length case studies take seemingly banal popular forms seriously. She argues that the popular forms and disreputable works are integral parts of our shared cultural knowledge. Blackness Is Burning’s interdisciplinary reach is what makes it a vital component to nearly any scholar’s library, particularly those with an interest in African American popular culture, film and media studies, or psychoanalytic theory.
Blackness, Symbolism, and American Modernism: Class, Race, Gender, and Sexuality (Routledge Research in Art and Race)
by Lori Nel JohnsonIn this book, Lori Nel Johnson examines the work of Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937), Meta Warrick Fuller (1877-1968), and F. Holland Day (1864-1933) in relation to the development of modernism during the turn of the century, and the official narratives surrounding this movement.While Tanner and Fuller have been consistently linked in the history of American Art, the Pictorialist photographer and publisher, Day has rarely if ever been discussed with these two artists, despite the fact that all three were rough contemporaries and affiliated with Symbolism. The book compares the historical and social conditions that determined the lives and careers of these three artists, which curtailed their ambitions because of the intersections of class, race, gender, or sexuality. By examining each artist’s respective proximity to language on the basis of class, race, gender, and sexuality, this study avoids categorizing artists solely on the basis of difference, and thus, offers a more fulsome and radical reading of the development of modernism in the United States.The book will be of interest to scholars of art history, design history, history of photography, American studies, and African American studies.
Blackpool in Film and Popular Music
by Ewa MazierskaThis collection examines Blackpool, Britain’s first and largest working-class seaside resort as a location for the production and consumption of British film and popular music, and the meaning of ‘Blackpool’ in films and songs. It examines representation of Blackpool in films such as Hindle Wakes, A Taste of Honey, Bhaji on the Beach, Away, Bob’s Weekend, The Harry Hill Movie and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, linking it to the concepts of heterotopia, purgatory, fantasy, simulacra and the carnivalesque. It also presents music in Blackpool through the history of its venues and examines development of punk and grime music in this seaside town. The authors argue that Blackpool in filmic and musical texts often stands for British culture, but increasingly for culture which is remembered or imagined rather than present and real.
Blacksburg (Images of America)
by Richard A. StrawIn 1798 William Black set aside 38 acres of land in an area known as Draper's Meadow to establish the village that would take his name: Blacksburg, Virginia. In the more than 200 years since its founding, this once small frontier outpost has grown into what the Washington Post recently called "the most wired city in America." A diverse and well-educated community, Blacksburg holds a special place in the hearts of its residents as well as Virginia Tech students and alumni. From its humble beginnings in the late 18th century Blacksburg has evolved into a vibrant, diverse, and progressive community of nearly 40,000. Today Blacksburg sits on the cutting edge of great historical, environmental, cultural, and scientific frontiers, just as it did over 200 years ago.Photos in the book reveal the architectural and physical evolution of a vibrant Main Street, which was and still is the very heart of the town. After 1872 town life began to interact with that of the new state university placed in Blacksburg; this study includes many engaging images of life at Virginia Tech over the years. Fascinating photos of people, places, homes, businesses, and important events in the town's history complete the collection. In this contribution to the Images of America series Straw has provided us with an informative look into an earlier period of life in this most interesting and appealing community.
Blacksmithing Projects
by Percy W. BlandfordIs blacksmithing a lost art? Not according to this master craftsman. It might be one of the world's most ancient crafts, but it remains an exciting and essential one today. Percy W. Blandford presents twenty-four different projects: some are for novices, requiring only a few tools, improvised equipment, and a single propane torch; others call for the skill and equipment of an experienced smith. Projects include:Punches and chisels Traditional candlestickDoor latches and boltsGarden toolsWeather vanesFences and railingsTablesWheelbarrow... and many more! A book of ideas and suggestions, rather than an instruction manual on blacksmithing techniques, this volume features eighty detailed figures and diagrams. It also includes lists of materials, step-by-step instructions, and suggestions for variations in design.
