Brenda Ralph Lewis

In general, it's great to understand the tragic and deplorable history of the Catholic church. For that reason, I recommend learning about this topic. However, this book is not the way to do it. This book was lent to me - I would have probably selected a different book on the same topic and not this one.

- Too 'textbooky' like annoying "large text boxes" that are just statements pulled from the paragraphs or "side note" boxes that jump backwards and forwards.
- Very little context in the beginning or between popes that are discussed
- No footnotes… (mer)

Tartans: From Scottish Clans to Canadian Provinces, by Brenda Ralph Lewis, is a nice pocket-sized reference for those who might do genealogy or who simply want a ready reference when they are visiting places where these patterns are part of the history.

I don't think this was intended to be an introduction to tartans but rather a useful reference for those with at least a basic knowledge who might have a need to identify them when out and about. A full size version of this would make an invaluable reference in a home or office. While I was ignorant of much of the history, I was aware of what they mean and their importance. This volume served to give me a better perspective on the number (of which this is a small percentage) and variety of patterns. Since this is more about identification than fashion, I didn't feel that not getting a look at larger sections to see the repeat was a big deal.

I would highly recommend this to those who already have an interest and some knowledge of tartans and their history. Whether for reference or simply to have, this will be a great addition to their libraries. Those who might want to learn about tartans more generally might prefer an actual history book rather than this one, though if they plan to dig deeper, through history in general or genealogy in particular, this will still be a valuable book. There is enough information given that, as I did, you can look up details that pique your interest. Going into much more detail on 250 patterns would be unreasonable to expect in a small handheld reference book, unless you're very strong and can carry a handheld encyclopedia.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (mer)