Customer Reviews

Ohio: A HISTORY

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This book provides the reader with a overview of the social history of Ohio. It presents Ohio as the center of everything, center between North and South and East and West, country and city. It tells the story of the pioneers and later ethnics, who found homes in Ohio. The book is arranged in a combination chronological and topical order. Fortunately for author Walter Havighurst, the topics fall fairly well in sequence. Chapters are devoted to the promise of Ohio, the pioneers who cleared the land, the growth of agricultural abundance, the rise of industry and finance, labor strife and how Ohio dealt with it and, at the end, the stirrings of the environmental movement. Not overlooked is Ohio's involvement in the Civil War, when it, like the nation, was torn between North and South, and its numerous contributions to the list of presidents. While the Tafts and other presidents are mentioned, this is clearly not a "great man" book. The characters covered are merely incidental to the telling of the story of Ohio's people. While not a detailed history, it does give the reader, and prospective visitor, an introduction to the flavor of Ohio

Being a native (and Conservative) Buckeye, I approach all books (even Havinghurst's) about my land with my hackles up and, frankly, "Ohio, a History" didn't get my tail wagging right away. At the end of the read I was pleased and had to accord Havinghurst with having done a very good, and fair, job, as well as presenting a wealth of fresh and interesting observations of events in Ohio. MUCH to his credit he kept it about Ohio and didn't make it a collection of "portraits" of Ohio's famous people (thank you, thank you, thank you!).
Especially noteworthy are the astute perceptions and accurate depictions of the unique "Ohio attitudes" that came in and out of play as the State developed. Havinghurst understands well the unique mindset(s) of the "dark and bloody land". That alone makes the book worth reading whether you are a Buckeye or an Unfortunate.