Blacktino Queer Performance
by E. Patrick Johnson Ramón H. Rivera-ServeraStaging an important new conversation between performers and critics, Blacktino Queer Performance approaches the interrelations of blackness and Latinidad through a stimulating mix of theory and art. The collection contains nine performance scripts by established and emerging black and Latina/o queer playwrights and performance artists, each accompanied by an interview and critical essay conducted or written by leading scholars of black, Latina/o, and queer expressive practices. As the volume's framing device, "blacktino" grounds the specificities of black and brown social and political relations while allowing the contributors to maintain the goals of queer-of-color critique. Whether interrogating constructions of Latino masculinity, theorizing the black queer male experience, or examining black lesbian relationships, the contributors present blacktino queer performance as an artistic, critical, political, and collaborative practice. These scripts, interviews, and essays not only accentuate the value of blacktino as a reading device; they radiate the possibilities for thinking through the concepts of blacktino, queer, and performance across several disciplines. Blacktino Queer Performance reveals the inevitable flirtations, frictions, and seductions that mark the contours of any ethnoracial love affair. Contributors. Jossiana Arroyo-Martinez, Marlon M. Bailey, Pamela Booker, Sharon Bridgforth, Jennifer Devere Brody, Bernadette Marie Calafell, Javier Cardona, E. Patrick Johnson, Omi Osun Joni L. Jones, John Keene, Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes, D. Soyini Madison, Jeffrey McCune, Andreea Micu, Charles I. Nero, Tavia Nyong'o, Paul Outlaw, Coya Paz, Sandra L. Richards, Charles Rice-González, Matt Richardson, Ramón H. Rivera-Servera, Celiany Rivera-Velázquez, Tamara Roberts, Lisa B. Thompson, Beliza Torres Narváez, Patricia Ybarra, Vershawn Ashanti Young
Blackwork Embroidery
by Elizabeth Geddes Moyra McneillBlackwork embroidery was very popular in Tudor times, and it is now enjoying a tremendous revival. A form of counted-thread work, blackwork emphasizes shading contrasts that are possible working with a single color of thread. This book is one of the best modern works on blackwork. After covering the intriguing history of blackwork in a lively text and beautiful selection of illustrations, the authors present every aspect of the modern techniques and uses of the craft.There is a discussion of contemporary techniques of transferring a design, stitches, needles, and more; information on how to make a design, including numerous illustrations of examples such as birds, animals, fruit, architectural forms, an angel, a crusader, and more; over 200 illustrations of embroidery patterns, including simple, filling, and border patterns; and coverage of materials and threads with full charts. A new Publisher's Note gives a listing of current American suppliers.Done in black silk on white linen, blackwork was originally used to decorate clothes and household articles. Today, you can still produce effective decorations in black-and-white, but many projects will look even better done in color. You can use blackwork on towels, tablecloths, sheets, and clothes, and you can make very attractive blackwork designs for wall hangings and pillows.
Blade Runner
by Matt HillsMore than just a box office flop that resurrected itself in the midnight movie circuit, Blade Runner (1982) achieved extraordinary cult status through video, laserdisc, and a five-disc DVD collector's set. Blade Runner has become a network of variant texts and fan speculations--a franchise created around just one film. Some have dubbed the movie "classroom cult" for its participation in academic debates, while others have termed it "meta-cult," in line with the work of Umberto Eco. The film has also been called "design cult," thanks to Ridley Scott's brilliant creation of a Los Angeles in 2019, the graphics and props of which have been recreated by devoted fans. Blade Runner tests the limits of this authenticity and artificiality, challenging the reader to differentiate between classic and flop, margin and mainstream, true cult and its replicants.
Blade Runner
by Sean RedmondRidley Scott's 1982 film Blade Runner is now widely recognized as an undisputed masterwork of science fiction cinema and one of the most influential films released in the last forty years. Yet on its original release it was both a critical and commercial failure, criticized for its perceived prioritizing of style over content and a narrative that did not deliver the anticipated high octane action that its star casting and large budget normally promise. How did a film that was removed from circulation within a month of its premiere come to mean so much to modern audiences and provide such a rich seam of material for film and media studies? Sean Redmond excavates the many significances of the film - its breakthrough use of special effects as a narrative tool; its revolutionary representation of the future city; its treatment of racial and sexual politics; and its unique status as a text whose meaning was fundamentally altered in its re-released Director's Cut form, then further revised in a Final Cut in 2007, and what this means in an institutional context.This volume was previously published as Studying Blade Runner in 2008.
Blade Runner (Cultographies)
by Matt HillsMore than just a box office flop that resurrected itself in the midnight movie circuit, Blade Runner (1982) achieved extraordinary cult status through video, laserdisc, and a five-disc DVD collector's set. Blade Runner has become a network of variant texts and fan speculations-a franchise created around just one film. Some have dubbed the movie "classroom cult" for its participation in academic debates, while others have termed it "meta-cult," in line with the work of Umberto Eco. The film has also been called "design cult," thanks to Ridley Scott's brilliant creation of a Los Angeles in 2019, the graphics and props of which have been recreated by devoted fans. Blade Runner tests the limits of this authenticity and artificiality, challenging the reader to differentiate between classic and flop, margin and mainstream, true cult and its replicants.
