(3) YA Cyrus Field's funding of a transatlantic cable across Newfoundland and the Atlantic Ocean to Ireland was a costly and arduous venture, often delayed by violent storms and human error. Cowan's meticulously detailed biography provides insight into the particular persistence that drove Field's project as well as into nineteenth-century urban life. Archival drawings and photos (inexplicably blue-tinged) enhance the information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Cowan chronicles the life of MacMillan from his boyhood in New England to his last Arctic voyage in the 1950s. MacMillan's major expeditions and scientific studies are vividly described. The author's use of her subject's journals, letters, and books adds detail and authenticity. MacMillan's own photographs enhance this well-documented, sophisticated text. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 For those with a serious interest in the subject, this is an enthusiastic, in-depth look at New England's logging industry from the 1600s through the present day. Eleven two-page fictional interludes offer a "Day in the Life of" various individuals, from a mast logger to a river driver to a forester. The generally poor-quality black-and-white photos and illustrations break up the dense text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn