New Books to Read This Week
If you are on the hunt for new books to read, this week is a great one. Arcadia Publishing has just released a fresh batch of local history titles covering everything from the life of a legendary American songwriter to the deep roots of Native American heritage in Missouri. Whether you are a lifelong history reader, a Missouri native, a baseball fan, or simply someone who loves discovering stories that never made it into your high school textbook, there is something new here for you.
Here is a look at what just hit shelves.
New Books to Read This Week from Arcadia Publishing
Click on any of the titles or cover images to read more or purchase your copy today.
The first major biography on Cole Porter in over two decades, this delightfully entertaining life story of one of the most important musicians and composers of the twentieth century follows Cole from Peru, Indiana to jazz age Manhattan, Hollywood and beyond.
The Year St. Louis Became a Baseball Town
With a legacy of 11 World Series wins, the culture of St. Louis intertwines with the Cardinals. It all started in 1926 with a legendary World Series upset against Babe Ruth’s Yankees. But what goes untold are compelling stories—like Ruth charming the city into what became a tradition of cheering opposing players—that made St. Louis fans go baseball crazy for the first time while early radio broadcasts helped turn the region into “Cardinal country.” These forgotten anecdotes made 1926 more than another championship. The victory transformed St. Louis into a baseball town, putting in place practices, traditions, loyalties, and an energy that have been passed down through time.
"In their pension applications I found the soldiers of the revolution sharing their lived experience in their own words with the added benefit of perspective that a full life brings."
-Paul Kirkman, author
Although Missouri wasn’t even part of the United States in 1776, its destiny was shaped by Patriot soldiers and their descendants. From the 1780 Battle of St. Louis through the Louisiana Purchase, veterans of the Revolutionary War settled in the Spanish- and French-run territory to build homes, families, and communities. Drummer boys and militiamen who fought from Lexington to Yorktown in their youth lived to fight again in the West alongside their adult sons in the War of 1812. Veterans of Washington’s armies served in the Missouri Territorial and State Assemblies then drew their pensions and watched their grandchildren play in the state they had helped build. Their stories started in battles east of the Mississippi but came to fruition in the Show-Me State.
Native American Monuments of Missouri
"St. Louis was nicknamed Mound City in the early 19th century because of all its Mississippian pyramids and temples."
-Neal W. Fandek, Author
Wherever you live in the Show-Me State, chances are good that someone was there thousands of years before—a member of one of the many ancient civilizations that called Missouri home. These include the Hopewells, who built large towns throughout the Kansas City area; the Mississippians, who built cities with towering pyramids and large plazas along that great river, especially around St. Louis (nicknamed “Mound City” for that reason in the early nineteenth century) and the Bootheel; the Oneontas, who built massive hilltop enclosures along the Missouri River in central Missouri; the Niúachis (Missourias), for whom the state is named; the Osages and Illiniweks (Illinois), who lived in towns in southwest and northeast Missouri; and the artists who carved marvels in stone at Thousand Hills and Washington State Parks, all of which you can see today, absolutely free.
Maine gravestones from the 1800s were decorated with snapped flower buds, broken tree branches, and cracked columns to reveal that those buried below died before their time. From lightning strikes to shipwrecks, accidents to disease—and even a sensational murder—there were many causes for these untimely deaths. Bessie Oliver came home to South Portland to die, bringing secrets she’d kept from her family that wouldn’t be revealed for one hundred years. In Biddeford in 1878, Rose Vincent became a victim of a sensational murder perpetrated by her jealous boyfriend. Priscilla Burnham was a pauper in Scarborough who lived most of her life under town care and was buried twice without a gravestone. Award-winning cemetery historian and guide Ron Romano uncovers how mysterious symbols, epitaphs, monument forms, and cemetery landscapes tell the stories of those whose lives were cut short.
In 1884, camp meeting trustees planned and constructed a 2,000-seat indoor meeting space called Round Lake Auditorium, which has remained the village’s social center. Full streets of Victorian-style homes were built. Hotels, a science museum, and centers for education along with resident halls were constructed, which sadly have not survived. Today, the village’s long, narrow streets of beautiful historic homes with distinctive porches remain from the early days of the village.
Long before the city of Niles took shape, this area served as a vital crossroads for Native people traveling by land and water. The colonial era began in 1691 when the French founded Fort St. Joseph. In 1829, a small village was established, and with the arrival of the Michigan Central Railroad, Niles grew into a bustling riverfront city. Niles thrived as an industrial center, boasting the best waterpower in the state of Michigan. Notable figures such as author Ring Lardner, retailer Montgomery Ward, and auto pioneers John and Horace Dodge all called Niles home. Though industrial giants like Kawneer and Simplicity Pattern Company have left, the city remains deeply connected to its history. Niles’s roots are still visible in its distinctive downtown architecture, lush riverfront parks, and enduring institutions and events.
Why Local History Books Are Some of the Best New Books to Read
Reading local history means reading about the world you actually live in, or the one your family came from, or the one you have always been curious about.
We have built our reputation on exactly this kind of work, producing titles that serve both the casual reader and the serious history enthusiast. If you have not explored our catalog, this week's new releases are a perfect place to start.
Where to Find These New Books
All of our new releases are available through major booksellers as well as directly through our website. Local bookstores and libraries in Missouri are also great places to look, particularly for titles focused on regional history.
Looking for more new books to read from Arcadia Publishing? Browse the full catalog to find local history titles from your state, your city, or a corner of American history you have always wanted to explore.