Colonial Living

by Edwin Tunis

Colonial Living is EdwinTunis's a vigorous re-creation of 17th- and 18th-century America—of the everyday living of those sturdy men and women who carved a way of life out of the wilderness. In lively text and accurate drawings we see the dugouts and wigwams of New England's first settlers and the houses they learned to build against the cruel winters; the snug Dutch and Flemish farmhouses of Nieuw Amsterdam; the homes of the early planters in the South which would one day be kitchens for the houses they dreamed of building when tobacco had made them rich. Long research and love for his subject gave Tunis an intimate knowledge of the details of daily living in colonial times, from the period of tiny coastal settlements to the flourishing, interdependent colonies which fought a major war for independence. He shares all with his reader—the building of houses, with their trunnels, girts, and hand-hewn beams, the spinning of yarn and its weaving and dyeing, the making of candles and soap, and the intricate business of cooking on the open hearth with lug poles, cranes, bake kettles, and spits. He describes the early crops, and pictures the implements and animals used to produce them; in detailed pictures we see again the tools and products of the craftsmen—the blacksmith, the cooper, the miller, the joiner, and the silversmith. Edwin Tunis has brought the significant past to life with consummate skill. Rich in enjoyment, rich in information, with more than 200 drawings, his book is a warm, lively, and authentic panorama of a lost way of life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Reference

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing is for sure, reading this book should instill in one's heart a great deal of gratitude. Meticulously documenting the colonial period, Tunis describes, in word and line drawing, how to make EVERYTHING. There are brief sketches about the initial settlements detailing their unique beginnings, ties to the old European countries, and different types of housing that reflected their home communities, but mostly this book is about the making of every thing, little and great, that was needed by the colonialist.

This is why I am of two minds about it. On the one hand, there are few books you will ever find that go into this level of detail. The illustrations are helpful in showing you just how it all fits together. It is a craftsmen's dream to read, step by step all that was done to make a hat or build a mill. And if reading that sort thing thrills you, or your student, go buy this book at once!

Of course, if you are writing a book about the colonial period, you could consult this as a guide to any homestead or profession!

It also cannot be denied that younger thinkers are concrete thinkers, full of wonder about how things in our world fit together. These readers will be fascinated as they work out the descriptions - maybe even literally, but probably figuratively.

Alas, I must confess, while I note all these benefits, it doesn't thrill me. I'm more of an ideas mind, and the concrete details burden me with their exactness and mock me with the unforgiving nature of their composition. This is an area in which I have no skill, and reading pages upon pages about the mastery of others tediously reminds me of my deficiencies.

Forgive me for rating it a two star experience. Yet I recognize these are the skills that make the world go round, full of the dignity of hard work and the value of honest production. For the person interested in the subject matter, I think this book is easily a 4 star experience. I suggest a compromise at 3 stars and this book goes back on my shelf to be drawn out by my kids and others who will appreciate it.

[L.e. Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully descriptive and informative book. The hand-drawn illustrations are amazing and so helpful. I recommend this book to those who are curious about the colonial period and also to writers in search of immersive details for their historical novels. Though packed with specific knowledge, I found it a good read and breezed through it in one afternoon.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tools, techniques, and customs

"Colonial Living" is written and illustrated by Edwin Tunis who has written and illustrated several related books. He also produced a 145-foot mural depicting the "History of Species."
This is a nice “crossover” book for those interested in history, everyday life in the Thirteen Colonies, and craft tools.

He gives a good overview as it was intended. However, there are no real depths or practicality other than an overview. For example, the section on food covers a few pages and shows common cooking and eating utensils, but if you want to know how to use them or how the food is prepared you will need a book that goes more into depth. This is not in all cases a good page and a half covering the contents and techniques on brick making. Of course, I would not want to make one from the information.

This book is a good starting place for information on Colonial Living. You will notice the absents of an index or a Bibliography.

[Archie Depietro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s not a dry, boring history book. It is filled with illustrations and explanations of how people lived everyday life. You will not read about kings and battles in this book, but if you are one of those people who wants to know the minute, everyday details, this is for you. How did the early Americans build houses, how did they dress, what did they eat? You get all the answers here and beautiful pictures as well.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and difficult to follow, this expensive book was unfornately recommended by our homeschool curriculum for our Dialectic studies.

[Lindsey Stomberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a homeschool read aloud for history. My older daughter and I loved it because we enjoy learning about weird things in history and it gave us a few new vocabulary words. However, it was a bit dry in some places so that is why I am giving it 4 stars.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tools, techniques, and customs

"Colonial Living" is written and illustrated by Edwin Tunis who has written and illustrated several related books. He also produced a 145-foot mural depicting the "History of Species."
This is a nice “crossover” book for those interested in history, everyday life in the Thirteen Colonies, and craft tools.

He gives a good overview as it was intended. However, there are no real depths or practicality other than an overview. For example, the section on food covers a few pages and shows common cooking and eating utensils, but if you want to know how to use them or how the food is prepared you will need a book that goes more into depth. This is not in all cases there is a good page and a half covering the contents and techniques on brick making. Of course, I would not want to make one from the information.

This book is a good starting place for information on Colonial Living. You will notice the absence of an index or of a Bibliography.

[Alice Handley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I was and am an extraordinarily dorky person, I've loved this book since I was a child. Finicky, beautiful line drawings and endless explanations of how things like looms and brickmaking operations work. Highly recommended for the semi-autistic history buff.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colonial Living is a very technical book detailing much of what the early American colonists would have made. This technicality delighted some of my kids as much as it bored others. The ideal target audience for this book is probably more of a mechanically, detail-oriented person.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Along with "Frontier Living" and "The Young United States", Tunis's books are excellent sources for information on day to day living, with exceptionally good illustrations.

[Beret Brenckman]

Loved it. Great overview. Gave necessarily short summaries that led to questions that I could go forward to research.