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Craft
- An American History
- Narrated by: Rhett Samuel Price
- Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
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Summary
At the center of the United States’ economic and social development, according to conventional wisdom, are industry and technology—while craftspeople and handmade objects are relegated to a bygone past. Renowned historian Glenn Adamson turns that narrative on its head in this innovative account, revealing makers’ central role in shaping America’s identity. Examine any phase of the nation’s struggle to define itself, and artisans are there—from the silversmith Paul Revere and the revolutionary carpenters and blacksmiths who hurled tea into Boston Harbor, to today’s “maker movement.” From Mother Jones to Rosie the Riveter. From Betsy Ross to Rosa Parks. From suffrage banners to the AIDS Quilt.
Adamson shows that craft has long been implicated in debates around equality, education, and class. Artisanship has often been a site of resistance for oppressed people, such as enslaved African-Americans whose skilled labor might confer hard-won agency under bondage, or the Native American makers who adapted traditional arts into statements of modernity. Theirs are among the array of memorable portraits of Americans both celebrated and unfamiliar in this richly peopled book. As Adamson argues, these artisans’ stories speak to our collective striving toward a more perfect union. From the beginning, America had to be—and still remains to be—crafted.
Critic reviews
"A rich chronicle of craft in America from Jamestown to the present day [...] Adamson leads us on a chronological journey through American history, pointing out along the way - sometimes in lush detail - the various craft movements and ideas that were prominent at certain times. The text swarms with interesting anecdotes and names - some well-known and others who will be less familiar to most readers [...] Thoroughly researched and written with passion - and a bit of bite." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
"A gem of a book. Every chapter is chock-full of fascinating stories and interesting facts. Adamson collects nuggets from history, fiction, and even poetry to bring the world of the American craftsperson vividly to life." (Tyler Anbinder, author of City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History of Immigrant New York)
"Erudite and immersive [...] With lucid prose and exemplary research, Adamson brings intriguing new details and unusual perspectives to even the most familiar story lines. The result is an elegant, detailed, and functional history worthy of its subject." (Publishers Weekly)
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- Ms
- 26-01-21
Superb
This was a revelation to me .
I am British living in Scotland and with a lifelong interest in crafts , especially women’s work and folk art .
This wonderful book has taught me so much about the social context of crafts skills from Blacksmithing to yarn bombing across the centuries and all across the continent of America .
I recommend it very highly
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