Reviews
"A love story is not something that ever goes away. 'The Remembrance Album of Harriet Pruden…' is a unique collection of poetry, prose, and a true story. In the nineteenth century, Harriet Pruden composed a keepsake album with her friends and family. Nearly two centuries later it’s brought back with new touches and as a snapshot of history. 'The Remembrance Album of Harriet Pruden' is a unique treasure and a fine addition to any historical poetry collection." Carl Logan, Midwest Book Review
"A fascinating project of historical folk narratives grounded in a love of community." John O'Connor, author of Wordplaygrounds
"The Remembrance Album of Harriet Pruden represents the rebirth of a time-honored tradition: the personal keepsake album. But this album has more than sentimental value. It is a unique window, through the original and popular poems recorded here, into the lives, dreams, hopes, and disappointments of three generations. Begun in 1831 in Athens, Ohio, the album’s genesis was a mother’s attempt to deter her daughter’s unruly romantic spirit by collecting inspirational poetry from friends and well-wishers. Consequently, the album chronicles in verse all the lives affected by Harriet’s decision to head west: potential suitors, intimate confidantes, and family members. Richard Pate’s fictional narratives accompanying each poem represent years of research into the lives of each character...to bring each of these 'strangers' to life in a fictional reunion, 175 years later. Pate’s work includes suggestions for how this tradition of family-chronicling through verse might be continued by contemporary readers --a worthy endeavor, indeed!” -Terry Ehret, Sonoma County Poet Laureate