Banner by the Wayside

by Samuel Hopkins Adams

Book by Adams, Samuel Hopkins

Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

From the book jacket of "Sunrise to Sunset", (c) 1950
At seventy-nine Samuel Hopkins Adams attributes his longevity, vigor and vim to neither smoking nor drinking, except when he feels like it. This is typical of the intelligent attitude toward the vagaries of life that has maintained him through the years in which he has authored more than forty books, written countless magazine articles and, as a crusading reporter, almost single-handedly accounted for the passage of the Federal Food and Drug laws which pave protected millions of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Adams' amazing knowledge of the history of upper New York State is the result of his lifelong interest in the region in which he was born. His home is Wide Waters, on the shore of Owasco, "loveliest of the Finger Lakes." From Wide Waters he still makes forways into the surrounding countryside, attending antique-auction sales "for the purpose of sneering at the prevalent junk," which he says he wouldn't put in his open hearth Franklin stove for fear of insulting it.

A graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, class of 1891, Mr. Adams introduced football to the campus, played tackle on its first team, and won the Intercollegiate Tennis Championship. For these contributions to scholarship, his college conferred on him the degree of L.H.D. in 1926.

Adams also wrote under the pseudonym Warner Fabian.

Reviews

[Mary Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a picaresque novel set pre-Civil War on the Erie Canal. Durie Edwards is a female foundling, raised as a boy in a bookshop. She falls in with traveling players, thieves, con men, disreputable women (and men), as she tries to sort out the truth from the pious lies told to her, and eventually finding love. Durie's essential innocence is used to bring out the characters of the people she meets. Life on the canal boats is, as far as I can tell, accurately presented. It's a slice of Americana almost forgotten today. The writing is well done, although since it was published in 1947, it might read a bit florid to modern ears. Adams is deliberately pompous in spots, reflecting his minor character's delusions of importance.
I've had the book on my shelves for years; worth a read.

[Kathy Dobronyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

WARNING: Old fashion writing with old fashion terms. If you love narrative nonfiction history, you'll love this book. I enjoyed this unique historical read of life and times along the Erie Canal in the 1830s. The Erie Canal created a special life and culture. Especially liked it because my ADAMS family lived in the area at the time.

[Gena Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinatingly real. Makes history come alive. I like Adams's approach.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the get, it had my attention. Very clever writing and storytelling. I'm 158 pages in, as of today. The language is fantastically 'old' and formal, and full of vocabulary you will either look up, or just accept in context. Some words seem to have disappeared altogether from the lexicon.

I don't want to give anything away, but our heroine, so far, is truly very heroic. She is independant, determined to follow her dream, and a hard worker. She's not one to fall all over herself with the fellas (story is about to reveal how love may play out), and was raised to think and act for herself.

The historical facts that coincide with the storyline, are very much in line with the truth of the times. I'm very impressed with the care take to detail with conveying history alongside a fictional drama.

Banner was chosen as this July I'm riding my bike along the Erie Canal, from Buffalo to Albany. I wanted to read books about the region, before and perhaps while I am there. I remembered I had this one on my shelf, as luck would have it. GREAT first read for this journey. I'm getting town references, packet boat info, and just a general feel for the history I'll be tracing.

So far it's a win.

[Jeanette Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting old days with a happy ending.