RE-BIRTH

Out of dormant branches...comes new growth.  

Out of chaos...comes order.  

Out of despair...comes hope.

Out of death...comes life.

ALDREN A. WATSON'S FINAL OPUS: WATERFRONT NEW YORK

I talked about my father, Aldren A. Watson, and his final book, Waterfront New York: Images of the 1920s and '30s, in a previous blog post.(http://thewendywatsonblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/aldren-watson-1917-2013.html)

Many people have expressed to me their interest in obtaining copies of this book.  I'm happy to announce here its official publication, with information about pre-publication orders.

ANNOUNCING FALL 2014 PUBLICATION of

WATERFRONT NEW YORK, IMAGES OF THE 

1920S & ‘30S

WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED BY 

ALDREN A. WATSON

PUBLISHED BY THE QUANTUCK LANE PRESS,

DISTRIBUTED BY W.W. NORTON & COMPANY

Forty-five watercolor paintings and five maps present an 

intimate view of the thriving port city of New York 

in the early 1900s. 

Detailed scenes of everyday life on and around the 

waterfront are rendered through the 

eyes of artist Aldren A. Watson, born and raised in Brooklyn. 

Paintings are accompanied by informative text 

and recollections drawn from 

the artist’s notebooks. 

Includes comprehensive index.

There will be 500 copies of Waterfront New York available 

at a discount if ordered in advance of the Fall 2014 

publication date. To purchase books at the special 

discounts listed, orders must be prepaid and received 

before September 15^th. Books will be shipped as soon 

as they are received from the printer. Once published, 

the book will be available in bookstores for $35.00 each.

Aldren died in May 2013 without the pleasure of 

seeing this book in print. He had looked forward 

to signing copies, so in the spirit of that wish, 

a special bookmark that includes a reproduction 

of his signature will accompany each book 

purchased with this offer.

Prepaid single copies discounted to $30.00 each.

Additional copies discounted to $25.00 each.

Prices include media rate shipping 

for orders within the continental US.

Go to www.aldrenwatson.com for a downloadable 

order form, as well as author/artist biography, bibliography, 

and selected images from the book.

Inquiries can be addressed to 

waterfrontny@aldrenwatson.com

MARGUERITE DE ANGELI

Marguerite de Angeli was born on March 14, 1889, and died on June 16, 1987 at the age of 98, after a long and distinguished career as a writer and illustrator of books for children.  In her books, she explored the rich cultural diversity of our country.  Ordinary people and families were her subject matter.  

From African-Americans and racial prejudice 

to Polish mine workers in Pennsylvania (in Up The Hill)

to the physically handicapped

to colonial Mennonites (in Skippack School)

to nineteenth-century Quakers supporting the underground railroad---all became unforgettable characters, in unforgettable settings, in her hands.  

She conducted thorough research for all her work (in photo above she's sketching on-site), and her books give the reader an accurate and convincing portrayal of whatever culture she was depicting.  The subject matters she dealt with (such as racial prejudice) were daring and controversial for her time.  Times have changed, and today her work might seem overly sweet and gentle.  But her storytelling is still powerful, her illustrations are still full of warmth and humanity, and her message of universal tolerance and equality is still necessary.  She's worth reading!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marguerite_de_Angeli
http://www.deangeli.lapeer.org