Absalom, Absalom!  •  William Faulkner LITERATURE •  1991 •  PAPER  • 313 PAGES Faulkner's brilliant masterpiece on human nature and the Old South, a challenging but rewarding read. (USS69, $13.95)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn  •  Mark Twain LITERATURE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS An enormously influential American book, Twain's masterpiece of boyhood adventure is as much about America's growing pains as it is about Huck's coming of age. As crises of adolescence go, Huck's dawning awareness of the slave Jim's humanity is about as big as they come. Ages 12 and up. (USS41, $7.00)
Africans in America, America's Journey Through Slavery  •  Charles Johnson  •  Patricia Smith  •  WBGH Series Research Team HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 512 PAGES A companion volume to a PBS documentary, this book combines the fictional narratives of novelist Charles Johnson with the historical commentary of journalist Patricia Smith, telling the story of slavery in America. It is a powerful collaborative effort that paints a vivid picture of this period in our nation's history, and it celebrates the brave Africans who managed to preserve their heritage as they endured so many hardships. (USS53, $17.00)
Around the Bend, A Mississippi River Adventure  •  C.C. Lockwood TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 169 PAGES A photographic tour of the Mississippi River as seen through the lens of naturalist and wildlife photographer C.C. Lockwood. Traveling by canoe and pontoon boat, he presents 200 color photographs and commentary about the people and landscapes he encountered along the way. (USS45, $39.95)
As I Lay Dying  •  William Faulkner LITERATURE •  1991 •  PAPER  • 267 PAGES Faulkner's deadpan yet tragic tale of the Bundren family's journey across Mississippi with Addie, their deceased wife and mother, in tow. (USS68, $12.95)
Battle on the Bay: The Civil War Struggle for Galveston  •  Edward T. Cotham HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 252 PAGES This well researched narrative history chronicles the military engagement on Galveston Bay during the Civil War. Cotham thoroughly recreates the Battle of Galveston and develops the historical characters involved on both sides of the battle. (TEX02, $25.00)
Becoming Southern: The Evolution of a Way of Life, Warren County and Vicksburg, Missippi, 1770-1860  •  Christopher Morris HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 258 PAGES A social history of Mississippi in the 18th and 19th centuries, concentrating on the formation of the Southern Identity in Warren County and Vicksburg. (USS160, $45.00)
Black Boy  •  Richard A. Wright  •  Jerry W. Ward BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2007 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES The autobiography of Richard Wright, author of "Native Son," chronicling his days as a young black man in rural Mississippi and Memphis. It's a hard-hitting look at race relations in the United States before the civil rights era, a story as powerful today as when it was first published in 1945. Written with the grace of fiction, it is ultimately an inspiring tale of perseverance. This edition contains the entire restored text. (USS50, $14.95)
Boat People  •  Mary Gardner LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 280 PAGES This award-winning novel tells the various stories of a group of Vietnamese refugees living in Galveston, Texas. (TEX26, $15.95)
The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac, 1861- 1865  •  E.B. Long  •  Babara Long HISTORY •  1985 •  PAPER  • 1135 PAGES Detailed and indexed, this volume serves as an excellent reference to the daily activities of the Civil War. (USS149, $35.00)
The Civil War Times Illustrated Photographic History of the Civil War, Vicksburg to Appomattox  •  William Davis  •  Bell. I. Wiley HISTORY •  1994 •  HARD COVER  • 1366 PAGES A massive history of the Civil War featuring 4,000 archival photographs, drawings and maps. With accompanying text on the leaders, heroes, campaigns, and battles of the Civil War. (USS156, $39.98)
The Civil War, A Narrative: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Red River to Appomattox  •  Shelby Foote HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER This classic, three-volume collection documents the military and political battles of the Civil War. (USS116, $78.00)
The Civil War, A Narrative: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Red River to Appomattox  •  Shelby Foote HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER This classic, three-volume collection documents the military and political battles of the Civil War. (USS116, $78.00)
A Confederacy of Dunces  •  John Kennedy Toole LITERATURE •  1987 •  PAPER  • 405 PAGES This is the celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, drenched in New Orleans color and culture. Its sharp (often black) humor, combined with vivid local detail, makes it great reading for any visitor to New Orleans. (USS02, $14.00)
The Confederate War  •  Gary W. Gallagher HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 230 PAGES A revisionist history of the defeat of the Confederacy in the Civil War. Contrary to popular belief, Gallagher contends that the Confederacy lost simply because they were beaten by the Union on the battlefield, rather than an inherent weakness on the homefront. (USS118, $17.50)
The Confidence-Man, His Masquerade  •  Herman Melville LITERATURE •  1991 •  PAPER  • 351 PAGES Melville's final work of prose, a bewildering story of the Devil and his attempt to con a group of travelers aboard a riverboat on the Mississippi. It is a dense, curious work, set on April Fool's Day, where each passenger is exposed. It includes Melville's well known "The Metaphysics of Indian Hating," a satire of the legends and myths of America's past. (USS44, $13.00)