Blade Runner (Philosophers on Film)
by David Davies Amy CoplanRidley Scott’s Blade Runner is widely regarded as a "masterpiece of modern cinema" and is regularly ranked as one of the great films of all time. Set in a dystopian future where the line between human beings and ‘replicants’ is blurred, the film raises a host of philosophical questions about what it is to be human, the possibility of moral agency and freedom in ‘created’ life forms, and the capacity of cinema to make a genuine contribution to our engagement with these kinds of questions. This volume of specially commissioned chapters systematically explores and addresses these issues from a philosophical point of view. Beginning with a helpful introduction, the seven chapters examine the following questions: How is the theme of death explored in Blade Runner and with what implications for our understanding of the human condition? What can we learn about the relationship between emotion and reason from the depiction of the ‘replicants’ in Blade Runner? How are memory, empathy, and moral agency related in Blade Runner? How does the style and ‘mood’ of Blade Runner bear upon its thematic and philosophical significance? Is Blade Runner a meditation on the nature of film itself? Including a brief biography of the director and a detailed list of references to other writings on the film, Blade Runner is essential reading for students – indeed anyone - interested in philosophy and film studies. Contributors: Colin Allen, Peter Atterton, Amy Coplan, David Davies, Berys Gaut, Stephen Mulhall, C. D. C. Reeve.
Blade Runner: Instructor's Edition (Constellations)
by Sean RedmondRidley Scott's 1982 film Blade Runner is now widely recognized as an undisputed masterwork of science fiction cinema and one of the most influential films released in the last forty years. Yet on its original release it was both a critical and commercial failure, criticized for its perceived prioritizing of style over content and a narrative that did not deliver the anticipated high octane action that its star casting and large budget normally promise. How did a film that was removed from circulation within a month of its premiere come to mean so much to modern audiences and provide such a rich seam of material for film and media studies? Sean Redmond excavates the many significances of the film – its breakthrough use of special effects as a narrative tool; its revolutionary representation of the future city; its treatment of racial and sexual politics; and its unique status as a text whose meaning was fundamentally altered in its re-released Director's Cut form, then further revised in a Final Cut in 2007, and what this means in an institutional context.This volume was previously published as Studying Blade Runner in 2008.
Bladesmithing with Murray Carter: Modern Application of Traditional Techniques
by Murray CarterBladesmithing with Murray Carter provides the reader with an in-depth look into traditional Japanese Cutlery forging techniques and their modern applications. A non-stop flow of inquiries to Murray has prompted him to reveal the secret techniques learned during 18 years in Japan, where he lived and worked as a village bladesmith. He now shares this wealth of information for the benefit of the curious reader and Japanese knife enthusiast alike. Owners of nearly 15,000 of Murray's knives will be delighted to see a comprehensive book written by the knives' creator. Features: 250+ dazzling, full-color images, including many by renowned photographer Hiro Soga. Unique and extremely rare insight into the Japanese culture through the (blue) eyes of a Japanese village bladesmith. Detailed explanations of Traditional Japanese Bladesmithing techniques that until now have been cloaked in mystery and myth. Enough detailed information to guide an aspiring bladesmith to become a successful smith in the Japanese style of blade making. About the Author Murray Carter is one of the most popular custom knifemakers at the annual BLADE Show, regularly conducts wildly popular seminars on shaving with a machete, and is known for standing at his booth sharpening knives while teaching the techniques to interested attendees. Carter lives in Vernonia, Oregon.
Blaine House, The (Images of America)
by Earle G. Shettleworth Jr.The Blaine House in Augusta is one of Maine's most notable homes. In 1862, three decades after the house was built by Capt. James Hall in the early 1830s, James and Harriet Blaine moved in. The home became the setting for one of the most meteoric careers in American politics, during which James Blaine served as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, US senator, secretary of state, and Republican candidate for president in 1884. After the deaths of her parents, the Blaines' daughter Harriet Blaine Beale gave the house to the state in 1919. Since 1920, it has served as the official residence of the state's governors and their families. As a symbol of state government, it ranks with the Maine State House. The house has been a National Historic Landmark since 1964. Architecturally, it reflects a combination of Federal, Victorian, and Colonial Revival styles. Today, the Blaine House functions as a social showcase for Maine, a working office, and family living quarters.
Blairstown
by Kenneth Bertholf Jr.Blairstown, New Jersey lies along the summit of the Blue Mountains, and from that point down to the Valley of the Paulinskill is a succession of hills and valleys. Tammany, Chief of the Delaware, calledthis area "Touockonetcoug," which means "Gem of the Paulinskill." The beautiful forests, streams, and mountains of this area make it the perfect subject for an engaging pictorial history. Images in this book include those of the first families to settle in the area, including the Blairs and the Howells. The town was named for the Honorable John I. Blair, one of its earliest prominent citizens, and was formed from a part of Knowlton Township by an act of the State Legislature in February 1845. In this collection discover Blairstown as it once was, prior to the many changes that were made in the name of progress. View original homesteads, businesses, and schools in the community, and learn about the residents who shaped its future. Photographs and postcards depicting the construction and completionof railroad lines are shown, along with images of recreational retreats such as Silver Lake and Cedar Lake. Photographs of surrounding communities, including Delaware, Columbia, Hainesburg, Vail, Hope,Johnsonburg, and Centerville are also included in this collection.