5 comments about A Complete Guide to Heraldry.

1. I can not possibly imagine a more complete guide to Heraldry. This engaging book really brings you into the world of crests, family honor, and ancestry. It gives a comprehensive guide to all the symbols used, and their various meanings. If you are even remotely interested in Heraldry, pick this up today.



2. Good book - just wish it explained more simply and clearly - in a concise way - the symbols.



3. A.C.Fox-Davies:HERALDRY
   I already had a great respect for Mr.Fox-Davies, having two of his great books:THE ART of HERALDRY and HERALDRY-the magnificent pictorial archive for artists and designers. And I expected to learn quite a lot from the HERALDRY book.Guess,I was right.
   .The texts are very,very good,BUT,there are just too many unnecessary and detailed descriptions of British and Scotch Armory.Was it because Mr.Fox-Davies wanted to show off( with his long description of many personal Arms,which I doubt had any great interest for the general reader-mentioning only a few Im sure he could have got his point) or maybe,he was just carried away by his wish too make a good(fat)book?Nevertheless,Mr.Fox-Davies is among the VERY FEW experts who dared mention the painstakingly long and slow development of Armory,from Moses and the Scriptures onwards,explaining that it were first the personal signs and symbols which existed long before the Heraldry proper.And are still going strong,not as Arms,but LOGOTYPES of more or less famous brands.
   There is no" Deus-ex-Machina "Heraldry for Mr.Fox-Davies .It was a slow and painful process influenced by both the traditions and technology,development of society , classes and unfortunately.warfare..And I guess,Mr.Fox-Davies leans too much on the Crusades Myth,closed HELMETS etc..
   By the way,closed helmets existed long,long before the iron clad warriors ! Many of the drawings and other examples are very good,so that the small percentage of superfluous ones,do not play a significant role.All in all,for anyone willing to learn more,and think while reading the book,the number of lines and pages should not be tiring.It is satisfying to know that even in the days when the book first appeared,there was somebody who was NOT a stereotype,somebody who really loved the job and loved the knowledge he so willingly transferred to his readers.



4. A great resource to not only learn about the history and mechanics of heraldry, but also for inspiration for creating one's own coats of arms. I mainly picked this up to create heraldry for my strategy table top war game, but the historian in me enjoys it as well for scholarly purposes.



5. This was purchased as a birthday gift, and it was a big hit! My daughter liked it very much. She has done a lot of work looking into our family's history, and so this was very helpful to her.

2 comments about Pastkeepers in a Small Place: Five Centuries in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

1. The author has done something quit different in regards to a social history book.He gives a smooth chronological history of Deerfield through stories,but adds in the five why's of why did people pass down,save and write about their history.Deerfield's history was not really that exciting except for a few brief battles during ,King Philips War and Queen Annes War,but that didn't stop the residents from telling and re-telling their stories.I've always been a fan of Deerfield, both visiting and reading about the tales,this book just makes the place a little more special. Again, well worth the price of admission.



2. This is an excellent book about keeping family heritage alive. I purchased the book not knowing what it was about but because the author is a cousin of my son-in law. It turned out to be compelling reading.

No comments about Northamptonshire Airfields in the Second World War (British Airfields in the Second World War).

No comments about A Genealogical Dictionary Of The First Settlers Of New England V4: Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Register (1860).

No comments about Tracing Your Catholic Ancestors.

No comments about The Genealogy of William Coleman of Gloucester, Mass., and Graveshead, England, 1619-1906.

3 comments about A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your English Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage.

1. Using plain language, the knowledgable authors of "A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your English Ancestors" take you through the the first steps of researching your English ancestors.

   The reader is introduced to the basic foundations of English records and is carefully walked through what the records can provide, how to use them, and very importantly where to find them.

   This beginner's guide is ideal for those first-time researchers who are not located in the United Kingdom. Long-distance resources including Family History Centers and the Internet are covered in great detail.

   Paul Milner & Linda Jonas are veterans of English research and they share their expertise in easy-to-follow real examples from their own research.




2. Although from the UK, I picked up this book on a recent visit to the US. From the start, it was obviously a much better book than anything available at home. I have now read it from cover to cover and would recommend it to any English reader. It answered questions I have not found answers to in the UK (such as how did the poor register births, marriages and deaths when they lived a long way from the Registrar's office). Designed to enable decendants in the US to trace their ancestors without travelling to the UK, it is ideal for an English reader who finds it difficult to travel around the country for their genealogical research. Ought to be available at amazon.co.uk!



3. If you are into genealogy, and have ancestors from England, this book will serve as a wonderful starting point. Even if you have done several years of research, this will help you uncover new methods that will enable you to locate many more of your relatives. It is easy to follow and gives examples of what you will find in the various records that are available. It tells you where and how to look for almost every record from England that you will likely need.

No comments about Edinburgh: A History of the City.

1 comments about Wills and Other Probate Records: A Practical Guide to Researching Your Ancestors' Last Documents (Readers Guides).

1. Karen Grannum and Nigel Taylor's WILLS AND OTHER PROBATE RECORDS provides insights from the experts at the National Archives, and while this holds a British focus, many researchers from other countries will find it invaluable. Those whose ancestors have roots in the UK receive chapters on how to conduct research for such instruments, and the pros and cons of their contents.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

No comments about Picturesque Chester: The City in Art.