Deep South, Mississippi Valley, Gulf of Mexico  •  Hallwag MAP A map of the southern Mississippi Valley region of the United States at a scale of 1:1,200,000, including Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. With a gazetteer, national parks, and more detailed insets of major cities. (USS47, $12.95)
The Deep South: Smithsonian Guides to Historic America  •  William Bryant Logan  •  Donald Young  •  Vance Muse GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES A profusely illustrated guide to places of historical interest in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Practical travel information is complemented by coverage of each area's history and culture. Full of color photographs. (USS85, $19.95)
Fabulous New Orleans  •  Lyle Saxon CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1989 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES First published in the 1920's, this charming book by local journalist and literary personality Lyle Saxon is a lovely, impressionistic chronicle of the city, its people and its culture. The book is divided into a series of tales grouped by subject (Mardi Gras, the French Quarter, etc.). Many are self-contained stories of historical or contemporary events, tinged with personal reflections. A terrific introduction to the flavor of the city. Illustrated with line drawings and pencil sketches. (USS01, $14.95)
Fields of Honor, Pivotal Battles of the Civil War  •  Edwin C. Bearss  •  James McPherson HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 488 PAGES The former chief historian of the National Parks Service details fourteen of the war's major battles, including Fort Sumter, Shiloh, Antietam, Vicksburg and Gettybsurg. With 80 black-and-white photographs and 19 maps. (WAR124, $15.95)
From Slavery to Freedom, A History of African Americans  •  John Hope Franklin HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 742 PAGES A classic history of the African American experience from ancient West African civilizations to the civil rights struggles of the 20th century. First published in 1947, and now in its eighth edition, this book has set the standard for comprehensive studies of the changing roles of Africans in the United States. (USA39, $75.00)
Galveston and the 1900 Storm  •  Elizabeth Hayes Turner  •  Patricial Bellis Bixel NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES This fully illustrated volume covers the devastating Galveston storm and its long-lasting aftermath. The author collects eyewitness accounts and uses them to tell the story of the storm, the destruction in its wake and the rebuilding of the city. With 86 black-and-white phographs. (TEX01, $34.95)
Galveston Map  •  Rand McNally Maps MAP A road map of Galveston, Texas and vicinity at a scale of 1:34,000. (TEX27, $4.95)
The Galveston That Was  •  Peter H. Brink  •  Ezra Stoller  •  Henri Cartier-Bresson  •  Howard Barnstone ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 248 PAGES With beautiful photographs procured by portrait photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, and architect-photographer Ezra Stoller, this book displays Victorian homes within the context of Galveston's history. (TEX06, $49.95)
Galveston, A History  •  David G. McComb HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER  • 267 PAGES The story of Galveston, covering its emergence as a major cotton port in the eighteenth century and the great storm of 1900. (TEX13, $24.95)
Galveston: A History of the Island  •  Gary Cartwright NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 338 PAGES In this entertaining history, Cartwright traces Galveston from its first inhabitants, the Karankawa Indian tribe, to the present day Moodys, who own a two billion dollar enterprise. It's a superbly written, accessible historical study. (TEX05, $17.95)
Great Smoky Mountains, A Visitor's Companion  •  George Wuerthner  •  Douglas W. Moore GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A compact guide to the history, wildlife, geology and tourism of the Great Smoky Mountains. (USE330, $19.95)
The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times  •  William Wilmon Newcomb HISTORY •  1985 •  PAPER  • 404 PAGES Former director of the Texas Memorial Museum, William Newcomb presents this definitive reference to the Native Americans of Texas, detailing information on food, clothing, housing, religion, education, and social infrastructure. (TEX10, $22.95)
Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History  •  Erik Larson  •  Isaac Monroe Cline HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES A history of the events and people -- and especially Isaac Cline, head of the National Weather Service -- surrounding the monumental storm that devastated Galveston in 1900. (TEX03, $14.95)
Life on the Mississippi  •  Mark Twain TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 388 PAGES A classic marking Twain's return to the days of his youth spent on the Mississippi. Full of historical information, anecdotes, character sketches and fond memories, it's an enjoyable look back at the Old Mississippi. (USS05, $9.95)
Louisiana / Mississippi Map  •  AAA Publishing MAP A clear, detailed traveler's map of the two southern states. (USS32, $4.95)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States  •  Peter Alden FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  FLEXI-BOUND  • 446 PAGES Covering everything from the birds and bees to flowers, trees, mammals and fish, this compact guide features 1,500 photographs, concise descriptions and an overview of the natural history and protected areas of the Southeast from Mississippi and Georgia to North Carolina. Take it along. (USS31, $19.95)
