Pattini d'argento

Hans Brinker was written by Mary Mapes Dodge in 1865. My copy is a first edition from 1925, published by Saalfield Publishing Company which is no longer in business. Reading a book that is nearly 100 years old sure took me back in time. As I carefully turned the brown, brittle pages and read the sto Leggi tutto

Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905) was, at the time she wrote this novel, a widowed mom who'd moved back in with her well-to-do family after the death of her financially-embarrassed husband. Herself well educated by private tutors, she originally began to write educational short stories for her own kids;

Worst. Book. Ever. Okay, maybe not the worst, but a really boring, awful book. The actual story of Hans could be told in about fifty pages. The edition I read on Google Books was nearly three hundred pages long. I can appreciate it for the historical things--I've read enough books from this time per Leggi tutto

I loved this book as a kid and reread it several times. It was especially enjoyable while eating Dutch chocolate shoes. ;-) This book made me fascinated with all things Holland. I still have the edition I read when I was 8 or 9.