Long River Winding: Life, Love, and Death along the Connecticut [Paperback]

Jim Bissland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2003

The Connecticut is New England's longest and most significant river. Author Jim Bissland, moving from Long Island Sound to the New Hampshire hinterlands, explores the river's cities and towns, gathering colorful anecdotes along his serendipitous journey and bringing to life the river's dramatic history and people.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkshire House Publishers (April 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581570600
• ISBN-13: 978-1581570601
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,386,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Massachusetts, educated at Northfield Mount Hermon School, Bates College, Cornell University (BA), University of Massachusetts (MA), and University of Iowa (PhD). Worked for newspapers and in public relations. Moved to Bowling Green, Ohio, and taught in the journalism program at BGSU for 20 years. Journalism taught me how to get information and write it in an interesting way. I prefer to think of myself as a storyteller more than a scholar...and hope you will, too.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun!, April 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Long River Winding: Life, Love, and Death along the Connecticut (Paperback)

I loved this book! Highly enjoyable for armchair travellers, history buffs, and lovers of New England lore. I felt as if I were travelling with the author through the Connecticut River Valley, past and present, having experiences like riding with the chief of police in Holyoke, Massachusetts, witnessing family life in Mark Twain's home in Hartford, or meeting "the feisty women of Old Saybrook." Heroes, villains, witches, and geniuses are all here. There are probably 40 or so little-known human stories of "life, love, and death"that took place in New England but are universal in their themes of humor, drama, and poignancy. Travel notes at the end of each chapter help you visit the sites mentioned by the author, making this book a useful travel guide as well as fun to read. I never realized how fascinating the Connecticut River Valley is. It's one of America's great places and best-kept secrets.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel through time and memory, January 26, 2005

By 

B. Alton "lotsoreading" (New England, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Long River Winding: Life, Love, and Death along the Connecticut (Paperback)

This is such an enjoyable read for a history lover. The magical stories and obscure tidbits from the Connecticut River Valleys history come to life in this well written book. The characters are three dimentional and the book makes you want to travel the length of the river just to see what it is like today! Take a trip to Deerfield, Amherst, Windsor and Old Saybrook...meet Mark Twain and others. I recommend it to anyone who has spent some time in this history rich area.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long River Winding: Life, Love & Death Along the Connecticut, April 26, 2003

By 

David L. Pepple (North Hampton, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long River Winding: Life, Love, and Death along the Connecticut (Paperback)

Long River Winding is a very interesting, reader friendly book with something for everyone. Anyone who likes history, travel and especially people, should find this a good book. It gives glimpses into people's lives, some famous and others not famous, with humor and sensitivity. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.