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America  •  National Geographic FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 502 PAGES From Alaska to Baja California, this field guide published by the National Geographic Society, now in its fifth edition (with tabs!), is the one to carry. Practical to use in the field, it has maps, illustrations and descriptions of the birds on facing pages. The scale of the maps changes with the range of the bird, which means you get a more detailed regional map for those birds with a restricted range. This fully revised fifth edition features nearly 700 color range maps, bigger and better than ever. (FG09, $24.00)
The Night the War Was Lost  •  Charles L. Dufour HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 443 PAGES Charles Dufour contends that with the fall of New Orleans in the spring of 1862, the South had lost the Civil War. In explaining the reasons for the seizure of New Orleans and its results, Dufour also explores a more personable aspect of the war: the people involved and their losses. (USS107, $25.00)
Old Glory, A Voyage Down the Mississippi  •  Jonathan Raban TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 409 PAGES Raban tackles the "Mighty Mississippi" aboard a 16-foot motorboat in this entertaining travelogue, featuring places and people he encounters along the way. It's a portrait of contemporary life from Minnesota to Mississippi. (USS42, $15.00)
Personal Memoirs, Ulysses S. Grant  •  Ulysses S. Grant BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1999 •  PAPER  • 674 PAGES A remarkable (and big) account of a rich life, from a poor boy on the frontier to a great general and president, written by Grant on his deathbed -- and originally edited by none other than Mark Twain. This candid memoir gives remarkable insight into the man and Civil War era America. (USS33, $16.00)
Robert E. Lee  •  Roy Blount, Jr. BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES A lively short biographical essay in the excellent Penguin Lives series, matching writers and subjects. (USS377, $19.95)
Roots  •  Alex Haley LITERATURE •  1980 •  PAPER  • 729 PAGES The 30th anniversary edition of Alex Haley's epic story of Kunta Kinte and his descendents. The tale begins in the West African village of Jufureh in 1750 and traces seven generations of one family, to tell the story of Africans in America. An engaging, powerful story of perseverance in times of slavery, it was made into one of the most popular television mini-series of all time. (WAF21, $15.95)
Sailing Ship Elissa  •  Jim Cruz  •  Patricia Bellis Bixel HISTORY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES A history of the Elissa, a fully restored barque that was originally built in Scotland. Now a major attraction at the Texas Seaport Museum, she has had a varied history, traveling through European waters, once even serving as vessel for smuggling cigarettes. (TEX09, $22.95)
Saratoga Trunk  •  Edna Ferber LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Set during the 1880s, this is the story of the scheming vixen Clio Dulaine who returns to New Orleans to blackmail her father's aristocratic family. Along the way she meets Clint Maroon, a handsome Texan cowboy who knows exactly how to ruffle her feathers. Ferber's novel was the basis for the 1945 film starring Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper. (USS122, $13.95)
Seven Story Mountain, The Union Campaign at Vicksburg  •  Phillip M. Thienel HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 259 PAGES A detailed account of the tactics, battlefield strategies, and bridge-building techniques used by General U.S. Grant's troops in their attempts to capture the town of Vicksburg. (USS157, $35.00)
Shades of Blue and Gray  •  Herman Hattaway HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 281 PAGES A concise military history of the Civil War, including warfare technology, battle strategy and the significance of individual battles. Highly recommended. (USS148, $17.00)
The Sound and the Fury  •  William Faulkner LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES A disturbing story of suicide and incest, revolving around the beautiful Caddy Compson. A famous, and famously complex novel, told from the point of view of Caddy's three brothers. First published in 1929. (USS70, $11.95)
The South in Modern America, A Region at Odds  •  Dewey Grantham HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A comprehensive, well researched survey of the South from the time of Reconstruction to the late 20th century. Grantham captures the politics, history, and psychology of the lower half of the country. Its distinctive personality and influence on the nation as a whole. With 93 illustrations. (USS66, $19.95)
Texas and the Arkansas River Valley: Smithsonian Guides to Historic America  •  Alice Gordon  •  Jerry Camarillo Dunn  •  Mel White  •  Tim Thomson  •  Donald Young GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A profusely illustrated guide to places of historical interest in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Practical travel information is complemented by coverage of the area's history and culture. Full of color photographs. (TEX28, $19.95)
Through a Night of Horrors  •  Shelley Henley Kelley  •  Casey Edward Greene NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES An extraordinary collection of letters, memoirs, and oral histories from the survivors of the catastrophic storm that hit Galveston in 1900 -- vividly detailed, poignant and touching. (TEX04, $24.95)
A Weekend in September  •  John Edward Weems HISTORY •  1988 •  PAPER  • 180 PAGES First published in 1957, this skillfully written book collects interviews from survivors of the worst natural disaster in US history -- the Galveston storm of 1900. The first person accounts vividly recreate the terrifying day. (TEX12, $13.95)