Alumni Travel Reading: Waterways of Holland and Belgium

From the publisher -- "In this effortlessly erudite account, Russell Shorto traces the evolution of one of the world's greatest cities. From the building of its first canals in the 1300s, through the brutal struggle for Dutch independence and its golden age as the capital of a vast empire, to its complex present in which its cherished ideals of liberalism are under siege, Shorto provides an ever-surprising, intellectually entertaining story of Amsterdam."

From Kirkus Reviews -- "A disarming, captivating history of the tulip...a byzantine story rich in subtexts, from Pavord...Illustrated with 150 color plates."

This book, with contributions from academic experts, covers the Randstad to the Dutch Golden Age, from William of Orange to Anne Frank addressing contemporary social issues such as immigration, tolerance, and the struggle against water, as well as aspects of Dutch culture: painting, literature, architecture, and design.

From the publisher -- "In 1637, one Dutchman paid as much for a single tulip bulb as the going price of a town house in Amsterdam. ... How could flowers, of all things, become such objects of desire that they can drive men to financial ruin? In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan argues that the answer lies at the heart of the intimately reciprocal relationship between people and plants. In telling the stories of four familiar plant species that are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives, Pollan illustrates how they evolved to satisfy humankinds’s most basic yearnings—and by doing so made themselves indispensable."

An account of the post and cross roads, rivers, canals, principal inns, coins, modes and price of travelling; list of the diligences, voiture, etc. with their various destinations. Translated from the French.

From the publisher: The first full historical survey of the Benelux area (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) to be written in English. Paul Arblaster describes the whole sweep of the history of the Low Countries, from Roman frontier provinces, through medieval principalities, to the establishment of the three constitutional monarchies of the present day. This readable overview highlights the international importance of the social, economic , spiritual, and cultural movements that have marked the region.

From the Publisher: Water management runs in the blood of the Dutch: draining the Netherlands and keeping it dry is a process they started centuries ago and continue to this day. In Sweet & Salt: Water and the Dutch, author Tracy Metz and art historian Maartje van den Heuvel demonstrate, in text and images, how the Netherlands negotiates its evolving relationship with water.

From the publisher -- "This is a book for visitors who want to avoid the usual tourist spots and for residents who are keen to track down the city's best-kept secrets.

An anthology of travel documents by British tourists, their journals, letters, and financial records and more. This book offers an historical and personal account of travel through Belgium and the Netherlands during the 17th and 18th centuries.

This book offers an exploration of Flanders and its landmarks, whether rural and urban. Look for an examination of the region's cities including Ghent, Antwerp, and Bruges. De Vries looks at the history of ideas, trade, foodways, and other customs.

Belgian Museums of the Great War examines the centennial of World War 1 and focuses on the museums and commemorative events in Flanders. Focusing on the history, changes, and specifics of each institution, we get a sense of how knowledge was shaped as well as the landscape and architecture.

A historical fiction novel set in World War II, Of Windmills and War tells the love story of Danny, an American Army Air Force pilot, and Anya, a Dutch Resistance fighter.

From the publisher -- "A beloved childhood favorite for a century and a half-and a book that readers continue to enjoy and appreciate long into adulthood-Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates went through more than 100 editions during the author's lifetime alone." Read it at Hathitrust.org