Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York [Paperback]

Susan Allport (Author), David Howell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 1994

In 1871 there were 252,539 miles of stone walls in New England and New York—enough to circle the earth ten times.

What do we actually know about these structures? About the people who built them, and why they were built? Stone walls are not simply monuments to the skill of Yankee farmers. The historical record makes clear that many were built by slaves, Indians, indentured servants, and children.

Sermons in Stone is the surprising history of the walls, a story that begins in the Ice Age and has been shaped by the fencing dilemmas of the nineteenth century, by conflicts between Native Americans and colonists over land use, by America's waves of immigration and suburbanization. Beautifully illustrated by David Howell, this is an illuminating and entertaining work of the first rank.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Allport is an author of books on diverse topics in science, travel, and food. She and illustrator David Howell live with their family in Westchester County, New York.

David Howell and author Susan Allport live with their family in Westchester County, New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (August 17, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039331202X
• ISBN-13: 978-0393312027
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #520,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent history of the stone wall., August 22, 1999

By 

Rob Schiller (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York (Paperback)

This book was truly an unexpected pleasure. Its not a how-to book but rather a history of the stone wall. Surprisingly, that history takes the reader into a wide range of topics: geology, botany, architecture, colonial american history, among others. Because stone walls were so commonplace, their builders left very little discussion of their motives and means. Allport acts almost like a detective, piecing the story together. Additionally, because she clearly loves stone walls (and writes well), she is able to capture the mystery and the beauty of her subject. This is a great read for a wide audience: from the historically curious to anyone who wishes to build a wall of stone.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Page Turner, November 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York (Paperback)

If you think that a book on the stone walls of New England might be "dry," you are wrong. This brilliantly written and researched book is as riveting as any thriller. You will gain a new appreciation for the countless anonymous generations that went before us and left their mark-- those beautiful, enduring stone walls. An absolutely fascinating book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rock Solid Read, July 31, 2009

By 

I. Will "Mass Reviewer" (Melrose, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York (Paperback)

This book has been sitting on my shelves or in boxes for years and I am very glad I finally decided to read it. The book is well researched and well written. I do like a lot of non-fiction, but still thought a book on stone walls may be pushing the limits. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone interested in New England or northeast US history and especially to those few with an interest in stone walls. I think this is a very complete history of all aspects of stone walls.