A vivid history of the nation's oldest folk parade.

A captivating tour of the bookshelves of ten leading artists, exploring the intricate connections between reading, artistic practice, and identity Taking its inspiration from Walter Benjamin's seminal 1931 essay, the Unpacking My Library series charts a spirited exploration of the reading and book collecting practices of today's leading thinkers. Artists and Their Books showcases the personal libraries of ten important contemporary artists based in the United States (Mark Dion, Theaster Gates, Wangechi Mutu, Ed Ruscha, and Carrie Mae Weems), Canada (Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller), and the United Kingdom (Billy Childish, Tracey Emin, and Martin Parr). Through engaging interviews, the artists discuss the necessity of reading and the meaning of books in their lives and careers. This is a book about books, but it even more importantly highlights the role of literature in shaping an artist's self-presentation and persona. Photographs of each artist's bookshelves present an evocative glimpse of personal taste, of well-loved and rare volumes, and of the individual touches that make a bookshelf one's own. The interviews are accompanied by "top ten" reading lists assembled by each artist, an introduction by Jo Steffens, and Marcel Proust's seminal essay "On Reading."

Philadelphia is famous for its colonial and revolutionary buildings and artifacts, which draw tourists from far and wide to gain a better understanding of the nation’s founding. Philadelphians, too, value these same buildings and artifacts for the stories they tell about their city. But Philadelphia existed long before the Liberty Bell was first rung, and its history extends well beyond the American Revolution.In Philadelphia: A Narrative History, Paul Kahan presents a comprehensive portrait of the city, from the region’s original Lenape inhabitants to the myriad of residents in the twenty-first century. As any history of Philadelphia should, this book chronicles the people and places that make the city unique: from Independence Hall to Eastern State Penitentiary, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross to Cecil B. Moore and Cherelle Parker. Kahan also shows us how Philadelphia has always been defined by ethnic, religious, and racial diversity—from the seventeenth century, when Dutch, Swedes, and Lenapes lived side by side along the Delaware; to the nineteenth century, when the city was home to a vibrant community of free Black and formerly enslaved people; to the twentieth century, when it attracted immigrants from around the world. This diversity, however, often resulted in conflict, especially over access to public spaces. Those two themes— diversity and conflict— have shaped Philadelphia’s development and remain visible in the city’s culture, society, and even its geography. Understanding Philadelphia’s past, Kahan says, is key to envisioning future possibilities for the City of Brotherly Love.

Ghosts Stories of Historic Irish Philadelphia contains eight historic tales of some grand and some humble Irish in 19th Century Philadelphia in the throws of Industrial expansion. Two important historical events - the Duffy's Cut Murders and the Nativists Riots - act as the backdrop for these sometimes brutal tales of 19th Century Irish who came to Philadelphia seeking an escape from economic hardships in their native Ireland. Religious clashes that began in Ireland came with the new immigrants faced with hardships that they had not anticipated. The Irish men and women brought to life tell their tales of hardship that have made them ghosts that roam their old haunts in Kensington and outlaying rural lands being fitted out with new railroads.

This book focuses on economic relationships within the eight counties in the Philadelphia Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area. Long-term economic developments, changes in socioeconomic profiles between 1960 and 1980, and patterns of employment are examined on a county by county. Special attention is given to the spread and growth of employment in high-technology industries, the interdependencies between jobs and residents in the city and suburbs, and the roles of federal and state aid to the region.

Reissue of entire 'Little journeys' series, reordered and without 'American authors' material. Vol 1 (Good men and great) includes two additional chapters not part of the original series: Walt Whitman and Thomas A. Edison. Vols. 1-3 have special frontmatter material: Vol. 1 includes 5 pp. "Publisher's preface" followed by 32 pp. reprint of the essay titled "Autobiographical" by Elbert Hubbard, originally published in the 1902 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine; vol. 2 includes 4 pp. essay by Bert Hubbard titled "Elbert Hubbard II"; vol. 3 includes 4 pp. essay by Bert Hubbard titled "The little journey's camp"