It's not really a story about a "Settler's Year," which is what I would have preferred. Ernst writes a bit of copy about what settlers might have thought about their first winter, or what kinds of seeds they may have brought with them from the Old World. And she makes liberal use of quotes from authentic letters and diaries, but most of them are a single sentence. The photos of scenes from OWW are great, but this is really just a coffee-table book. ( )

This is a beautiful book, which is much more than a coffee table decoration. The photographs depict the ongoing seasonal work at Old World Wisconsin -- but the settings and people are so utterly authentic that they don't appear to be interpreting pioneer life, rather living it. The many excerpts from journals kept by early settlers lend historical depth to the narrative. The progression of chores, activities, privations, and celebrations through the seasons is well presented and gives a lot of scope for reflection on the many ways rural homesteading life is surprisingly similar -- or not -- to the experiences of the pioneers. ( )

The day to day life of pioneers in Wisconsin is uncovered through the use of diaries and pictures taken at Old World Wisconsin. This beautiful book, filled with wonderful photographs by Loyd Heath, covers each season in pioneer life. Beginning in spring, then following through summer, autumn, winter, and second spring, the life of pioneers is explored in detail from leaving the Old World, setting up shop in the New World, and the daily lives of those brave people who lived it. A definite gem. ( )

“A Settler’s Year” blends the words of letters, diaries and periodical articles with pictures of living history to introduce its readers to the rhythm of life in early Wisconsin. Author Kathleen Ernst has extensively researched the writings of early settlers and has quoted their literary gems that speak of the sights and sounds, hopes and fears and joys and disappointments of their lives. Photographer Loyd Heath has captured the interpreters who recreate rural life of the late nineteenth century at Old World Wisconsin, a facility of the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The book starts with an introduction that identifies the people who made Wisconsin their home. They were Yankees, Scandinavians, Belgians, Germans, Swiss and other nationalities. They were drawn to a new country where the soil was not worn out, the land could be bought at low prices or, thanks to the Homestead Act, earned by occupation and improvement. Their stories are told in their own words and depicted in their own black and white pictures.

Readers are next led through the seasons of the first year, spring through summer, autumn, winter and spring again with its challenges and work. Each season’s chapter begins with a quote from a settler at the head of a four page narrative. Ernst then turns the chapter over to Heath and his color photos of the changing seasons at Old World Wisconsin. We can almost imagine the aching muscles that cleared a forest, the cold that chilled bones and froze water in makeshift dwellings and experience the satisfaction that came with a successful harvest, survival of winter and the transformation of a clearing and shack into a farm and a home.

This book fills a niche in our historical literature. It is popular history, focusing not great events but the daily lives of its subjects. Whereas much historical writing emphasizes contributions of those of British descent, the characters of this work are immigrants from continental Europe whose tales are rarely told.

I enjoyed this book. I learned things form the narrative, such as that school was held during the summer when the crops that the students had helped to plant in the spring and would harvest in the fall were nurtured by the sun and rain. Its pictures depict a life in ways no words can. Although “A Settler’s Year” will be of particular interest to those whose ancestors brought civilization to the Wisconsin wilderness its appeal is not limited to those. Its lessons are common to settlers across much of the fruited plain. I will peruse this many times and will encourage my wife to find inspiration for her “Pioneer Month” at her school. I have seen notices for Old World Wisconsin but never knew much about it, but now I want to visit. I will have to work on that.

I did receive a copy of this book to read and review. ( )

I absolutely adored this book. I never heard of Old World Wisconsin and now plan to visit someday! I loved all of the stunning photographs and there was just the right amount of information to learn something new without being exhausting! Such a perfect "decoration" for my antique buffet table, I will set it right next to my antique wash basin and pitcher! ( )