Casting a Spell - George Black
I deliberately held over this month's Book of the Month until today, because today is "WORLD BOOK DAY"! In the internet age, where everyone is an author and self-publishing is endemic, books still have a place. Aside from being "real", low technology and accessible, the publishing process itself should ensure that a book is of sufficient quality to justify the investment in typesetting, printing and distribution. In short, a book ought to at least be a good read.
Casting a Spell is such a book. George Black introduces us to the places, people and events that stand at the very beginning of the "Golden Age" of bamboo rod making in the USA. From the early days of wilderness tourism in the Eastern backwoods, through Hiram Leonard, his workshop and the men trained there, we see how even present day bamboo rod making can trace its heritage back to Leonard's workshop in Central Valley.
Black retraces the steps of the personalities that worked with Leonard, - Edwards, Thomas and Hawes, locating their former workshops and finally showing how their heritage can be traced down to Everett Garrison, Hoagy Carmichael and the modern bamboo rod movement.
This is such an accessible book and should interest anyone with even a peripheral interest in the history of American rod making, and was one of the first books I read on the subject. Thoroughly recommended.
Casting a Spell is such a book. George Black introduces us to the places, people and events that stand at the very beginning of the "Golden Age" of bamboo rod making in the USA. From the early days of wilderness tourism in the Eastern backwoods, through Hiram Leonard, his workshop and the men trained there, we see how even present day bamboo rod making can trace its heritage back to Leonard's workshop in Central Valley.
Black retraces the steps of the personalities that worked with Leonard, - Edwards, Thomas and Hawes, locating their former workshops and finally showing how their heritage can be traced down to Everett Garrison, Hoagy Carmichael and the modern bamboo rod movement.
This is such an accessible book and should interest anyone with even a peripheral interest in the history of American rod making, and was one of the first books I read on the subject. Thoroughly recommended.