Customer Reviews

Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York

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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.

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!

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.